In a class of mine we were assigned to write a paper analyzing the education system. We learned various acts that came about in order to improve learning, and analyzed the philosophy behind it. After contemplating what we learned in class, we were challenged to put our own thoughts on education. These are mine.
I see education as being our foundation for the work force. I enjoy learning that there are acts trying to improve education, but often times I see the education system being revised in the wrong direction.
“Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.” The famous quote by Einstein that everyone knows. If everyone knows this quote and believes it, my question is why haven’t we installed a plan to apply it?
Our school system uses tests in order to measure our knowledge. Telling us that after a week we should be masters of the plant cell, then the next week be masters of the Calvin Cycle. Then to top everything off, incorporating a cumulative final after almost sixteen weeks of not thinking about that subject. And if you fail these tests? It's either your fault, or they blame the teacher... it's never the systems fault.
We all know that each student has different learning needs. Some can learn by lecture, others need hands-on experience, while some just need a visual. We as learners need our individualities met by school districts. Not everyone can memorize information, then reiterate it by taking a test. So why are written tests the main form of measuring every single student's knowledge?
Bringing in numerous acts are principled, but not always moving us in the right direction. No child left behind. Yes, we may have been falling back academically, but that was measured based on written tests. Looking at the bigger picture of life after school should be the main focus. A student may not be a straight A student, hell they could have failed almost every class, but they could have the best work ethic at their job. There's no written test in schools that measure that.
Instead of bringing in an act for more testing to see where our knowledge is, changing the way education is being taught and measured, may be more beneficial.
My generation has learned to remember, then regurgitate. We have yet to learn how to question, analyze, or to truly learn information that we can apply later in life. The problem to me is not that we as students are falling behind, it is that the ones making the rules have forgotten about our individual needs.
The world is forever changing, and if we do not change with it, we will be failing not only ourselves, but the future generations that are yet to come.
