Author and Educator Debra E. West answers President Obama's call to action, shares Citizen's Education Idea Initiative

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Best Education Possible is now available on facebook, LinkedIn & Plaxo

To make it easier for everyone to participate in our Best Education Possible Citizen's Initiative, we have established groups on facebook, LinkedIn and Plaxo. If you are a participant on any of these social networks, please join our Initiative there too.

Best Education Possible on facebook
facebook group URL: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=43176187590&ref=ts


Best Education Possible on LinkIn
LinkedIn group URL:http://www.linkedin.com/groups?gid=1781681


Best Education Possible on Plaxo
Plaxo group URL: http://besteducationpossible.plaxogroups.com

Discovered on facebook - "One Million Students for Quality Public Education"

Below is a description and link to a wonderful group I discovered on facebook earlier today. The group and their associated online petition targets participation among those ages 13-24. At the time of this posting their web page quotes their petition at 23,838 signatures. It is a tremendous example of our youth's interest in the future and the hope that resides in all age groups regarding the collectives ability to improve of country's educational system.

Group Name: One Million Students for Quality Public Education

Web Address: http://www.oured.org
Email: info@oured.org
facebook Group URL: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2211826343

Group Description: This group is for people who believe that education is one of the most important issues facing America today and that we must make dramatic improvements in our nation's schools.

Why do we need to improve our public education system?

- More than a million American youth drop out of high school every year…

- In 2003, US 10th graders finished 24th out of 29 developed countries in math and problem solving, and two-thirds of our fourth graders failed to read at grade level proficiency...

- The impacts of poor quality education are felt most strongly by low-income children, children of color, and children who happen to be born in the wrong city or state:

* Children in poor families are 7 times less likely to have the chance to go to college than children in rich families; and

* By the age of 17, African-American and Latino youth on average are already four years behind their white and Asian peers in reading and math.

NEED ANY MORE REASONS WHY YOU SHOULD JOIN THIS GROUP AND SIGN THE PETITION? CHECK OUT its sister group at http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2211361454 and read some of the amazing stories that students are posting about their troubled public schools on the wall!

BestEducationPossible.net prepares to send a comprehensive report to President Obama, et. al.

In response to the President's call for ordinary citizens to band together and make suggestions and offer ideas, we have decided to launch the Best Education Possible Citizen's Initiative.

Initiative Parameters: During the first quarter of 2009, ending March 31, 2009, BestEducationPossible.net will seek to harness the collective genius of parents and educators who serve in the trenches of our nation's educational system. The Initiative follows the lead of the President's transition team and their "Citizen's Briefing Book" launched on their Change.gov website, but closed to public contribution prior to the Inauguration.

Like the Citizen's Briefing Book, the Best Education Possible Citizen's Initiative will develop a white paper compiling ideas and thoughts in a Web 2.0 environment. The goal is to have mass citizen and global participation in the generation of ideas for improving our youth's education with the ultimate work product being delivered to President Obama, U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, as well as, all fifty Governor's mansions.

This online tool and others are opening up the process by which the public obtains access to a presidential administration. They are also changing the dynamics of how a presidential administration interacts with the public.

Are you a proactive parent, teacher or concerned thinker? Pass the word, join a Best Education Possible Forum on this site and begin to contribute. It is that simple. This a people driven grass roots initiative for educational change. It is a meme. Best Education Possible Citizen's Initiative Team will be making regular updates as the Initiative moves forward.

BestEducationPossible.net is releasing a Meme into a Hyper-Connected Society

'THE HYPER-CONNECTED WEB 2.0 GENERATION'

First, introducing the meme - "Empowerment and Personal Responsibility through Education (EPTRE)"

Second, what is a meme - A meme (pronounced /miːm/) comprises a unit or element of cultural ideas, symbols or practices; such units or elements transmit from one mind to another through speech, gestures, rituals, or other imitable phenomena. The etymology of the term relates to the Greek word mimema for mimic.^[1] Memes act as cultural analogues to genes in that they self-replicate and respond to selective pressures.^[2]

See more about memes on wikipedia.

Last, the strategy and methodology - utilizing the vast blogosphere, popular social networks and best practices garnered from the DK Web 2.0 Linked-Project, Debra West and the Best Education Possible network will seek to promote positive energy and cognitive collaboration centered around the structured concept of "Empowerment and Personal Responsibility through Education (EPTRE)."

Drawing on the undeniable energy that is presently circling the globe, along with the contagious prospects of hope and change, the Best Education Possible network will be infiltrating a mind, spirit, email box or web page near you!

Courtesy Sneak Peak at "A Parent's Handbook: How to Get the Best Education Possible for Your Child" by Debra E. West (Axis Publishing Co.)

Axis Publishing Company, LLC is proud to share this courtesy excerpt to Debra E. West's new release, "A Parent's Handbook: How to Get the Best Education Possible for Your Child"

This book is useful for: Parents, Teachers, Principles, PTA's (Parents Teachers Associations), School Administrators, School Boards & School Districts, Elected Officials and many more.

A short synopsis follows:

Your children are your most prized and valued possessions. In your hands are step-by-step instructions to aid you and your child in making education a priority and insure a successful educational experience for you both. The workbook is divided into distinct sections.


The first section will help you make an intelligent decision about what school your child should attend and steps to take that will help your child find success in school. The next sections are skills your child should master in kindergarten through sixth grade. There are also tables for you to track your answers and space to write any questions, answers or thoughts that arise.


This workbook is a tool that you can use to help your child achieve in school and in life. With an instrument like this at your disposal you will be empowered and instructed to be confidently involved in the educational setting. This workbook poses the questions and provides the answers needed to prepare your child for the 21st century.

You can purchase your copy of this outstanding handbook online at http://www.Axis-Publishing.com along with other exciting titles by the company.

Learn more about the meme, "Empowerment & Personal Responsibility through Education" at http://www.BestEducationPossible.net

A Parent's Handbook Preview With Full Color Covers

Publish at Scribd or explore others: Education How-To Guides & DIY children kids

A Citizen's Call To Action

Image located on Chicago Tribune site.

President Barack Obama meets with White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel in the Oval Office at the White House on his first day at his new office.
(White House photo by Pete Souza / January 21, 2009)
President Obama called all citizens to action in his inaugural speech and again when he addressed America today. He stated that his cabinet and staff were to look out for ordinary citizen opinions and solutions to the massive problems we are faced with as a nation.

Therefore, we must collectively give this administration our solutions to better the educational system in this country. If we do not address this immediately, we will not be able to complain when new legislation and ideas are implemented. Administrators, teachers, parents, and students must participate in this opportunity to make the necessary changes that will make a difference in getting successful results for our schools. We are in the trenches and know what works and what does not work.

Currently, school systems, administrators, and teachers are held accountable for student learning. Standardize testing is used to measure if student learning has taken place. Realistically, all students will never meet the current expected criteria. If a student is in the lower percentile in student learning and makes a projected amount of progress, that should be considered successful for that particular child. If a student is in the higher percentile scale of achievement, they must also show that they have progressed and are being challenged according to their higher skill set(s). We must look at the individual child and make sure educational goals are set and met in a timely manner.

I also feel that parents and students must be held accountable for student learning. It is not good enough to place all the responsibility on teachers and school systems. Parents and students must pledge to do their part in making sure education is a priority. TV sets, computers, and electronic games must be turned off and books must be opened. Students must pledge to strive for excellence and take their studies seriously. They must understand the importance of getting an education and assist in making sure it happens for everyone and attend school every day possible.

These are only two ideas for improving education in this country. What ideas do you have? This is an open challenge to all peoples across the world. You have ideas, please share them with us!

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www.BestEducationPossible.net