prior experience with education

1.	In your first posting to the group please tell us something about your prior experience with education, including at the state level. Let us know briefly why you have chosen to participate in this event and what you hope to accomplish in the process.

My experience in public education has been personally going through it; I was raised in central California and went through the public school system from 1950 through 1972, from K-12 and later a C.C.  I can say first hand that the K-12 education was less than adequate; unfortunately, I can count the inspiring teachers on one hand.  During high school I was not encouraged to go to college by anyone in the system.  It wasn't until I left, went into the work force and then came back to a Community College in Northern California where I was respected and encouraged to learn.  Now with a new experience of respect and encouragement, I sat in the library for hours, learning how to learn. C.C. was very enjoyable; I graduated and transferred to the University of Southern California obtaining a degree in Cinema/TV.  Later, I took some classes at UCLA extension, but found my business aspirations precluded me from completing this program.  The sad part of this was that my family back ground wasn't poor or deprived, nor was I a truant kid - I was a compliant child and my parents were privately educated and encourage to learn, my late father was a dentist and my mother had a Masters in social work.   What was wrong with this picture?  Now many years later, I have two sons who have gone through the public school system in the best possible school district for success and now are in private colleges.  (They too have seen the school system declining in their area.)   I also have a five-year old daughter who is just beginning!  She is enrolled in a wonderful charter school for home schooling.  

I am participating in these discussions in hopes that history will not repeat it self!  My hope is that I can influence those looking at revision to consider and encourage our children and adults as individuals who are unique with specific needs and learning styles; and most important to encourage life long learning.