It's true that all job related knowledge is learned on the job. There are some exceptions where book work a head of time makes the application of that work easier, i.e. medical doctor. But I could be persuaded that that too is a trade.
Education should teach us how to think for ourselves, not what to think.
In an episode of Little House on the Prairie, Mrs. Olson decided to model the towns school after the big city schools. She included teaching. She did this to show off and prove that the school was worthy to receive funding from the state (that's a problem right there). The representative from the state rebuked Mrs. Olson for her poor choice in teaching a useless subject. He explained that while French may work in a large city, in this small farming community most kids would not ever use it and would likely benefit from learning more about agriculture or something else that would be of help to them and the town.
We have strayed far from this concept. Even further from the ideals that contributed to the intellect of a founding fathers. When our nation was in its infancy, people would talk and debate. There weren't any electronic distractions to amuse them. People had to learn to use their brains and communicate.
I agree that elementary education is a must, with a primary focus on reading, writing, arithmetic and history. Everything else is filler.
So just where am I going with this rant?
The further we move away from the parent to get the curriculum, the less we teach problem solving and independent thinking.
After I graduated high school, Arizona instituted state wide tests for all grade levels. To graduate from high school the student is required to pass the test. Sounds wonderful up front, I even found myself saying that sounds great!
But something happened, there was a shift in how teachers taught and what they taught. Education was no longer in the hands of the parents, teachers, schools or even the school districts. It all comes through the state board of education. If students pass the test the school gets more funding. (Money is a terrible drug). Good bye true teaching and learning, hello teach and learn to take a test.
Successfully tested in individual states it's now being adopted on the national level. Among the first steps, George W. Bush brought us No Child Left Behind. (Teach to the kid who struggles while make everyone else wait) It has since evolved into Common Core, taking education as faraway as possible from parents, teachers and schools. I admit, the Common Core Standards look nice, but is it what works best? To take away schools choice in curriculum?
In Arizona we have, ideally, a great system. We have opened up the educational field for charter schools. BUT, these schools are required, in order to get their charter, to use the Common Core Standards and use the state administered tests. So I ask, where is my choice again? I have my choice of all these great A+ rated schools but they are all required, by the state, to teach using these federally funded standards.
Lets collapse the educational system and get back to Common Sense. ENOUGH of the false choices.
(False choice: when you think you have a choice but really it's between things that are the same, kind of like when you first start letting a child make decisions so that they will ultimately do what you want but allows them to feel like they are in control).
As I examine education and the way we, as society, make it the end all and be all, I can see the False Choices being given everywhere from elementary education to a two year degree from a local college. Lets put an end to the false choices and demand that we are not two year olds who can't make a decision without hurting ourselves. Before making a choice between things look at it, make certain they really are giving you a choice. If not, then declare it a False Choice and make a real one.
Education is our first responsibility, lets do it right. Closer to home, is always better.
