Now say it with a little intonation and moral outrage and what we are really saying is that the wrong group is calling the shots. Let’s face it…in spite of the vitriolic reaction to the word “socialized”, much in America is “socialized”. No one objects to socialized roads, socialized sewers, a socialized fire department, socialized water filtration or a socialized military. In spite of the criticism (often deserved) levelled against much in the “socialized” public school system, few would suggest that America return to the days where only the elite are permitted the luxury of teaching their children to read and write. A socialized library and socialized text books are ok, but “socialized” internet access is just going too darn far.
5 year-olds are showing up in kindergarten plugged in and connected and computer literacy skills are now as fundamental as the ABC’s of yester-year. Yet schools continue to block internet access mistakenly believing they are “protecting” children from the evil that lurks on the internet while failing to teach them the skills they need to navigate the cyber world critically and safely.
Just how many of us grew up hearing the often cited American adage “Want a good job…get a good education”?
Professor Lawrence Jones has identified seventeen core skills mandatory for getting a good job in the 21st century. The skills are grouped into 4 categories refered to as “Foundation Skills”.
Foundation Skills:
- Basic Skills
- Thinking Skills
- People Skills
- Personal Qualities
Download the Foundation Skills PDF
All the while, many American school systems are suffering from such serious underfunding that systemic barriers are being created, even at the primary levels, that have resulted in a system that impedes opportunity and access for many.
Still, we mistakenly cling to the notion that privatized is synonymous with quality and socialized anything will be the ruination of America. Talk of socialized medicine and visions of sweeping dead bodies off the sidewalks into the streets dance in our heads. (Lions and Tigers and Bear Oh My... Lions and Tigers and Bears Oh My)
Here’s another old American adage: “One Nation, Indivisible, with Liberty and Justice for All”
Maybe what we need is a little more "socialized".
References
IEP National Centre for Educational Statistics, Highlights from PISA 2006: Performance of U.S. 15-Year-Old Students in Science and Mathematics Literacy in an International Context: http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2008016
The Career Key: http://www.careerkey.org/asp/career_development/foundation_skills.htm
The Career Key Foundation Skills PDF: http://www.careerkey.org/pdf/The%20Foundation%20Job%20Skills.pdf
While I would agree that schools are suffering financially, I know of no studies that show that increased funding leads necessarily to increased student achievement. I believe that if one factor would change, education and student achievement in the United States would change dramatically. That singular factor is the attitude that the general population and parents have toward school and education. Teachers are not revered or particularly respected as professionals. Many people have had a teacher that they didn't like, thus, hold a bias. Many people think that "anyone" can teach. There is a general mistrust and suspicion of those in authority by some. There are so many other ways that kids can spend their time outside of school; not to mention the fascination and importance that many seem to hold for children's sports. These and other factors contribute to a general lack of importance placed on education and schooling. If we could get parents to expect and help their children to learn and do well in school, the children of the United States would rank much higher than embarrassing statistics indicate presently.
ReplyDeleteInteresting post, Debbie; as always!