What Education Does vs. What I Want It To Do
Education is a fundamental part of every American’s life. Since it is such an integral part of a young person’s formation, it is key to realize the purpose that schools serve. A highly debated topic, the purpose of the education system means many different things to different people. I believe that the actual purpose of schools is for students to gain test scores and credentials in order to take the next step in their lives, while I believe the true purpose of education should be to craft exemplary citizens for the betterment of their community.
While I would argue that most teachers do not have the intention to just give students the necessary lessons to move the student to the next level of education, unfortunately due to the way the system is set up, this has become the true purpose of the school system. With an over emphasis on testing, learning is no longer learning, but instead learning has become the ability to memorize facts and processes and being able to regurgitate them on a test. Many of the problems with the system have to do with standardized testing. The biggest issues with standardized testing are brought to light in John Oliver’s video below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J6lyURyVz7k
Another huge problem, as pointed out to me by Professor Wilder, is high stakes testing being tied to accountability with the students, the teachers, and even the schools. This connection breeds a bad form of teaching as well as learning, as all the year’s preparation are tailored to help the students pass the test. Also, as stated in the John Oliver segment, the stakes are so high that some children find themselves throwing up before the test because they are so nervous (John Oliver). One thing that could be done to help this is to follow the model that Finland has set up, where assessments and standards are set up on a local level. This allows for the makers of the curriculum to be more in touch with the teachers who teach it and the students who learn it (SmithsonianMag.com).
While above I have told you about what I see the purpose of education being in our schools today, I believe the true purpose of education should have less of a focus on grades and more of a focus on nurturing the students and showing them how to become good citizens who can not only do good for themselves, but also further the betterment of their society and community. My views on what education should accomplish align somewhat closely with Horace Mann’s. Similar to Mann’s opinion, I too believe that the school system should cultivate the children’s growth not only as young learners, but also as young people. While it may sound cliché, I believe a large purpose of schools is to help children develop social skills, help children gain the ability to solve problems in groups, and to ultimately give them the necessary foundational skills that they’ll use in their everyday life.
While everyone has differing views on what the purpose of education should be, I believe that mostly anyone would agree that preparing kids for a successful life after school through the formation of good social skills is an absolutely pertinent function of the school systems. Helping the individual child is the first step, which eventually leads to the whole of our society being benefitted by the learned students becoming implemental in their respective communities.
Works Cited
“Horace Mann.” Bio.com. A&E Networks Television, n.d. Web. 14 May 2016.
King, Martin L., Jr. “The Moral Purpose of Education.” John Henry Newman (n.d.): n. pag. Web. 14 May 2016.
Mann, Horace, Mary Tyler Peabody Mann, George Combe. Mann, and Felix Pécant. Life and Works of Horace Mann. Boston: Lee and Shepard, 1891. Print.
“Why Are Finland’s Schools Successful?” Smithsonian. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 May 2016.
