Jennifer Mitchell Earley

Picture life before democracy: a world ruled by tyrants, people arrested for unknown reasons, unequal rights for different classes, and death to those who opposed unreasonable tyrants. How could this happen? Why weren’t these rulers questioned? History shows that Kings gave these tyrants rule without question, despite their lack of morals and principles.   As a result, the people of Europe were oppressed and impoverished, with no way of escaping.   Fortunately, on the horizon, a different government was arising: a government comprised of the people, by the people, and for the people. People began to think about their most basic rights as human beings, their inalienable rights. People throughout Europe realized that their kings were not above reproach and, most importantly, had no right to continue governing without input from the people. As the Europeans established their colonies in America, they aspired to create a new form of government, one that would give the people a ...

As a learning and development consultant, former adjunct professor, seasoned elected official, parent, and daughter of a 36-year veteran educator, I have strong opinions regarding the current state of public education. I remember in 1997, as a graduate student at Cleveland State University pursing my Master in Education in Adult Learning and Development, discussing how education was beginning to reflect more of a business model with the thought that if schools were run like businesses, there would be true accountability across the board, reduced costs for education, and a future workforce prepared to compete in the global marketplace. Ten years after the fact, our school districts were floundering. On March 10, 2009, during his remarks to the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, then President Obama challenged teachers, school districts and states to adopt world class standards, reduce student drop-out rates, and renew their commitment to student academic achievement:   “We have ...