Poling Tang is a student in the Writing Intensive class taught by Mary Peros. The Writing Intensive class helps ESL students develop writing skills for college, career, and civic life.
Poling wrote the following essay as extra homework during Spring Break, "to express my gratitude to the adult school education system which plays an important role in my journey of life."
Thank you, Poling, for writing this remarkable essay and for sharing it with the larger community. And thank you, Teacher Mary, for helping your students to achieve so much as writers.
High Quality Education within the Adult School
System
John
Adams, the Second U.S. President said: “There are two educations. One should teach us how to make a living and
the other how to live.”(1) Furthermore,
John Jay, the First U.S. Chief Justice of the Supreme Court said that “I
consider knowledge to be the soul of a republic...Education is the way to do
this, and nothing should be left undone to afford all ranks of people of the
means of obtaining a proper degree of it at a cheap and easy rate.”(1)
The high quality education within the state adult school system follows the
principles set by our forefathers by “directing resources to serving those
traditionally underserved; especially those disadvantaged economically or
academically.” (SMAS commitment)(2)
The following are two SMAS students who achieve success plus my
personal experience, showing how the adult school education programs transform
students from harsh conditions to better lives, a brighter future and being productive
citizens.
As
compared with academic college education, the high quality education within the
adult school system does not have to cost a lot. However, the school must be accessible to the
public with available transportation, be aware of what the community needs and having
an enjoyable and friendly platform for learning. As the students are from all walks-of-life
and from different cultural, they need flexible education programs, familiar
neighborhoods and available public transportation. Leticia Navarro(3), a successful
student from SMAS, said that the adult school provides a “comfortable
atmosphere where the students can be free to use the language they have to
communicate.” Besides learning from
classes, she also explored a new culture by a school field trip. As a result, the trip taught her “so
independent” that later on she took public transportation by herself. She started from a “small step” in a
comfortable zone-ESL classroom which progressively directed her to a “big step”
of helping other children to acquire English at Fiesta Gardens School. She concluded that Adult School is where “she
gained a foundation in a new language and new culture and at the same time
learned about how education could happen in a new way.”
Another
advantage of adult school is the low cost or no cost funded programs available
to the public in training English, job skills, and adult basic education. Mr. Larry Teshara(4), the Director
of SMAS commented about the “Governor’s funding proposal” should not overlook
the adult school students who “are the parents, guardians, family and neighbors
of those same school children…setting a great example in their own homes by
attending school.” Alvaro Pirir(3) another
successful student, tells us how the low cost adult school programs help him to
pursue his nursing career. He “worked
two jobs until he was 18, and then entered the adult school ESL program.” Since then, he worked through Adult Learning
Center for high school basic skills. Finally he “had attended a GED and had the
confidence to enter the College of San Mateo.”
He continues to work and study with the goals of becoming a registered
nurse, and then a physician “if he can save enough money” by that time. He is living proof that affordable adult
school programs play a significant role for those who strive for a better
future and becoming responsible citizens.
The
third advantage is the various and flexible education programs which meet what
a resident needs within his or her community.
For instances, I have gone through different stages of my learning path
through adult school programs for over 20 years. When I was a new immigrant, I needed job
skills (especially computer acknowledge) and assistance in job searching. At the same time, I wanted to adjust myself
in a new culture within a friendly environment.
After my job was secured, I required classes for self-improvement, for preparing
citizenship and for hobby or interests.
In between layoffs, I attended classes for updating my work skills, for
polishing my resume, interview…etc. Just
three years ago, I gained knowledge from Home Aide Care program for my sick
family member at home. Nevertheless, currently
I am an adult school student again and a volunteer in serving our community. The flexible and various adult education
programs positively “teach us(me) how to make a living and the other how to
live.”(1) I am always thankful for these “two
educations”, offering support and knowledge to meet my needs in different stage
of my adult life.
In
summary, two hundred years ago, our forefathers already valued the importance
of education for “all ranks of people,” and “at a cheap and easy rate.” From the above three successful stories, without
a doubt the high quality education within the adult school system fulfills the opportunities
for “all ranks of people” to excel and grow with affordable tuition fees,
location accessibility, flexible class schedules and a pleasant learning environment. As a reminder with reference to SMAS’s
commitment, no one should be left behind due to economic or academic
disadvantages. The education programs
are here for us to explore, enrich our lives and others no matter what stages
of our life journeys are! Thank you for
making our nation and our education so great!
Notes:
(1)[http://www.rasmussen.edu/student-life/blogs/main/Educational-Quotes-from-Our-Founding-Fathers/
dated 3/28/2015]
(2)[http://www.smace.org/general-information/,
dated 3/29/2015]
(4) [http://adulteducationmatters.blogspot.com/2013/03/perspective-larry-teshara-smas-director.htm,
dated 4/1/2015]
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