Perspectives

The incident involving George Floyd was undeniably tragic. However, as I watched the video of Mr. Floyd in handcuffs, I couldn’t help but wonder about the circumstances leading to it.

As a Hispanic female educator, my primary responsibility is to equip my students with strong reading skills, enabling them to become financially literate and law-abiding American citizens.

Let’s be unequivocal—I’m not seeking validation but aiming to inform, educate, and encourage thoughtful reflection. In today’s climate, effective communication has become challenging. Many Americans have gaps in their historical knowledge, hindering their ability to connect the dots accurately. Unfortunately, our education system often falls short in this regard.

During the early years of education, teachers should prioritize teaching students to read effectively. By fourth grade, students should be equipped to learn actively, comprehend text, think critically, and engage in meaningful discussions.

I empathize with parents who raise concerns about teachers addressing racism in the classroom. It’s evident that many Americans struggle to grasp our complex system due to gaps in their knowledge base. This underscores the urgency to speak out against schools’ focus on terms like “equity,” “systemic racism,” and “BLM.” Their primary role should be to teach students to read well, a task they often fall short of accomplishing.

The root of challenges faced by black and Hispanic communities lies in the fact that only 25% of these students graduate with proficient reading skills. Closing this literacy gap is key to empowering Americans to self-govern and flourish.

Regrettably, it appears that some schools are not genuinely committed to closing this gap. Educating our entire school community about our Constitutional Republic, in all its forms, is crucial for our nation’s well-being. I strongly advocate for mandated professional development and training for all school districts and employees, focusing on teaching phonics, grammar, logic, and reasoning.

Understanding the true history of America is a prerequisite. It’s a commitment to self-determination and freedom that educators need to grasp fully. Their role in upholding our American way of life and closing the literacy gap is paramount.

The potential to eradicate ignorance and illiteracy rests with our local government policymakers. They influence, oversee, and evaluate how parents teach their children values and morals. Eradicating illiteracy is an achievable goal. I encourage school administrators and teachers to pledge their commitment to ensuring that illiteracy and ignorance have no place in their schools.

To my fellow educators across America: let’s prioritize teaching effective reading skills for grades K-12. Ask yourself why so many students graduate functionally illiterate and ill-equipped to solve their financial challenges. Before deviating from your core responsibility, remember that teaching kids to read well is your primary duty in education.