Where I Stand — Kai Kadoich: Power of education

Thursday, Dec. 21, 2000 | 10:03 a.m.

Editor's note: More than 850 juniors and seniors from area high schools participated in the 45th annual Sun Youth Forum Nov. 21 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. Students were divided into discussion groups on seven selected topics. Kai Kadoich of Bonanza High School tells of his group's opinions on "America."

HORACE MANN, a great education reformer of the 1800s, proclaimed that "education, beyond all other devices of human origin, is the great equalizer of the conditions of men -- the balance-wheel of the social machinery."

Even though Mann made this remark more than 100 years ago, the Sun Youth Forum discussion group of more than 40 students that I participated in concluded that education undoubtedly still plays a vital role in society.

The first topic of conversation involved improvements our country could make for the presidential election of 2004. Students offered various suggestions, including voting via the Internet. Without a doubt, the Internet's capabilities can only grow (including security capabilities), so many saw voting as the next logical step. Many students favored more debates.

We concluded that along with a more responsible media, an increase in the number of town hall debates would help educate the public even more. Disgusted by the many instances when the candidates read "block arguments that one could find on their websites," as one student put it, we liked the idea of unscreened questions. Most students also agreed with including third-party candidates in debates. With more diverse ideas and opinions, a viewer can only learn more.

We also discussed education. Our moderator asked us to rate the quality of our schools, and most schools received ratings between A and C. Common complaints included not enough motivation, overcrowded classes and too much of an emphasis on sports. Our group decided that most problems that exist in our educational system can be solved by properly using a higher allocation of funds.

As for the motivational aspects of school, we acknowledged that parents must play an integral role. Parents too often expect schools to take care of motivating their children.

After that thread, our moderator asked us, "What is the biggest problem America faces today?" Students offered a panoply of answers such as inefficiency, ignorance and laziness. One student (a young Marxist, I would assume) uniquely answered "capitalism." He thought that the ever-widening gap between the rich and poor leads to many social problems. Another considered the loss of individualism and the push for utility maximization the biggest problems. He proclaimed the injustice of the "sacrificial lamb" approach to achieving social good. Diverse responses like these made this topic quite intriguing.

Somehow the group made a huge mistake and opened up the moral can of worms we call abortion. After the short break (tempers needed to cool down), we again addressed the issue of the well-being of the country as a whole. There was much discussion on violence, lack of morality and discrimination.

Amidst the chaos of conversing on these social problems, it became clear to most students that they all can be solved, or at least abated, through education. Education leads to open minds that are not afraid of diversity or adversity. It leads to responsible individuals who make good decisions, increasing the quality of life of their lives.

Molding the future of our nation, education should be our No. 1 priority. It has always been, and always will be, the great equalizer.