Education in Society
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With so many problems surrounding public schooling, it is difficult to understand where public school is headed. In the article “Taking Sides,” William J. Bennett and Forrest J. Troy tackle the problem from two opposing views. Both sides present a compelling case, while at the same time helping readers to understand the difficulty of creating a program that functions the fullest potential. The article examines one major topic; “Have Public Schools Failed Society?” I hope to answer this question while taking a look at both sides of the coin.
As the former secretary of education, William J. Bennet has a good understanding of what could possibly be right and wrong with public schooling. After placing “goals” schools the United States realized, years later, that they have fallen into a lull. In other words, Bennet believes that the United States has reached a point where the schooling system cannot improve based on the goals they put in place fifteen years ago. This makes perfect sense. Why would a nation as powerful as the United States place “limitations,” on what schools can and cannot do? Learning is constantly growing. With this being said, I believe that the direction that the United States public schools are heading is failure. Teachers and students understand this more than anyone. Each student is completely different, in their own right. To make a blanket statement for the every school and setting the same goals is ridiculous. There are many critics to this status quo idea. They believe that “young Americans are not learning enough for their own or their nations good, that international comparisons rank the U.S. academic performance from the middle to the bottom year after year, and that many employers say that they cannot find people who have the necessary skills, knowledge, attitudes, and habits to do the work.” (Noll 173) If education is supposed to aid in the development of an entire nation, then why do so many people disagree with the system the United States have in place at the moment? If the country continues on this path there will never be room for improvement. I think what Bennet is trying to say is that the world is ever changing, so in the same regard so should education.
Chester E. Finn takes the criticism of education in another direction. Instead of focusing on the downfalls of the education system he believe that the problems stem from society. “A childs sense of “self-esteem” counts more than what he knows.” (Noll 173) Finn believes that children should learn based on their race and ethnicity. The only way I can make sense of this idea is by making a comparison. You wouldnt teach an inner city student how to perform brain surgery, but you would teach him English because chances are this is where he struggles. These problems are based on the belief that every childs situation is the same. In the Kozol book we learned that this is never the case. Knowing each students background is essential in understanding how to teach them. Restricting the creativity of teachers has led children to believe that they might not fit into society. Some public schools have given teachers a choice. This choice allows them to teach what has been placed in the guidelines, or teach what they feel the students truly need to learn. This is a great idea considering that some teachers are viewed as heroes in the eyes of society.
What I found disheartening was the facts about United States schooling. Math and science scores were among the lowest they have ever been. Out the21 developed nations the U.S. ranked 16th and 10th in the two subjects. Bennet described how an entire generation of students had fallen into the perils of public schooling. He gives several reasons for this, but the most prominent one was based on our nations flourishing economy. In such a time of economic success schools have become segregated. The difference between a good and a bad school have become more visible. Bennet described how poor and minority children usually attend poor school. Even the teachers in these schools are lacking when compared to a school in a wealthy area. Expectations have even lowered. Many times parents believe that all schooling is equal, but this is not the case. Depending on what school your child attended, he or she might not be learning the proper things. Many students that graduate from grad school cant even read at a third grade level. This doesnt make any sense, especially when you think that this is the basis for our nation. If children are supposed to be the future of our country, then shouldnt we educate them as though they are all important? Horace Mann described good education as “the balance wheel of the social machinery.” (Noll 176)
Today schools only change when they must. Many times a schools stays in the same place in the education system, but then falters when it becomes time to develop new ideas. The risk that the nation is facing is a stand still in the knowledge that we are teaching our children. The power of education is unimaginable and will continue to be that way until the end of time. It is the teachers and board of educations responsibility to give our children the education that they need to succeed in the world. Too many times in recent generations have we come to this crossroad. Change is not necessarily a bad thing is you think long term. When we watched Pink Floyds “The Wall,” you could see the severe problems facing education. Today European education is among the best in the world. Something had to have happened. Certain people stepped up to the board of education and faced their problems head on. Playing with a childs future is a horrible crime and I believe that is what has been happening in the United States for several years. Schools have created a monopoly. Since a child almost must have an education to succeed, schools will always stay open. Finding the differences in good and bad schools is the problem we are faced with. Correction this problem is the next step. Bennet and his associates have created a short list of ways to fix these problems. 1) Standards, assessments, and accountability. 2) Pluralism, competition, and choice. The standard of learning must increase and constantly change to develop with changes in society. Teachers and schools must have choices and alternatives on their ways of teaching. No longer should each school teach the same. I think Bennet understands how classes and races are different, which has allowed him to come up with these