Graduating, not learning

"Graduating uneducated citizens serves nobody. And letting our kids become uneducated by going through a broken education system is simply a crime." 

I have been talking about this for quite a while now. And I am far from being the only one talking about it. There are many of us out here who know the Emperor is not wearing any clothes. Emperor, what Emperor? The Emperor of education, that is who. The education czars who are in charge of educating our children. The ones who have been LYING to us, telling us that things in education are getting better. Well, they are not. All we have done is dumbed down graduation metrics to allow more kids to graduate without learning much. Graduate, yes. Educated, no.

Today in the paper was a pretty good article how not all kids are cut out for college. That is true. Does not mean that some are better than others, just means different strokes for different folks. But the article did contain a nugget which was glossed over. Tim Walz, the outgoing Congressman from CD 1, was quoted in the article. He said that 25% of all kids reporting to college (on day one), are not prepared. That is, not academically prepared.

In my life I have known many who have taken the trade school route rather than the college route. Many of the folks that did so are very, very sharp. It just so happens their passion was for the trades rather than for college. No big deal. But that is not the case here. I have read articles about this for years. Once kids get into college, the veneer is ripped off. There is no place to hide. If you don't know "stuff", that becomes evident immediately. So these kids are forced to take remedial classes (which cost money and for no credit), until they get up to speed. And some never do.

Here is where the Bird goes on his rant. It is not just that kids are graduating without knowing some facts, many are also devoid of critical thinking. Many do learn some facts, and yet have no clue on what to do with them. And (this is the kicker), if you can't learn today, when information is "handed" to you on a silver platter via Google and other search engines, you have a huge problem. And I think I know what the cause of that problem is.

Social promotion. Taking kids from a grade who have not yet mastered that grade, and pushing them forth to the next more challenging grade. Meanwhile, the lack of learning continues to compound.

Last year the Washington Post reported that nationwide, high school graduation rates were at an all time high. However in 2014, the same newspaper reported that only 1/3 of graduates can name the three branches of our government. Many do not know who the Vice President is. Most cannot name all 50 states. And only a handful can correctly name all the state capitals.

Many of us believe we have a broken education system. It sucks. Ever wonder why there is an over abundance of home schooled kids who do well in tests and spelling bees? Because they learn at home. They learn what is being taught. Their parents care. They make sure their kids learn.

Our current government education system needs to be pulled up by the roots, destroyed and rebuilt. We should be able to educate our kids cheaper and better - with no social promotions required.

We first need to take control of our education system back from the teacher's union. That is step one. Making sure kids pass a test at the end of every grade to ensure they learned what is taught is step two.

Graduating uneducated citizens serves nobody. And letting our kids become uneducated by going through a broken education system is simply a crime.