Recently Mark Zuckerberg, the founder of the internet social networking site FaceBook, announced that he would be making a donation of $100,000,000.00 to the public school system of Newark, New Jersey. According to figures obtained from the groups School Watch and Excellent Education for Everyone, the Newark public schools spent an unbelievable $23,141.00 per student in the academic year 2007-08. In spite of that expenditure, student achievement remained abysmally low. Students who were unable to meet eighth grade standards were still allowed to receive diplomas through a flawed and controversial "Special Review Assessment" process. Mr. Zuckerberg evidently feels that throwing yet more money to the Newark public schools will somehow succeed where previous efforts have failed.
Many questions immediately come to mind: How will the hundred million dollars be spent? Will it hire more administrators, more consultants, more administrative assistants? Will it be spent on meaningless programs that obfuscate the real issues and mask failure? How will the effectiveness of such a large donation be assessed? In short, we need to know just how this money will impact students.
Today vast segments of our population (and not solely the young) struggle with illiteracy, have limited awareness of geography, are unable to perform simple mathematical computations, have little or no awareness of foreign languages other than what they grew up speaking, and, sadly, repeat the mistakes of history, having not learned its lessons. It was just a short time ago that a Ph.D. educational supervisor in North Carolina advocated sweeping changes in the teaching of American history at the high school level that would omit systematic study of events prior to 1877. What can we do to change this?
Yes, we still have many fine schools, but we must guard them carefully and keep a careful watch on them to make sure they are not targeted by "reforms" that would eviscerate the education they offer. We should also study not only what makes a good school, but, more importantly, what makes a good teacher. More on that soon!
What do you think?
Thanks,
Gary
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Here in Little Rock the state is finally investigating the county school district because it's been discovered that a large sum of money has been abused by the administration and the faculty as well, for theater tickets, night club parties and so on. It's typical. Either there's infighting, disagreement and personality clashes or in some cases teachers have walked out. One student exposed structural problems with a high school, problems the administration knew about yet did nothing. However, funding has been provided for football and basketball. The homecoming queen and the senior prom, the various social gatherings, cell phone abuse, texting, bullying, x-rated photos, teen pregnancy, pot smoking, meth availability -- well, kids are going to do that anyway. Teachers protest a salary scale, don't want to return to school for additional education courses, the majority are older women who might have certification -- and all the while students are not faring well in math and science, but they do know all about the Razorbacks and girls line up for cheer leading classes. So why not take a page from Germany's approach to education and place students in work programs, apprenticeships, internships etc so at least they will be equipped to earn a living? Instead of running the streets and God knows what else? No easy answer as long as education really doesn't exist.
ReplyDeleteWe need to study world history AND American history...unfortunately we have allowed the curriculum to be influenced by administrators who don't really care. My kids had a school district with adequate funds, yet they tolerated much deficiency in the classwork presented. If one thing needs to be done, it would be surveying all students and parents at the end of a year and putting it together in evaluating the teacher. I always felt teachers were telling to be a good parent and just leave them alone. I had good ideas and they were just shoved aside. I supported my kids teachers, but they often treated me like a moron, which I am not.
ReplyDelete(From a reader unable to log on)
ReplyDeleteGary, I agree that it is necessary to conduct such a systematic assessment as you recommend in your conclusion. Perhaps that assessment should go even a little deeper. Perhaps it should start with defining education (say, as distinct from training, and as distinct from indoctrination). We should decide what we think are the benefits of education, as we define it, for the individual, and for society.
"Yes,"(to the comment made by the person that could not log on) my sentiments exactly!
ReplyDeleteWHAT DO WE (Americans) WANT OUR YOUTH TO LEARN, and WHY?
We need to re-visit, re-evaluate and re-invent our 'philosophy of education;' whereby, re-establishing a brand-spankin' new foundation of American Education. Some folks like to tout the antiquated system of education by our forefathers, mothers, aunts and uncles, and shame our current, failing system because it cannot in any way, shape or form, measure up to that of their educational accomplishments. However, you just can't compare today's American society and it's current needs, to even it's own history of education, when it bears very little resemblance to yesteryear's society. That system worked for our forefathers and mothers, cousin, et al, but today's society is far more complicated than that of baby America. Likewise, should we compare ourselves to even another country, and then, perhaps, adapt and implement a foreign model of education? Nope. (Albeit, borrowed ideas from successful education models around the World, may ultimately prove helpful to heal our educational woes!(?)) Though, very unlike us 'exclusive, stubborn and egotistical' Americans, we really should always keep an open mind toward ALL bright-minded scholars(no matter where they may be hiding)!
What I propose is that we sincerely examine our philosophy of education; as a current, American Society. If we cannot apply our minds to stating what we need to teach our own children in order to sustain the development of our country's future, there will be those (ahem) who will readily jump right in and do that job for us. Ultimately, we US citizens give up the freedom to choose our country's direction, and put our lives into the hands of.....politicians.....corporations.....even foreign governments (maybe!?).....who, most likely, have their own, self-interested agendas. (We have to start thinking for ourselves and stop being so lazy. Easily put.)
Based on future, societal goals, and hopefully, thinking that includes sustaining and maintaining the American Family unit, what is it that we, as American citizens, want to TEACH our children?
Once we clearly outline an educational philosophy that works for today's America, we can begin the work that will be necessary to implement it.
For you that haven't seen The White House's education plans, here's the link: http://www.whitehouse.gov/issues/education
ReplyDelete...cradle to career...