We're Getting Worse?
What is the point of education these days? Why "they" say that is to improve our knowledge, make us smarter, and prepare the next generation, is completely lost to me. While in theory the education system is suppose to increase the intelligence of today's youth it really isn't working all that well. Oh sure, maybe education regulator's are seeing some percentage improvement on these standardized tests which the country is run amuck with, but let's get real, that doesn't mean anything.
Testing Our Smarts
Ask a group of teachers what they think about standardized test and I'll bet you any money they dislike them. With so much pressure put on the curricular system to do well on these tests, to much time is being focused on knowing only the knowledge needed to pass these tests. A common teacher reply is "I feel like I am teaching a test, not a subject." This, in part, is the truth. While once upon a time teachers were actually able to focus on the points of interest of their pupils and of themselves, they must now concentrate almost all of their efforts into making sure students know specific information for these tests. Not only does this make for a narrow minded view of things, but an extremely boring situation for kids to learn in.
Look at the Bigger Picture
Let's break it down from the top. The Bush administration was all guns-ho about this No Child Left Behind Act. They were so determined that all students do well on a certain level, that they didn't take the time to "standardize" these tests well enough. Next, on the state level, state education boards were pressured to come up with tests to assay the level at which the schools in their states were achieving academic proficiency. This is a problem seeing as no two states' tests were quite at the same level of difficulty. Then in the public school level, schools were under the heat to do well on these tests to gain state grants. Next, teachers are forced to reorganize their way of teaching so that they can drive whatever it is they need to into the skulls of every pupil that comes through their classroom. What it comes down to is that the country is a mess with so many different standards that it makes for a mess of stupid little clones running around bumping into each other.
We Are All Human But We're Not All Intelligent
Let's face it folks, this country was built on equality but the unspoken truth is that not all minds are equal. If we were all equal we would have no problems, nor would we have any advances in society. Inequality is simply a way of driving forward. In a classroom environment, pupils are not all at the same level. Some children learn more quickly than others. While some have a strong drive to learn, others could care less. With so many conflicting interests, it makes it difficult to meet the needs of every child. While one child loves to learn, is attentive in class, absorbs everything, and gets good grades, it all goes to not if there is another child who is constantly disruptive in class, making noise, not participating constructively. As children grow older, the more intelligent ones realize that they are being hindered by those around them.
They may come up with the idea that "Why aren't our classes divided into people who want to learn, and those who don't?" I asked my own guidance counselor this question once. The reply was that by mixing the types of students, those who were not adept for the school environment might be pulled up to meet the expectations of their peers. While this is a sound theory, it is shot to bits when actually put into action. What ends up happening is that the smart ones start being dumber, less attentive, becoming distracted from what they want to do by some nuisance. While this may all sound cruel, it is the truth, and is the biggest road block in advancement.
If A Student Can Advance, Let Them
School systems all across America do not allow enough for the individual education of bright individuals who need a challenge. School becomes boring and monotonous when you are not being pushed hard enough and your brain is not being exercised to its fullest extent. Any time a student shows even a trace of excelled prowess in an area of knowledge they should be allowed to advance early, no point in waiting around for the grass to grow. This is not always possible, for to do this, students have to be especially good in all subjects. Instead of allowing someone the chance to be better in a subject they have a natural knack for, they have to slug along at the normal rate because they might not be good enough in other subjects. While it is important to have a well rounded basis in all areas, it would be more helpful, and secure a better future if the individual was kept interested in school by being allowed to be placed in more advanced classes of a certain type, rather being actually upgraded to the next grade. Simply put, if you can do the work, you should be allowed to do it, not held back by injustices.
Take Into Serious Consideration
While by no means is the public or private school system a bad thing, it is a very good thing, it could just be better. Though the option is not open to all families, home schooling might be thought about. Children who are home schooled have been proven to advance faster than they would be allowed to in a public school setting. When tested, they show that they are either at, or above their grade level. While this is not always the case, it is a great way for intellectual children to get the proper education they deserve.
Only Time Will Tell
There have and always will be problems with education, one thing is certain, we should not standardize how dumb everyone should be. Despite the good intentions behind such tests, they are thoroughly ineffective, and should either be revised or eliminated, even Hitler and Binladen had good intentions in their own ways, and look how that turned out. A short story by Kurt Vonnegut, titled "Harrison Bergeron", describes a world where everyone is made to where some kind of handicap to make them all equal, but instead of being positive handicaps which would make lesser persons better, intelligent people weren't allowed to think, dancers weren't allowed to dance well, the fast could no longer be fast, and everything to the most silly degree was made equal, which resulted in a very ridiculous world of patheticness. Although I believe we will never stoop to such a level, education still needs to be broken down to meet individuals on their level, so that the best can be made of the early years when knowledge acquirement is easiest.
Don't be a dummy, be an individual!
