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What if Education Died?
on September 2, 2009
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The federal government needs to get out of education. Privatize the system and let corporations and businesses invest in the education of workers they...
The federal government needs to get out of education. Privatize the system and let corporations and businesses invest in the education of workers they will inherit. Close the doors on all the schools at the close of the school year and hold an auction for each building, asset and personnel in the country. Dissolve the unions that are sucking dollars away from the taxpayer. States could form consortiums that would monitor performance and achievement.
I got a million ideas on how to help build a new system but you are correct. The old system needs to die.
on Sep 8, 2009
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I realize the title for this week's entry is a bit morbid, but there is a larger point to be made. Over the past week, the country has seen endless images and heard constant remembrances of the life and times of Senator Edward Kennedy. From his days as the youngest child of the Kennedy clan to his long — and sometimes troubled — career in the Senate, the things to say about Teddy Kennedy's life seem to be never-ending.
No matter your politics, he had an amazing life. He was in the political spotlight since childhood, as his father Joe Kennedy served as the ambassador to England. Obviously, his brothers' deaths thrust him into a greater spotlight where he legislated for 40+ years. Last week, as he lay in repose at the JFK Presidential Library, then at the memorial and finally at Arlington National Cemetery, many wonderful and positive things were said about the senator. His name is on more than 1,000 pieces of legislation, and his work as a senator touched people nationally as well as locally. Like I said, no matter your political beliefs, his life's work should be respected.
So I started to think: What if education died and we found ourselves spending the week eulogizing the system of education? What would we say? How would we react? Would we even be sad?
I have spoken at many funerals, and there's an art to conducting a service that honors the deceased and is honest. For someone who was tough to get a long with, always in a bad mood and a mean person, words of encouragement come out a little strained. For one who was full of life, had a great attitude and was a genuine friend, words are easy but the sadness can be overwhelming.
By making this death comparison to education, I think I am trying to make a point (and it is evolving as I write). The current system of education needs to die. We need to have a memorial service, say a few nice things and then bury it. Bury it as deep as we possibly can. Bury bad practices and bad systems. Lay to rest tired methods of classroom delivery and lack of creative innovation. Allow the former educational system to rest in peace. And then start anew!
Build a new system that starts with the needs of the students and creates from there. Re-build teacher colleges to allow prospective teachers the ability to be innovative from day one. Breathe a new life of fresh air into an old system that has been dying for years. This can happen, and it will one day. And on that day, I will be happy to bring the flowers and offer some of the first words of condolences. But then, the past will be the past and the future will be right in front of us. It will be time to live a new educational life and that will be one worth living!
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Comments
on Sep 8, 2009
The federal government needs to get out of education. Privatize the system and let corporations and businesses invest in the education of workers they will inherit. Close the doors on all the schools at the close of the school year and hold an auction for each building, asset and personnel in the country. Dissolve the unions that are sucking dollars away from the taxpayer. States could form consortiums that would monitor performance and achievement.
I got a million ideas on how to help build a new system but you are correct. The old system needs to die.
on Sep 8, 2009
It is time to move our education system out of the agricultural and early industrial era. We need national curriculum standards not 50 state standards. It is time to end the funding of education through local property taxes.
on Sep 8, 2009
I wonder if Mr. Speck has been in a classroom lately. I have visited all the Sacramento City District classes in 98 schools in the past five years that I have served on the school board. What I found are dedicated teachers, bright students and involved parents working hard to get better. Do we need to restore the arts on a larger scale, yes. Do we need more community service projects, yes. Do we need longer school days and years to accomodate this learning, yes. Do we need less union, state and federal control yes. Remember that the American school system, with the greater freedom for innovation in the 60's and 70's, gave birth to the babyboomer generation---the genesis of the information age. Don't throw out the baby with the bath to change the water.
on Sep 9, 2009
I have taught high school for 33years now. There is nothing wrong with the school system or the teachers or the unions which protect our rights as teachers. The problem is the lack of disipline at home and respect for adults that we had as students but this generation lacks. Before you big mouth conservative know-it alls speak,maybe you should spend a month shadowing a teacher and see who works harder, us or the students who need a diploma.
