Evy Miller places second at 4-H Provincial Speak Offs

Grade 11 SCHS student, Evy Miller, sent us her 4 H Provincial Speech. The topic was “Has Education changed to set Youth up for success? Are they given tools to help them make a sustainable living?” Evy wants to make an impact on education!  She was given the topic ten days in advance to write, prepare and deliver. She went up against eleven other senior members representing Alberta.  This is Evy’s first year in 4H and her first time ever competing in speeches. Congratulations to Evy. Here is her speech.

Searching for Success

By Evangeline (Evy) Miller

Imagine this, you’re 6 years old, being shaken awake by your parents, slipped into some clothes, handed a backpack, and then put on a bus at 6:30am.

Good afternoon, Madam (Mister) chairperson, Honourable Judges, Ladies and Gentlemen, and fellow 4-H members.

Outside the night is still black, your tiny eyes are blurry from sleep, and all you want is to be anywhere, but on a school bus.

School plays a huge role in every single person's life. Why then have I continually witnessed our education system fail. Shouldn't it be the single most important factor in supporting our youth? Shouldn't our schools responsibility be to prepare youth for being successful?

From a one size fits all approach to learning, improper management of coded kids, and poorly taught life skills, the education system has not provided Youth with the tools they need, to create a sustainable living.

According to Newman University, the top 3 skills employers look for include: critical thinking and problem solving, teamwork or collaboration, and a strong work ethic.

The education malpractice where one teacher stands in front of 30 kids, each kid having different strengths, different needs, different gifts, different dreams and yet the same concept, is taught the same way. How does this way of teaching even come close to providing youth with the skills they need to acquire critical thinking and problem solving skills?

Curriculums are created by policy makers, most of which have never taught a day in their life. They teach in a one size fits all format and obsess over standardized tests, thinking that filling in a bubble sheet will determine the success of an individual’s future. These people do not even think to consider the fact that not all youth may be successful at standardized tests, but instead excel in physical, hands-on, real life tests.

For instance, my brother is a coded student with an emotional and behavioral disability. He was labeled, early on, as a, “Trouble-maker, distraction, and a teacher’s worst nightmare.” Sure, he may not be the greatest at English and he may or may not bribe me to write his essays, but I can guarantee that he knows just as much about agriculture as you. Ask him to fill in a bubble sheet and he will, according to the system, fail. Request him to look after an entire Ranch, and he will do it with ease.

And no, the education system did not teach him these skills. Instead, his school isolated him from his peers, locked him in a small room for 6 months and told him to learn how to act “properly.” In my brother's own words, “This is an actual prison!” How is isolation reflective of teaching teamwork and collaboration abilities needed for holding a job?

Educators lack funding for the special needs of children. Teachers are expected to be inclusive to all children's needs, no matter their physical or mental behaviors. That means they also need adequate funding, except, there is none. In my experience, I saw this lead to a poor choice on how to work with my brother. This is just one example of how the education system has failed to properly manage coded children and promote the learning of all children, regardless of their individual needs.

A point that stands out to me in my classes is how there is no such thing as failing a grade. The system will push students through each grade, even if they are not ready to move up to the next grade. Due to teachers not being able to give zeros, Youth have become lazy, unmotivated, lack time management skills and accountability.

These are the opposite of the skills needed to learn, professionalism and strong work ethic, which are essential in the workplace. If an adult can not meet a deadline, then how will they maintain a job? Developing and mastering the skills of time management, self motivation, and determination is what students NEED to learn in order to create a sustainable living for themselves.

The education system has not been keeping up with the changes that need to be continually made. Learning is not a one size fits all format and the needs of youth are constantly changing. As of right now, Youth are not given all the tools to help them make a sustainable living. To me, successful education would encompass teaching skills focused on preparing students for high paying jobs. Skills such as critical thinking, problem solving and teamwork, is exactly what youth should be learning. Unfortunately, our educators are simply not given enough tools and resources to give proper education to our youth.

According to census.gov, the percentage of individuals age 3 and above enrolled in school, in 2022, is 23.7%. While students make up only 20% of the population they are 100% of our future. Why isn’t more time and effort invested into the Education system? The better educated Youth are, the more effectively and efficiently, we can improve our future. I will leave you with one final question to ask yourselves. If we can continuously update the technology of cars, phones, and agriculture, then why can we not continuously update the education system?