Political bickering about whether the states should have more power or
whether the federal government should impose (and pay for) nation-wide
reforms has created the current mess we’re in. When President Obama
addressed Congress on February 24, he spent a lot of time talking
about education. He said, “The countries that out-teach us today will
out-compete us tomorrow.”
He talked about reducing our nation’s high school drop out rate,
offering teacher incentives, supporting charter schools, and getting
parents involved. However education needs all that and more. Here’s a
list of what our nation can do to lead the world in education.
1. Make high school more interesting. According to a 2009 report
published by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, only 71% of our
students earn a high school diploma. Only 58% of Hispanic students and
55% of African American students graduate from high school. Half of
dropouts surveyed in a poll sponsored by the foundation in 2006 said
that they dropped out because they were bored and unmotivated.
We need to study what motivates students and then train teachers to
develop classroom activities and assignments that will be interesting
as well as educational.
2. Give high school students learning opportunities that they can use
in real life by adding practical subjects to secondary school
education. College students are choosing practical majors because of
the times we live in. The 2008 Princeton Review ranking of the top 10
college majors puts business at the top. Other top 10 majors include
nursing, biology, education and computer sciences. The Gates
Foundation report says that a major reason that students drop out is
that they “Did not see its relevance outside of school.” High school
students should also be able to study subjects that will help them
find jobs and get ahead. For example, the National Science Board
recently sent President Obama a list of recommendations for improving
science, technology, engineering, and math education so that students
will be better prepared to join the skilled workforce in our
technology-based economy.
3. Focus on early education. According to the Gates Foundation report,
high school students who have fallen behind their grade level are at
higher risk of dropping out. The Gates Foundation says we need to help
kids caught up once they’re in high school but improving learning of
reading and math skills in early grades would be a good way to stop
the problem before it starts.
4. Make pre-K programs more available to children in need because this
would be an even better way to stop the problem before it starts. For
example, only half the children eligible for Head Start benefit from
the program currently.
5. Invest in teachers. The Gates Foundation says that having a strong
teacher is even more important than having a small class size.
President Obama said that his budget includes incentives and rewards
for teachers. It should also include training for teachers. Teaching
methods for reading and math are constantly changing and there is
always more to learn about the best way to get students excited about
all subjects. Experienced teachers also need to stay current on
technology, psychology and sociology.
6. Get parents more involved. President Obama encouraged parents to
attend parent/teacher conferences, help with homework and limit the
amount of time their children spend watching TV and playing video
games. In addition, schools can help by changing the ways they
communicate with parents. For example, a recent article in Education
World encourages school principals to use email to communicate with
parents about what’s going on in the schools. Paper messages sent home
with students can be lost or discarded. Students can delete voice
mails before parents have a chance to hear them. But email is more
secure.
7. Put technology in the classroom. The Gates Foundation report says
that today’s children live in a digital age. Old-fashioned schools and
old-fashioned ways of teaching won’t connect with kids who are the
ones who have to teach their parents about texting, Facebook and using
the Wii. For example, the One Laptop Per Child program is trying to
get inexpensive, solar-powered laptops to underprivileged children
around the world to give them the tools they need to learn how to live
in the modern world.
8. Support charter schools. President Obama mentioned charter schools
in his speech and talked about his support of them throughout his
campaign. Obama supports charter schools even though the teachers
unions and Democrats don’t because they give parents a choice and they
give educators an opportunity to try different approaches than
traditional public schools. The Gates Foundation says we need better
data to make better decisions about education. Charter schools could
serve as education laboratories where education theories can be tested.
9. Improve school lunch nutrition because studies show that good
nutrition is linked to learning and memory. Underprivileged children
are more likely to have less healthy eating options so healthy school
lunches would help kids learn better. Alice Waters and Katrina Heron
of the Chez Panisse Foundation recently published an editorial in the
New York Times about changing the National School Lunch Program to
replace processed foods like chicken nuggets and pizza with more
nutritious and organic foods.
10. Modernize school buildings because schools that were built in the
last century aren’t equipped to teach the students of today. Bill
Gates says that “Training the workforce of tomorrow with the schools
of today is like trying to teach kids about today’s computers on a 50
year old mainframe.” According to the National Center for Education
Statistics, 75% of schools are in disrepair and it would cost $127
billion to fix them. In June, the House of Representatives passed the
21st Century Green High-Performing Public School Facilities Act to
modernize school facilities. This bill would have authorized $6.4
billion dollars for school modernization in 2009. Unfortunately, the
Senate didn’t have a chance to vote on it before the end of the last
session of Congress.
No comments:
Post a Comment