Fixing America’s Broken Educational System on Tola Talks – Ep #227

In this episode, Rich Tola dives deep into the pressing issue of education in America, asserting that the system is fundamentally broken. He shares his personal experiences as a substitute teacher in inner-city schools, highlighting the challenges faced by both students and educators. Tola emphasizes the importance of five key elements for success: desire, discipline, consistency of effort, accountability, and sacrifice, arguing that these traits are often more critical than formal education itself. He critiques the current educational practices, particularly the promotion of students who have not mastered essential skills, and calls for a complete overhaul of the system to better serve all students.

Tola passionately discusses the need for a more tailored approach to education, suggesting that separating students based on their learning capabilities and providing vocational training could be beneficial. He also critiques standardized testing, arguing that it often fails to reflect a student’s true potential and can create unnecessary stress. Throughout the episode, Tola’s fervor for improving education shines through, as he advocates for a system that prioritizes genuine learning and accountability over mere progression through grades.

Watch now and discover: → Education is failing in America and needs urgent reform. → Success is driven by desire, discipline, and sacrifice, not just education. → Promoting students without mastering skills harms their future learning. → Standardized tests create stress and do not reflect true student abilities. → Vocational training could provide practical skills for students who struggle academically.

Fountain of Youth Wins The Firebird Book Award

EIGHTY FOUR AUTHORS AWARDED THE FIREBIRD BOOK AWARD

April 2021 – Speak Up Talk Radio announced the winners of 2021’s first quarter FIREBIRD BOOK AWARDS contest. Eighty four winners were announced in 98 categories.

One of the winning entries was from California author Rich Tola whose book titled How to Drink from the Fountain of Youth: 30 Steps to Everlasting Youth, won in the Aging and Mind/Body/Spirit categories.

Authors and publishers from around the world submitted their work to the Firebird Book Awards. A panel of 12 judges within the writing and publishing space then read every book and independently scored each entry according to a set of standardized criteria that evaluates the quality of the writing as well as production aspects. Only entries with the highest of scores are awarded the coveted Firebird.

Patricia J. Rullo, founder of the Firebird Book Awards, says, “This quarter’s entries were a joy to read and speak to the talent out there. At Speak Up Talk Radio, our mission is to offer radio interviews and podcasting services to help authors expand their reach. In addition to additional prizes, our winners have the opportunity to be interviewed and aired on iHeart Radio, Pandora, as well as 50 additional online venues, giving them new ways to speak up and share their work.”

Pat adds, “We’ve included a charitable component to our awards by making all entry fees tax-deductible to the author. In return, we personally make and send handmade fun and whimsical pillowcases to women and children in homeless shelters via Enchanted Makeovers, a 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization. All entry fees fund this project. In this way, authors can get notoriety for their work while doing good for others. It’s been such a rewarding venture for everyone.”

The Firebird Book Awards run quarterly contests so authors can receive recognition on a timely basis. Authors from all genres, mainstream, independent, and self-published are welcome. Additional winning authors and titles as well as entry information is available at https://www.speakuptalkradio.com

How to Drink from the Fountain of Youth is available in paperback and eBook (English & Chinese) plus the Audiobook narrated by Rich. For information visit www.richtola.com