Letter to Elected Official

For our Resource Management Project, we had to write a letter to a politician explaining the problem and our proposed solution.

The Honorable Duncan Hunter

1429 Longworth House Office Building

United States House of Representatives

Washington, D.C. 20515

Dear Representative Hunter:

I am a citizen of California's 52nd District who is concerned about how the government treats education. I was appalled to discover that the same money spending method has been used for the past thirty years, even though they have been ineffective. After checking the Nation’s Report Card on the Department of Education’s website, <http://nationsreportcard.gov/ltt_2008/>, I discovered that student performance at age seventeen has not improved, despite the increased standardized testing that was implemented in 1983. Students learn in several different ways and respond differently. For example, some students are kinesthetic learners and need several breaks. When education is individualized, students retain more information. Encouraging students to work harder and focusing curriculum on critical thinking skills, as the President has done, will not solve the problem indefinitely. I would like to bring to your attention that educational reform must be more radical if any change is to be documented.

There are alternative forms of secondary education that the United States can use to improve its system. Each student is an individual and learns in a unique way. The problem began in the 1940s when in order to simplify the system, several school districts (over 117,000) were compacted into a more general structure (just over 15,000 as of 1990). The trouble with generalized curriculum is that it forces students to conform to learning according to the techniques prescribed by the government, which unfortunately cannot be involved on the necessary level that a parent knows their child. Students need to be able to connect with teachers on a personal level. However, such teachers are rare in schools.

My proposed solution is to institute a system that gives students the individual attention they need, an apprenticeship program. The European Union is aiming for a universal apprentice system in their countries. I am suggesting a system similar to the Realschule plan in Germany. Students continue in their studies but take on an apprenticeship at age sixteen. Apprenticeships allow students to experience a work environment hands-on and learn all the tasks involved with a career. Also, in Germany about one half of employers hire apprentices after the apprenticeship ends. Apprenticeships benefit business, as well, because the employers train their employees from start to end, thus creating the most efficient work force. My plan is to start on a local level and expand. I propose two or three apprenticeship universities instituted in the district, give priority to drop-outs or those looking for immediate work. Then chart the progress of the students in their careers over five years. If they are successful, open up more universities nation-wide. This will cost money to pay administrators yearly salaries; however, because students will be working on site, there are no teachers to pay. Volunteer mentors must be found. I need you to be my voice to the other members of Congress. As my Representative, I need you to bring my proposal before the House Committee on Education. Thank you for taking the time to read my proposal.

Sincerely,
Zachary McKay
9149 Berkview Lane Spring Valley, CA 91977
zmckay@hightechhigh.org