Everyday new ideas and advances in technology are welcomed with open arms. The way we live our day to day lives looks vastly different than life did 20 years ago. It brings up the question if everything around us changes why does the way we approach education stay the same? Our current modern education system was established in 1837, that’s 184 years old. Times have changed but is seems as if the education system has not. Unfortunately, the system that we continue to use only supports and gives opportunities to certain types of students. This has failed children countless times, and yet, is still used every year. There must be a better way to teach our children that caters to several learning types, and all abilities. How can we carry on with education this way and allow millions of kids to not have the chance at success?
It is concerning that if someone traveled to the future from 150 years ago that the education system would still be familiar to them. What may be even more concerning than the education system does not change, is that it does not work. The system that we used today was built on the foundation of teaching obedience. Students who are obedient are awarded. Students who are obedient and are good at memorization, deemed top of their class. Regurgitating information celebrated more often in the classroom than free thinking. This is a box that not every student can fit inside. In fact, this is a box that a lot of students can not fit inside “40% of high school students need remedial courses once they start college.” That is close to half of the student population that is unable to remember what they are being taught. The current system is test based; students are graded based on how well they perform on tests. Are taking tests the only way to measure intelligence? The modern education system thinks so.
In 1983 a professor of education Howard Gardner brought forth his theory of intelligence. Dr. Gardner proposed that there were eight different intelligences ranging from emotional intelligence, to being intelligent with nature. Schools only focus on two types of these eight intelligences which are the linguistic or the ability to be intelligent with language and words, and logical-mathematical intelligence which speaks for itself. Gardner’s theory really makes a lot of sense everyone is good at something, but not everyone is good at the same things. This has how the world has been able to thrive and grow. Artists create entertainment, those good with math become accountants, writers keep us informed with newspaper articles. Everyone has a skill to offer a spot in the community to keep it functioning. We know everyone is unique and our schooling should reflect that narrative.
Schools could improve if we let go of the idea that there is only one type of intelligence. Some private and charter schools have already begun to use new ways of approaching how students learn. The mainstream school system is sadly far behind. If we nurtured creativity, and other cheered on skills other than just those good at test taking, not only would the school system be completely different, but communities would as well. How can we expect our students to change the world when we cannot even change the system that has failed for decades? Students deserve the opportunity and environment that will allow them to thrive. The learner should be encouraged to think outside of the walls that we have held up for all these years rather than turned down with a bad mark for a different way of viewing something. We should not oppress the moldable minds of our vibrant youth to fit into a confined space where only some move forward to reach higher goals because of their willingness to comply to age old structure. Schools should be maximizing the ability for students to gain confidence in what they are good at, hone in on their strengths as well as give support and alternative ways of learning for their weaknesses. Humans do not have a “one size fits all” brain, so a “one size fits all” education system simply is set to fail.
Another issue with the education system other than is lack of inclusiveness for all students, is its ability to teach useful life skills. We go through school from K-12 graduating high school as young adults around the age of 18 years old. While in school we are taught mathematic formulas, read poetry far before our time, and several lessons. What we are not taught is many life skills that would come to be crucial to surviving as an adult. How to prepare your taxes, the credit score system and how it works, how to apply for a mortgage loan. Why is it these things are not included in our education? It makes it seem as if we are just meant to find out on our own through trial and error, and some errors that take years and thousands of dollars to come back from. We do not give students the tools they need to become successful in their futures. This is not only failing the student, but it is failing our society as well the students who could not become successful turn into adults who struggle to become successful, and in turn a society that has a hard time being successful. Giving strength to our students eventually gives strength to our communities and our future.
We can improve the quality of education by making some real changes on the old ideas that we have kept for so long. Standardized testing should be done away with. Test scores have proved for quite some time that these methods are dated, and not productive. More funding should be put into schools as we know, money makes the world go round and this is no different for the education system which is always severely lacking the funds it needs to function at the bare minimum level, arts and music programs always being the first to be done away with. Recognize that there are complex ways of learning other than memorization and engage in other forms rather than just book-based learning and testing. Teach the teachers how to identify these different types of learning and intelligences and encourage them to support all types of learners in the classroom. Be sensitive to mental health while offering coaching and counseling to help teach students to understand how to be emotionally healthy. Encourage things that may be new, or different what works for someone may not for another and a big part of succeeding in life is finding what works for you and leaning into that role. It is long overdue for us to create a better environment for students. We owe it to those who have fallen to the waist side because of the ineffective system we continue to use. Understandably, it may not happen overnight but if we begin to make small changes we have the potential to see huge results.
sourcres used:
We Know Our Education System Is Broken, So Why Can’t We Fix It? (fastcompany.com)
8 Ways We Can Improve Schools Today For A Better Future Tomorrow (forbes.com)
Multiple Intelligences | Thomas Armstrong, Ph.D. (institute4learning.com)
Hi Nekole overall good essay although I was confused at times what the argument of the essay was, Ounce I figured it out you did provide sufficient eviedence and facts to support the argument. You could be more specific when talking about the standardized testing..what standardized tests. ..for what grades..when are they taken..what is the purpose of them? The paragraphs for the most part do focus on one point. I do not read anywhere where the write writer about any opposing views. The work is cited in MLA format.
Your passion for educational reform comes through clearly here. Organization is fine, and your writing overall is quite competent. I do think you’re tackling more than can be handled in a short essay, though. I’d suggest focusing either on multiple intelligence angle or life skills (you could focus just on financial literacy, or expand to other life skills as well).
A few things to consider:
–You’ve got a research question here at end of para. 1 but not a thesis–A thesis should make a specific claim, with an indication of how you will structure your argument (typically the main reasons you’ll use to support your claim).
–Some of the background info about education system seems to need evidence, or some experts to support you. It seems to me an extreme claim to say education hasn’t changed in 184 years. I did hands-on learning in the 60s and 70s, and strategies like differentiated instruction are commonly taught in teacher-prep programs There may be experts who claim education has not changed *enough*–but I don’t think you have the authority to just assert that without support.
–Generally you don’t seem to be using research sources much here. I’d like to see some stats and quotes from experts here, with more specific info. I do really like that stat about 40% of college students needing developmental education–that’s persuasive, and could be a good place to start (or to highlight in para. 1 at least).
–Some of info in last para. appears out of the blue–funding, for exmple.
–Work is needed on citation, both in-text citation to indicate where info comes from, and Works Cited needs to be put in MLA format. Let me know if you need more info about how to do that, or consult resources on right sidebar of blog.