Education systems
Comments (0) School,
It has come to the attention of many that our education system is seriously flawed. I think most of us know and readily accept this fact as the truth. The probleming being that we push all ‘main’ subjects equally. Meaning of course if I have a flair for math and you have one for art then we will be treated ‘equaly’ under the system. Now this does work to foster my math ability because math is a core subject. But, what of your art ability? It will recieve sub-standard classes that are ‘extra-curreiculars’ and can be cut or removed. Now I am not saying we need to all start art classes or abolish core classes. However, we must acknowledge the value of all types of classes, somethign the current system does not.
Secondly, the system does not value more than one type of learning. I personally learn from grasping a concept and sharing it, others learn from auditory, visual and some by doing. Teachers try to use all types of teaching but the current system favors uniformity. It is much easier for teachers to hand out stacks of ’scantrons’ and assignments rather than essays or reading assignments. So the sytem doesn’t work with students paticular intrests and doesn’t embrace student based teaching. Instead what we see is academic bullemia. The idea that I should take in all of the knowledge physically possible then, spew it out all at once onto a test that is a flaw. You don’t learn if you just take it all in long enough for a test. The key should be to have students grasp understand and truly embrace the concepts and ideas they are taught. This requires flexibilty that the current system lacks. Some teachers do this well but many go with the flow.
Now what you see above is hardly in question. We need a reform of our system now more than ever. Now I can’t offer you the perfect solution, I do belive that we should embrace some of the ideas that get left out of the system today but as to what must be done I know not. But, there is one question I never hear asked. The question is what happens to those in school now. That is because the people ‘championing’ reform are adults out of the system. The obvious question is ignored, why should my education be valued if those ahead of me are already skilled at their jobs and those just behind me will be much better educated. Well simply put there is no reason whatsoever to invest in me as a employee if waiting a year will get you a much better employee. Simply put any ‘good’ education reform will devalue the education of others.
Now I think it is fair to say a good education reform regardless of the consequences, is nessacary. However, I would like that question to be awnsered by those who ‘champion’ it. I do not belive in anyway that I am entitled to a gaurenteed future. I would like however to know that the education I am mandated to attend everyday, is going to be valued. In a country where the youth of America already don’t appreciate the education they have available, it will become even harder to explain why we should value it at all.
I can see where this may seem like I am just poking holes in other peoples ideas. But, I want this to raise questions about the things many think are ‘inevitably’ good. Nothing is good. All things have flaws. That doesn’t mean fear things and do nothing but it does mean be aware, be cautious. Anything and everything should be questioned. There are two sides to every coin. Don’t be afraid to play devil’s advocate because if nobody does all we have is a bunch of ‘yes-men’ and that can only hurt our country.
~Tran22
Themocracy