If Americans took education seriously we would invest heavily in reform of this stolid old system originally based on a “factory model” with a schedule run by “farm cycles” that turned into “occupational supervision” while parents work.
Great teachers do great work always and everywhere, but the schools will never be better than the society that builds them. Different kids need different things, but everyone needs to learn how to read, write, and understand math, science, history, thinking and governing. All that is basic knowledge everyone needs. Once you know enough you teach yourself the rest.
Then there is culture, drama, music, arts, shop and mechanics. Basic banking and financial knowledge could be taught by managing a “checking account.” Kids play “house” - why can’t they play “business” in a school class?
The whole educational enterprise needs a fresh look and some creative reform. Piecemeal improvements work better than global impositions from the top down. Money could encourage development of ideas. We should be doing this all the time.
There can always be more of course, but what possible task of society matters more than equipping each generation with the knowledge, skills and attitudes needed to flourish in the wide world.
It actually appears that schools are being used to dumb down the population not lift up society. So many subjects poorly taught and on & on and then there is the issue of teacher pay and top heavy (but well paid) administration.
Changing the way we fund public schools would go a long way in addressing these inequalities! Relying on property taxes ensures kids who are already “sorted” into low-income communities stay there through lack of educational support and opportunities. We also have to stop relying on referenda for much-needed funding (i.e. tax) increases — it’s too easy for wealthy voters who could contribute the most to let a public school fall into disrepair, because they always have the option to send their kids to a private school. (Never mind that 12 years of private school tuition is much more costly to their family than a tax increase spread among the population! 😡)
Society loves to highlight the one unhoused kid who made it big after attending a subpar school and abusive parents, as if they're proof ANYONE can and should find a way to crawl out of a bad situation. Then politicians pat themselves on the back thinking education system doesn't need to change because..that one kid. That and if you help too many children, many of the poor who are non-white, the long term result will be that higher earners will be more diverse. That's the long-term fear, which affects lawmakers' current funding decisions. It really is devastatingly inhumane.
. It’s far from clear whether a given school actually provides a better education or simply has creamed off the best students with the most dedicated families. Or the most dedicated families usually produce good to excellent students. As you also mentioned, lack of support for families in poor areas contributes mightily to lower test scores, regardless of the dedication of the school staff. Another issue that I have been worried about in education, is the question of tax supported vouchers , that can be used in private schools and religious schools. Bad idea! Wealthy and conservative families love the idea of dismantling public education, but middleclass and working-class students will lose, because private schools will raise their tuitions, creating space for for-profit schools which will provide the cheapest mode of education for the most profit!
The whole system of education probably cannot be shifted easily since the community changes rapidly. I do hope that we can support the children in a way they deserved.
If Americans took education seriously we would invest heavily in reform of this stolid old system originally based on a “factory model” with a schedule run by “farm cycles” that turned into “occupational supervision” while parents work.
Great teachers do great work always and everywhere, but the schools will never be better than the society that builds them. Different kids need different things, but everyone needs to learn how to read, write, and understand math, science, history, thinking and governing. All that is basic knowledge everyone needs. Once you know enough you teach yourself the rest.
Then there is culture, drama, music, arts, shop and mechanics. Basic banking and financial knowledge could be taught by managing a “checking account.” Kids play “house” - why can’t they play “business” in a school class?
The whole educational enterprise needs a fresh look and some creative reform. Piecemeal improvements work better than global impositions from the top down. Money could encourage development of ideas. We should be doing this all the time.
There can always be more of course, but what possible task of society matters more than equipping each generation with the knowledge, skills and attitudes needed to flourish in the wide world.
Sorry for the rant. Thanks for writing this.
It actually appears that schools are being used to dumb down the population not lift up society. So many subjects poorly taught and on & on and then there is the issue of teacher pay and top heavy (but well paid) administration.
Maybe it’s a feature, not a bug!
Changing the way we fund public schools would go a long way in addressing these inequalities! Relying on property taxes ensures kids who are already “sorted” into low-income communities stay there through lack of educational support and opportunities. We also have to stop relying on referenda for much-needed funding (i.e. tax) increases — it’s too easy for wealthy voters who could contribute the most to let a public school fall into disrepair, because they always have the option to send their kids to a private school. (Never mind that 12 years of private school tuition is much more costly to their family than a tax increase spread among the population! 😡)
You’re right on all counts.
Americans generally don't like children. Europeans do. I came to this after much observation.
Society loves to highlight the one unhoused kid who made it big after attending a subpar school and abusive parents, as if they're proof ANYONE can and should find a way to crawl out of a bad situation. Then politicians pat themselves on the back thinking education system doesn't need to change because..that one kid. That and if you help too many children, many of the poor who are non-white, the long term result will be that higher earners will be more diverse. That's the long-term fear, which affects lawmakers' current funding decisions. It really is devastatingly inhumane.
The cherry-picking of people who succeeded despite the system as proof that the system is fine drives me nuts.
. It’s far from clear whether a given school actually provides a better education or simply has creamed off the best students with the most dedicated families. Or the most dedicated families usually produce good to excellent students. As you also mentioned, lack of support for families in poor areas contributes mightily to lower test scores, regardless of the dedication of the school staff. Another issue that I have been worried about in education, is the question of tax supported vouchers , that can be used in private schools and religious schools. Bad idea! Wealthy and conservative families love the idea of dismantling public education, but middleclass and working-class students will lose, because private schools will raise their tuitions, creating space for for-profit schools which will provide the cheapest mode of education for the most profit!
The whole system of education probably cannot be shifted easily since the community changes rapidly. I do hope that we can support the children in a way they deserved.