EDITORIAL: Why do schools exist?
What is the purpose of education? That question may seem obvious, but ask 100 people why schools exist and there will be 100 different opinions.
Among those opinions, a popular one is that education is for the training of workers in our economy. Indeed, over the last two decades secondary schools have increasingly put an emphasis on workforce development. A growth in vocational programs has ridden that wave and today is a large part of school programs.
But perhaps that idea has gone too far. Schools don’t exist just to train worker-bees for economic development. Students shouldn’t be viewed as mere “products” of an assembly line.
At their core, schools should prepare people to be constructive citizens. A part of that is the building of a common base of civic, cultural, social and political knowledge.
But all too often, that core is missing, either through neglect or extreme political correctness. The common body of knowledge has fragmented such that it really doesn’t exist.
The result is that schools are churning out people who have some specific technical skills, but no understanding of the larger world around them. They can’t balance a checkbook, evaluate political candidates, or understand information that is put into a historical context because they themselves have little historical context. And too many have no concept of how to express their ideas either verbally or in written form.
While schools tend to focus on language and math skills, that doesn’t seem to be working. Take a look at the terrible grammar and spelling by those who put comments on any of the various mainstreetnews.com websites — the inability to communicate clearly is obvious. And while some students do conquer math, many high school graduates can’t compute simple math formulas.
Maybe it’s time for school systems to focus less on developing worker-widgets and more on developing well-rounded citizens.
But perhaps that idea has gone too far. Schools don’t exist just to train worker-bees for economic development. Students shouldn’t be viewed as mere “products” of an assembly line.
At their core, schools should prepare people to be constructive citizens. A part of that is the building of a common base of civic, cultural, social and political knowledge.
But all too often, that core is missing, either through neglect or extreme political correctness. The common body of knowledge has fragmented such that it really doesn’t exist.
The result is that schools are churning out people who have some specific technical skills, but no understanding of the larger world around them. They can’t balance a checkbook, evaluate political candidates, or understand information that is put into a historical context because they themselves have little historical context. And too many have no concept of how to express their ideas either verbally or in written form.
While schools tend to focus on language and math skills, that doesn’t seem to be working. Take a look at the terrible grammar and spelling by those who put comments on any of the various mainstreetnews.com websites — the inability to communicate clearly is obvious. And while some students do conquer math, many high school graduates can’t compute simple math formulas.
Maybe it’s time for school systems to focus less on developing worker-widgets and more on developing well-rounded citizens.
This is where the twin goals of training the workforce and eliminating judgment have led us. We've told students for decades that education is about preparing them for the workplace, and that they should be accepted regardless of the choices they make.
Today much of the workforce needs little in the way of real skills, and without judgment no one can agree on what constitutes a good person. We have therefore made education irrelevant for all but the highest achievers.
Knowledge and valor are no longer desired by our populace; the only thing still valued is knowing where to go for assistance and acceptance.
Mandatory education came about in Georgia as a result of a 1946 law who's purpose was to clear factory floors so returning soldiers could find employment!
GPA does not matter, if you can not process day to day life situations. Also todays workforce is back to blue collar common sense jobs and that is not taught in school. I feel school is needed, I just think some of the academic focus could be adjusted.
That seems to be all you ever hear about.
Do parents desire schools to serve as nannies and surrogates, or do parents hope their children attend to become proficient in math, reading, writing, and many other subjects - including a basic understanding of the mores, principles and truths of the United States of America? (The Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution, federalism, states rights, individual freedoms, self-responsibility, etc.)
In the purest sense, is not the wholesome pursuit of knowledge the purpose of education?
I'm just asking ...
My point exactly, Brent.
It's time to go back to a system that worked 20 years ago which was more vocational/common sense based.
Great editoral !
The harder they have tried over the years to “Fix” the educational system that was not broke in the first place, the farther the children in the USA have fallen behind the rest of the world.