All Children Left Behind

The education system in this country is broken and it's going to take BIG ideas to make the necessary corrections. I have been concerned about the way we do schools for some time and now more than ever since my children are entering them. Education has become big business, not only at the graduate level but also at the grade school level both public and private. Any time motivation points toward dollars and cents and the pursuit to collect heaping mounds of it, purpose and focus change (even if it is unintentional). Schools are marketing themselves using achievement test scores, facilities/amenities and athletics. What ever happened to judging a school by it's curriculum, quality of educators and track record for meeting students needs no matter where they fall on the academic scale? It seems to me that schools are trying hard to see how many students and families they can attract and enroll instead of making sure the students that are enrolled can think, communicate, write, comprehend, analyze, draw conclusions, and form new ideas of their own.

At the High School level the point seems to be all about preparing every student for college. This is a shift I think, but I cannot explain how it used to be because when I was in HS I too was being prepped for college. Can I say that I don't think everyone is cut out for college? Elitist snobbery at its best, right? Let me finish. Really though, do you think every student should be instructed the same way? Not everyone can be white collar executives or 9 to 5 specialist. Why? Because they just can't; the skill set and personality compatibility doesn't fit. It sounds so simple. Why make it hard? Generally speaking, HS students should have a feel for their natural gifts and abilities. At the very least, they should be well aware of their interests. Let's build on that educationally instead of forcing every student into the same mold. At this stage the fundamentals rule and I wonder if we're not pressing ahead so that SAT results are satisfactory and college entrance essays are crafted just right?

At the University level the emphasis seems to be the indoctrination of a particular political or religious point of view while doing job training for future employers. The University used to be for the elite minds, those who had an aptitude and interest in research and training in fields that maintain and advance society's systems as a whole. The best of the best were needed in areas such as government, law, medicine, business, philosophy, science and others I surely left out. It used to be a privilege to attend college, instead enrollment beyond HS graduation has become an entitlement. Now every college is crammed full and new ones are popping up just in time to get in on this new big business. Are we producing smarter, well-rounded young adults as a result?

Whose fault is it that education has gone this way? Has government interfered by trying to universalize learning? Let me answer that one--Yes. Where does the responsibility lie with parents? I can answer that one too. Parents (um, that's me now) are primarily responsible for the growth and development of children. Shame on us for not asking enough questions or being involved in the school experience. It's our fault for not nurturing and watching them grow; identifying their gifts and interests and then giving them opportunities to mature and excel in these areas.

I'm not angry. I'm a parent who wants to take control and do this thing right. The next generation demands my active participation and purposeful effort. I've written about this generational thing before as it pertains to financial stability. Read my post called FPU Lessons In Legacy to get more. Education is tied to occupation which is tied to standard of living, so changes on how we're doing education in this country has to change. By standard of living I don't mean rich, poor, or this un-defined or mis-defined category of middle class. I'm tired of the daily interactions with disgruntled and under performing people who'd rather be someplace else but aren't because the current educational climate beats them down with money, status, career, and standard of living hype. To have a high standard of living means to be living the life not that you've always dreamed of, but achieving what you CAN achieve and BE who you are naturally as gifted. My role as a parent (as established by myself) is to ensure the fundamentals are mastered and then help direct my children into their areas of giftedness and interest and then present them opportunities to develop the skills necessary to live the high life. This isn't going to be easy but I'm game.