A Time of Forgetting

 

 

 

"We are looking at education through eyes left over from the last century"

 

 

 

I think I might have caused a minor dust up on FB yesterday by besmirching the state and school board planners by authorizing the five "cold days" this month. Maybe I was a bit overboard in calling them "wussies" - for that I apologize (sort of). What I will NOT apologize for is the TOTAL lack of innovation we have in how we educate our young. For example - do you know who did not have five cold days off this month? You guessed it - home schooled kids.

 

In this day of technology, there should be absolutely no excuse for any kid to be sitting at home on his or her posterior when school is not in session. We need to redefine our definition of "education". In other words, education should be a continuum, not an event. There is not "alpha and omega" to learning, no beginning or end. We learn from the time we exit the womb until the time we leave this earthly life.

 

Here are some ideas for 2014. All are possible, and affordable:

• Hybrid learning - At the start of every school year, a DVD disk is handed out to each student in each class. The DVD will have the subject matter to be learned for each day. They can be used for fresh learning, or for review. When it is too hot, too cold, or too snowy for the little darlings to go to school, home school happens that day. In these days of computer cameras, Skype, and so on, this is indeed possible, as well as practical.
• No Summers Off - I have gone round and round with FB friends on this one before. The statistics continue to show an erosion of learning, "memory decay" if want, that happens to our kids after having almost three months off every summer. The first six weeks back is a whole lot of re-runs, just getting the kids back up to speed. It is a tremendous waste of time and resources. We need 220 days of schooling instead of 180.  We also need to ask ourselves - do we want to compete on a world stage, or not?
• Longer School Day - Every time my wife and I are out after 2pm, we risk getting caught up in "high school rush hour". Out at 2? There is no way school for any grade should be out before at least 4pm. Part time schooling yields part time results.
• No Social Promotions - Taxpayers spend good money to have our kids learn, not get passed forward as idiots. No more graduates who can't read or can't think. You stay in school until you learn, or hit age 21. Whichever comes first.
• Fourteen Years - Okay, I lied. This one will cost more money - but it will be worth it. Forget Pre-K. The research has been spotty if that could help or not. I do think that having a 13th and 14th grade will help tremendously. Most would still graduate before their 21st birthday. What kids are able to learn in twelve years now is just a fraction of what they need to know.

Well, there it is. This is not the total answer, but will sure help stem the tide of forgetfulness in our kids. My view on this problem is borne out by the amount of remedial classes many colleges have to offer just to get kids up to square one of learning. Our education is a mess in this country, and will continue to be so until someone with courage and vision steps forward to change it (Hint: It will not the NEA).