K-12 schools are
the universals of education for our children- the common experience of all
citizens for adult life as Jefferson envisioned it. The original goals
were to assure that all participants have sufficient knowledge to share in
democratic processes and values. In colonial periods, it was to allow
individual access to the Bible. However, as the country and economy grew
the goals became infused with the need for skills of the industrial workplace
and consumerism. At present, there is an emerging view that K-12 must be
sufficiently rigorous to allow success in further education. State Legislators are
considering college aptitude exams for all high school students and Obama has
argued that a high school graduate should be ready for at least one additional
year of study or training. At the same time, Federal Law enforces a
goal of meeting proficiencies for all students regardless of race or
socioeconomics, although it leaves the selection of those proficiencies to
individual states. But as experienced by the child, K-12 is an experience
of cultural traditions, socialization activities and organizations, group affiliations
and loyalties. For the student, accumulation of these is equal in
importance and sometimes in conflict with the achievement of the Jeffersonian
vision. When we lose public education, will we lose our democracy?
Just finished reading Sec. of Education's comments about teacher prep and was highly supportive. For one, when a person mentioned using "data" to achieve better student results, my mind clicked shut immediately as it sounded like paperwork, boring facts/figures that had nothing to do with living breathing humans. HOWEVER, if explained simply and eased into it, I think a teacher would find that it actually can be of benefit to both the students and yourself. Why don't you contribute any "data" here that has helped you with your class prep/goals/achievement?? Could help alot of others!!
Posted by: Jona Henry | 10/22/2009 at 09:53 AM