By Nina Crowder
Superior Sun
Education is important to all of us. It helps build character and gives us knowledge to unlock each individual’s potential. The Superior School District holds high expectations for our youth and the future of our youth. Donna Davis with Expect More Arizona came to Superior to speak at a meeting open to the public about what to expect for the future of education and our youth.
Many of the goals Donna Davis spoke about involve health, family life, community life, crime rates, environmental quality and well-being. The standards and curriculum set and adopted by the Arizona State Board of Education help with the guidance for our youth. Education is a vital part of life. Education helps develop a meaningful outlook on life.
Education serves as the means to bring about the desired change in society, to develop a generation of virtuous individuals and thus contribute to the development of good human beings. The fundamental purpose of education is to gain knowledge, form proper conduct and acquire technical competency. Education serves as the means to develop oneself physically, mentally and socially.
Arizona has common core standards for education that are national standards. The standards were developed through a state-led initiative spearheaded by governors and state school chiefs. The federal government was not involved in developing the standards. Arizona is committed to staying on course and supporting the implementation of the common core. The State Board of Education can make changes to academic standards at any time. Good standards shouldn’t change too often, but over time evolve based on what is learned from research, from educators in the field and from student assessments.
The standards reflect the real world expectations of what is necessary for students to succeed in higher education and the workforce, including critical thinking, problem solving, and effective communication skills. The standards were developed using evidence that includes scholarly programs, assessment data identifying college and career ready performance and comparisons to standards from high performing states and nations, among other data. Together with highly trained, well supported teachers, the standards will better prepare Arizona students for college and careers.
Education is a fundamental human right and essential for the exercise of all other human rights. It promotes individual freedom and empowerment and yields important development benefits. Superior School District cares deeply about the future of our youth and will be holding additional meetings about the vision of educational future.
Expect More Arizona has high expectations for our youth. The organization can send out brochures about kindergarten to high school, tools that can be used to help children at home and to help them excel at school. If interested in additional information before the next meeting please go to ExpectMoreArizona.org.