School of Economic & Educational Development (S.E.E.D.^©) Inc.

"Connecting People with their Purpose by Providing Economic & Educational Opportunities"

latest news

12.19.2006

EVERYONE'S BUSINESS. Nobody understands the failures of our current education system better than the businesses that have to train ill-equipped recent graduates. Today, more and more students are leaving high school, or even college, and entering the workforce without the skills they need to compete in a global market. To see just how bad the problem is, the US Chamber of Commerce surveyed 571 businesses across the country to find their views on the current education system. Anyone who has read The American Education Diet probably knows what the respondents said. Their answers reflected the growing concern that without major reform, American students will not be prepared to contribute to the workforce in the 21st century. Nearly all respondents see a rigorous K-12 curriculum as a very important element in preparing students for the workforce, but more than half of all respondents see our current curriculum as inadequate. Some of the solutions the business community seems to support are school choice, accountability, and teacher quality measures. More than half of the businesses (53 percent) see voucher programs as a means to improve student learning - with 38 percent favoring state-by-state programs and 15 percent favoring a national voucher program. To no one's surprise most respondents (80 percent) believe that schools should be held accountable for meeting proficiency levels and 73 percent agree that teachers should receive pay raises for improving academic achievement. More fodder for the policymakers. is where you can put your latest news.

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"Tell me and I may forget. Teach me and I may remember. Involve me and I will learn." -Benjamin Franklin.

"Education is for improving the lives of others and for leaving your community and world better than you found it." -Marian Wright Edelman.

EDUCATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

About Columbia, South Carolina

As the capital of South Carolina, Columbia is a city rich with history. There are numerous things for the entire family to see and do throughout the city. Whether you like visiting places important in history, enjoying the arts, playing or watching sports, attending festivals, or participating in outdoor activities, Columbia is the place for you. Please take a moment to see all Columbia has to offer!

As with any typical growing city, it all looks good on the outside and although Columbia is a great city there is still much work that needs to be done internally. I believe there are three strategic roots in South Carolina that keep this city from moving forward economically, spiritually and socially:

Authorities not taking appropriate responsibility so as to be life-givers. Results: predatory parents, passive leadership, and rebellious children.
Institutional power, instead of relationship power which is depended upon to be life giving. Results: covenant-breaking, betrayal, ingratitude toward life-giving leaders.
Core deception about the nature of Father God and family. Results: racism, adultery, incest, infighting, denominations in conflict.

Today huge economic challenges face our state, with the textile industry moving overseas, manufacturing plants closing their doors and technology companies contracting foreign help, unemployment is a crisis issue in some cities and across the state. The state lottery deepens the poverty of the poor, while promising an educational breakthrough with money for college, it only produces a carrot of hope for many.

Sectarianism and racism still challenge the status of citizens in South Carolina based on gender, ethnicity, and religion. In 2005, South Carolina was reported to have the fewest women in elected positions of any state in the Union. Meanwhile, South Carolina continues to rank among the highest in abuse of women of any state in the nation, securing the top spot in murder of wives/girlfriends by their male domestic partners. It also has one of the highest illiteracy rates in the nation with children and adults well below the national average in math, science and social skills.

Our Vision for Columbia, South Carolina

As one of the many ministries that is answering the call to eradicate these barriers S.E.E.D.^©, Inc., is developing Educational, Economic, Empowerment and Ecumenical Programs that will:

Minister to the needs of the community effectively,
Reaching the lost with the hope of the Good News of the Kingdom of God,
Raise up leaders to impact their communities, and
Empower the community to support itself economically.

These goals will be accomplished through small study & work groups (cells) that meet on a regular basis, and promote and encourage healthy relationship building within the community. Therefore we ask for your help with many new programs we have developed.

Job skills development and training,

We are seeking assistance from high schools, colleges and technical schools to partner with us in providing needed basic life and works skills training for those deficient in these areas.

Employment assistance and education,

Many of these individuals do not possess the technical skills, self esteem or confidence to be apart of the working community, therefore we are seeking educators and businesses that will sub-contract certain areas of their work to us in order to create startup companies to provide goods and services to the community.

Welfare and Prison to work assistance,

Since we are dealing with people who are most often below the poverty and education lines, they often have criminal records or other barriers that keep them from stable employment or education, therefore we need variances in the guidelines to help these people obtain employment; education or entrepreneur outlets that will allow them to utilize their skills; and education gained in our program to work as part of the many companies we will start, to include: Janitorial, Landscaping, Handy-Man, Cosmetology, and Technology.

Financial aid and support.

Lastly, but definitely no least, we need individuals, businesses and corporations that will help fund these programs. None of this is possible without money. Of course grants and private donors are also being sought, but we expect a large percentage of the monies from the program to come from those businesses and corporations that sub-contract with us and provide stipends as startup capital for these aggressive ideas.

If you are interested in assisting us in any of these community endeavors, please contact us at:

Thank you and God bless you...

School of Economic & Educational Development (S.E.E.D.©) Inc.