I read the article by Bob Herbert and was NOT amazed at the facts and figures he gave regarding our ‘obsolete’ education system. He quotes Bill Gates, “By obsolete, I don’t just mean that they are broken, flawed or underfunded, though a case could be made for every one of those points. By obsolete, I mean our high schools — even when they’re working as designed — cannot teach all our students what they need to know today.”
I’ve seen it. In person. As a nation we are in denial. We think that if our children can use a Game Boy, they are technically savvy. We allow schools to remain open while denying them the funds to actually teach our children. It would be cheaper to hire baby sitters. How many teachers can say that they are technically literate? Not very many! But we have no plans to educate them. Our schools have computers and software that haven’t been seen in the workplace for years. I even know adults that are proud of the fact that they don’t use a computer. ‘Never have. Never will!’
I sometimes think we celebrate the 'ordinary'. Why?
I read Herbert's column this morning and although I know the statistics, I was shocked anew. Long term, this will do more to harm the country's economy, our position in the world and our ability to complete more than anything else.
ReplyDeleteI think one of the reasons education is discussed endlessly, but nothing done is that we call it "education" instead of talking about what it means that so many kids drop out, can't read, don't care that they can't.
When we start talking about the results of our piss-poor schools in human terms, maybe we can begin to formulate an answer.
But first above all, we must instill a respect for knowledge and intellectual pursuits. Until then, nothing's going to work.