America’s Achilles’ Heel
* Achilles’ Heel…vulnerable or susceptible spot.
* Basic Truths
1. A country’s most valuable resource is its people.
2. To compete in a global economy, fueled by super technology, a country needs to have a superbly educated and healthy workforce.
3. The relative decline of American education (i.e., K-Adult Learning) has long been a national embarrassment, as well as a threat to the nation’s future.
4. The critical period for workforce development is over-looked by the State and Federal governments.
5.The critical period for workforce development takes place from the womb (i,e., 6 weeks into the pregnancy) to 5 years of age; 90% of brain development.
* Unfortunately the economic stress in our culture forces mothers to delegate childcare to parents, family members, friends, or professional caretakers; and the child’s brain development suffers! Nothing can replace the mother/child bond! Approximately 20% of new mothers become Stay-at-Home moms.
* Other countries recognize the problem and have systems in place to address the problem ; a stipend ($ per child) is paid to a Stay-at-Home mom from birth to the start of formal education.
* No amount of spending on the formal education system can offset the negative effects on brain development during the womb to 5 year-old milestone. State and Federal governments need to realize that this issue is a crisis!
* IF THE ISSUE OF EARLY BRAIN DEVELOPMENT IS NOT RESOLVED, THE FUTURE FOR AMERICA IS GRIM!
NO COMMON SENSE
ANALYZE THE EXAMPLE
* Which supports and barriers were in play?
* What were the dynamics?
* Who, or what, won the Tug-of-War?
* Discuss the outcome with your friends and family.
* Use Post #4 as a reference for the dynamics, and the relationships, between supports and barriers.