What is the future of Education?

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1622

Abstract

told me that students were just unable to pass the algebra class without taking remedial first. I bet him a steak dinner that not only would I pass, but I would also get an A.I went to class and the professor asked everyone to get out their calculators. I was puzzled. I had never used a calculator for algebra. Everything I did was written out. How can you learn algebra if you let a computer do the calculation? I finally relented midway through the semester and purchased a calculator but only because some of the problems were extremely complex and were taking more time than I wanted to spend. Oh, and at the end of the semester, I collected on my bet and the steak was delicious.I received the only A given in the class. In fact, I was the only one to pass the class and that shocked me. The department head told me later that was the norm. Even with remedial algebra, it would take students at least two tries to pass college algebra. For me, it was almost as easy as high school algebra. That told me almost 30 years ago that there was a difference between the education I received in high school and what kids in the 90s had received.Now we are in the 21st century and the impetus is on ‘passing the test’. Teachers' goals are to have all of their students pass standardized testing, whether or not they actually learn the material needed to advance to college. It is my contention that the students we are producing in 2022 are not nearly as advanced as those who graduated in 1976. Although they are learning different things and can do some exciting activitie

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s, the general outcome is that those students are missing some key skills.Here’s the other problem with education today. We are seeing a dramatic push, especially from right-wing interests, to censor much of what our students should know. We are continually hearing the fight against CRT (Critical Race Theory) in schools, even though CRT is an advanced college course that is not a part of public school programs. The radical right is using CRT to push other white supremacists theories and ultimately their goal is to end public education (and the taxation that comes with it).We are hearing stories from many states that want teachers to file their lesson plans a year in advance. Their specific daily plans, not just an outline of the plan, with no opportunities to make changes without the approval of citizen-led groups. Some of the stories are scary and teachers are leaving the profession in droves. But that just works for those who want to end education. If there is no one to teach, then there is no reason to have the schools.I believe this is all a push for the rich to get richer at the expense of the general public. After all, an illiterate public is more likely to worship at the altar of whoever gives them means to feed and house.Education is not something that is only for school-aged parents, but it is important for our economy and democracy to continue. We must push unfettered thought in our campuses, both public and collegiate and we must push back against those who would censor facts they don’t agree with.</article></body>

More precisely, public education

Photo from Pixabay via Pexels

Public education is under attack in the United States of America and the battles are being won by the enemy. Actually, the war on education has been going on for several decades as governmental policies have watered down the curriculum to a shadow of its former self.

I graduated from high school in 1976. Yes, I’m older than dirt. I tried a year of college but ended up dropping out after the first year and going to work full-time as a radio announcer. I was a good student in high school, mostly A’s and B’s, and graduated 23rd in my class of 653 in my West Texas town. Scholarships were few and far between and my college venture was mostly out of pocket.

I did not return to college until 1992 while working at a university. I went full-time in 1993 and earned my bachelor's in 1995, graduating with honors. Despite being out of school for over 15 years, I found that I was more prepared for college than those who had graduated recently. One of the biggest examples was my college algebra class. When I signed up for college algebra I was told that I had to take remedial algebra first. (Math was one of my strong points in high school, and I had used algebraic equations in radio engineering for years). I refused and had to go to the dean of the department to get a waiver. He told me that students were just unable to pass the algebra class without taking remedial first. I bet him a steak dinner that not only would I pass, but I would also get an A.

I went to class and the professor asked everyone to get out their calculators. I was puzzled. I had never used a calculator for algebra. Everything I did was written out. How can you learn algebra if you let a computer do the calculation? I finally relented midway through the semester and purchased a calculator but only because some of the problems were extremely complex and were taking more time than I wanted to spend. Oh, and at the end of the semester, I collected on my bet and the steak was delicious.

I received the only A given in the class. In fact, I was the only one to pass the class and that shocked me. The department head told me later that was the norm. Even with remedial algebra, it would take students at least two tries to pass college algebra. For me, it was almost as easy as high school algebra. That told me almost 30 years ago that there was a difference between the education I received in high school and what kids in the 90s had received.

Now we are in the 21st century and the impetus is on ‘passing the test’. Teachers' goals are to have all of their students pass standardized testing, whether or not they actually learn the material needed to advance to college. It is my contention that the students we are producing in 2022 are not nearly as advanced as those who graduated in 1976. Although they are learning different things and can do some exciting activities, the general outcome is that those students are missing some key skills.

Here’s the other problem with education today. We are seeing a dramatic push, especially from right-wing interests, to censor much of what our students should know. We are continually hearing the fight against CRT (Critical Race Theory) in schools, even though CRT is an advanced college course that is not a part of public school programs. The radical right is using CRT to push other white supremacists theories and ultimately their goal is to end public education (and the taxation that comes with it).

We are hearing stories from many states that want teachers to file their lesson plans a year in advance. Their specific daily plans, not just an outline of the plan, with no opportunities to make changes without the approval of citizen-led groups. Some of the stories are scary and teachers are leaving the profession in droves. But that just works for those who want to end education. If there is no one to teach, then there is no reason to have the schools.

I believe this is all a push for the rich to get richer at the expense of the general public. After all, an illiterate public is more likely to worship at the altar of whoever gives them means to feed and house.

Education is not something that is only for school-aged parents, but it is important for our economy and democracy to continue. We must push unfettered thought in our campuses, both public and collegiate and we must push back against those who would censor facts they don’t agree with.