Improve Our Educational Systems: Where Do We Begin?

     We are now in the Information Age in a global economy. Is the education of our youth keeping up with the demands of this new age?  How can an antiquated paradigm work when all of the rules have changed? Are schools failing children or are children failing due to an archaic system that has fallen behind the times? How relevant are today's methods of introducing our children to the realities of this global economy?  Learning can take place outside of a traditional school building. Spending long hours within the confines of a school building taking tests cannot be the answer.

     Education must become more hands on and participatory. Children should be taught basic material and be given an opportunity to interact with individuals who use that particular discipline in their work. Math will become more relevant when students are introduced to the work world of accountants, civil engineers, architects,  surveyors, computer science engineers, bankers, stock brokers, insurance agents, builders, construction workers, buyers, financial planners, and others to see exactly how math is used in each of these professions. This will demonstrate the importance of math in everyday life. Even a trip to the grocery store can provide a truly realistic view of pricing as well as the cost of feeding a family. Exposure to research departments at universities, hospitals, pharmaceuticals, pharmacies, laboratories, archeological sites, and environmental agencies will certainly provide children with a more realistic understanding of science.

     Modern languages, public speaking, art, music, and physical education are subject areas that are particularly hands on. Interestingly, children who participate in these areas, more often than not, can learn to speak a second or third language with proficiency, produce beautiful drawings, play beautiful music, sing, and show off physical prowess on track, basketball, baseball, softball, soccer, and football teams. These courses provide opportunities to practice and produce quality work. Students in these disciplines are frequently in situations where they are in actual contact with individuals who work in these areas. They travel to countries where the target languages are spoken;  attend and compete in speech contests; they are on  debate teams.  These are realistic settings where they will practice and develop their talents. It would also be fair to mention that their teachers are proficient practioners in the areas they teach. Sadly, many of these vital areas of learning are often subject to elimination in many school systems throughout the country.

     Rather than discontinue courses that are great examples of sound educational principles, school systems should begin to study these models and impliment them in the teaching of  literature, social studies, science, math, reading, writing and arithmetic. Since most journalists, authors, politicians, government leaders, leading scientists, doctors, lawyers do not teach in public school systems throughout the U.S., it stands to reason that children might be more motivated if they had opportunities to actually spend time with such individuals in an effort to understand and appreciate the role that education has played in their lives. 

     When young people can see the relevance of the subjects they are learning, education will actually become more relevant and our educational systems will actually began to improve.


School takeovers...
"It makes little difference who is driving the car if it does not work."