RSSMaking Our Education System Better
Dennis AuBuchon | May 29, 2010
We currently have a great educational system. Is it perfect, the answer is no. Nothing in this world is perfect. There are always going to be challenges and obstacles in any system but our education system is the key area to helping to make our country greater with more respect. The problems with the system are not how it is structured but how the different elements communicate. This involves communication between those making the decisions and those who must implement them.
In any system there are going to be issues. It is how those issues are addressed that can make or break the system. There have been recent incidents involving proposed changes to textbooks that impact the curriculum in our nation’s schools. The current question about our educational system as it is now is not whether it needs to be changed but what needs to be changed to make it better. Anytime change is contemplated for anything it is important to look at the whole picture and/or process to determine what is working and what needs to be changed. Making changes to a system which impacts those attributes that are working can make a system worse not better. While our system is great there are things that can make it better.
Some feel the structure of our educational system is at fault for the problems that currently exist. Structure is not usually the problem in most cases and the educational system is no different. A well structured system can be great but how the system actually operates to achieve results can be the issue. Many individuals want to make changes in what is now being taught in our schools and has been for years. The effort by some is an attempt to reflect their philosophy and perception which is in some cases different than the principles upon which this country was founded.
Our country has a rich history and that history with all the bad times and the good must be taught and continue to be taught in all our schools. The principles that are included within our Constitution are important and should remain in textbooks used in the schools of today and those of tomorrow. As previously mentioned making changes in our educational system involves the concept of communication.
Communication is the key to all things for without it bad decisions can be made and will impact all those affected by them. The process for making changes in the educational system is a good one. One ingredient which seems to be missing in some cases is the basis for making changes in the curriculum and whether they are justified. I do agree that sometimes changes to curriculum are necessary based on new information. Changes are a normal occurrence not only in our schools but in business as well. What seems to be lacking is the justification for making changes is often not explained to the public and the parents of the students especially at the levels below college. This does not mean that the same conditions do not exist in college courses.
Recent events in Texas and the textbook controversy have brought the issue of changes to the education curriculum in the United States. While the controversy is not over there appears to be a lack of not only understanding the changes being proposed but some may not have actually read the proposed changes. We criticize our elected officials for not reading documents before them before they make a decision. We should criticize ourselves for the same thing. Before making a decision on anything it is important to read the information before we can adequately make a decision on whether we agree or not agree to the information. This is critical in this election year with many issues on the ballot across the country. We must understand what is being asked through accurate information before we say yes or no on the ballot.
Granted there are problems identified in statistics about how our school system has fallen behind other countries in some subjects. While this should be a concern we must understand who is making the comparison. Subjects that are noted to have a reduction in the rating as compared to the rest of the world need to be examined as to why and what other countries are doing different. We do not necessarily need to make the changes to coincide with information in other countries but we need to take steps to make these subjects and the methods to teach them better. Each country is unique with its own history and events and this is great but we do not need to make the subjects the same as the rest of the world. This would in effect be letting other countries and their educational system influence ours and this would be wrong.
Making our educational system better takes more than making changes to the curriculum being taught. It takes the right instructors/teachers to convey the message to their students so they understand the significance of the subject and how it is important for them as individuals and society. Granted some subjects may not have a direct correlation to society as a whole but our history and the experiences this country has had is important. Making drastic changes in our educational curriculum is in my opinion not needed. Our educational system should reflect our history, the principles upon which this country was found and the events that have taken place.
I wish to state again that our educational system is great. Changes to it need to be carefully considered and compared to the history and events of our country. This not only involves subjects related to our history but any subject. Making changes to any subject should not be taken lightly as it may or will have an impact on the way students learn and the values they take with them when they enter society. The basis for change needs to be identified along with the justification for them. This is one way that the changes can be understood and makes the changes easier to incorporate. Many times those making decisions about changes have not actually been in a current classroom environment to understand how the decisions they make will impact the way a subject is taught. This connection is important if solid decisions are going to be made to make the system or subject better.
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