Less is More

It seems that over the past 10 or 15 years more and more requirements have been added to graduation. Certainly the world has grown far more complex, but does that mean that the required credits for high school graduation must follow suit? More and more, students are being pushed towards a college bound education, whether they want it, are capable or it, are qualified for it, or not.

Yes, we need more students going to college, and majoring in science and engineering if our country wants to maintain its technological edge. However, not all kids are capable of obtaining a college degree, either because of genetics, motivation, or finances. Forcing more credits for a high school diploma will not alter a child’s genetic structure, their motivation, and certainly not provide him or her with the necessary tuition.

We are always going to need: dishwashers, auto mechanics, carpenters, plumbers, waitresses, cashiers, etc. These are all careers that require trade school at most. Does taking four years of high school science really make someone a better auto mechanic? Doubtful. But a well rounded education, including the core subjects and electives will certainly make him or her a better human being.

An example of letting the old go for new is: replace handwriting (cursive) with keyboarding skills. Certainly it is difficult to argue that in the 21st century, keyboarding is a vital skill to learn. Most jobs, including auto mechanic and serving necessitate the usage of computers, and the ability to type certainly makes that part of the job more efficient. I would argue that the ability to write in cursive is virtually useless in the computer age that we now live in. Therefore, we should reexamine the need to teach cursive in schools in lieu of teaching keyboarding in the elementary grades.

So too, other courses or requirements should be reevaluated for their usefulness in the 21st century. To maintain a balanced education, for every thing that is added, something should be taken away.

The Whines of Change

Whether motivated by political, economic, or social conditions, education has always undergone and withstood change. Most recently however, as our world seems to accelerate in changing through mass globalization; increased usage and availability of technology; and the continuing breakdown of cultural barriers, the field of education is having extreme difficulties keeping up with the rest of the world. Why is this? Do educators fail to take advantage of new technologies? Does the education system lack appropriate funding to supply technology to students and faculty? Is the entire education system antiquated? The answer to all three of these issues is yes.

A very large problem that education faces today is unfunded mandates. Many states as well as the federal government have very lofty visions for technology in education, and have passed laws to ensure the adoption of technology. Unfortunately for students, the lawmakers generally haven’t supplied funds to help make these great visions a reality. This leads to the problem of teachers not being able to take advantage of technology because they lack appropriate training in hardware and software, or the tools are not available.

The education system is also still based on the factory model from the 20th century. Unfortunately, the world is no longer an off the rack, one sized fits all place. We have the ability to custom order most items and services to suit our own specific needs. The No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) serves to attempt to force this same kind of change upon the field of education. Unfortunately, a federal law such as NCLB only serves to strengthen the factory model, not to overthrow it. Education reform will have to take place at all levels, and simultaneously for it to truly be effective and lasting, and all parties including teachers, administrators, parents, and politicians will have to be held accountable for the outcomes.

Unfortunately, this is a vast and multifarious problem, which will require an equally mammoth and multifaceted series of solutions.