YOU WANT TO
KNOW WHAT IS WRONG WITH OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM?
ASK A
TEACHER IN THE CLASS ROOM, NOT A POLITICIAN.
There is no
standard child. No two children learn
exactly alike. No two school classes are
alike. Children are not automatons with
a diagnostic chip that you can access to review for standard operation, and
updates that can be download to correct deficiencies to a set standard.
I have been
a teacher. I have taught grades two to 12 and have been a
principal of four different schools. For
what it is worth, I can give you my take on the public school system.
First of all,
we should distinguish between private schools and public schools. A private school’s main objective is not to
teach children. Private schools are in the business of making money; and
offering parents a school society of ‘people
like us.
The public school’s
primary objective is to teach children.
But, our public schools are not preforming efficiently because
politicians, with no teaching experience, are setting the curriculum and
standards. Then the politicians use poor
school performance as a platform for their next election.
Here is my
formula for a productive school.
Standardized
test should be done away with. Like
private schools, standardize testing facilities are in the business of selling
test. Their tests do nothing to
encourage and support student learning and to increase student self-confidence.
Because
every class is different, the teacher, in coordination with the principal, using
the scope and sequence set for that grade level, should determine the daily
curriculum and the standard to be met for her/his particular class.
In
elementary school there are too many subjects taught to be mastered. Elementary school should focus on four main
subjects: reading - to include literature; math; science and writing - to encompass grammar, creative writing,
computer word processing and computer literacy.
Cutting down
the number of classes in the lower grades insures mastery.
Junior high
should have a comprehensive general math review in the seventh grade and
geometry in the eighth; earth science in the seventh grade and environmental
science in the eighth grade – to include
an environmental project requirement; language arts – to include theater, art and art history. There should be an eight
grade geography requirement. With the exception of hard math; the seventh
and eighth grades should be open ended – encouraging research and creative
thinking.
High school
students should have a choice of semester length classes to choose from to supplement
the following year-long requirements: Algebra One, Biology, Physics, Chemistry,
American History, World History, Civics/ U.S. Government – to include a local community project.
Students
graduating from high school should have a good general basic education and should
have been taught to be logical, critical thinkers with their own opinions.
But the
first step is to have the government dramatically increase funding for
education; but otherwise stay out of the actual process of educating students.
It goes without saying: there is no
place for religious doctrine in public education.
It is a shame that our government
doesn’t fund education with the same fervor that it funds the military.
the Ol’Buzzard
