Even back over a decade ago, student-athletes in senior high school would come to my office where they were asked to fill out a brief questionnaire about their vital statistics, and health history. These must have been very difficult questions, things like "Where were you born and on what date?" seemed to baffle them. It was apparent that their reading skills were at a first grade level yet they managed to get into the 12th grade and were on the cusp of graduation. Someone in Florida state government came up with the "radical' idea of statewide testing to assess schools to see if local schools and teachers were preparing their students to enter the world, the job market, or go on to higher education. You would have thought they wanted to do body cavity searches on all the teachers. "OMG. I am going to have to teach to a state standard? I will be judged by others and have to follow some master plan?" The outcry from the teacher's unions was deafening. "Imagine trying to impose a one size fits all model on our students. Well, I never."
Accountability is a bitch. When I grew up in New York in the Paleolithic era, We had a course curriculum in EVERY course with a final exam that came from the Board of Regents. Surprisingly these tests were called the "Regent's" tests. If you did not pass that test you did not pass the course no matter how much the teacher liked you or how well you did in his or her exams. We had a near 100% graduation rate, no shootings in class, there might have been one pregnancy (we are not sure but Ellen went away to live with her grandmother for a year), and everyone went on to military service or employment, or further education at some level of college or vocational school. If you failed, you were an outcast. Everyone DID NOT get a trophy for showing up.
Horace Mann was born in 1796 in Massachusetts. He was a farmer, a legislator and a lawyer. He went on to run the Massachusetts Board of Education and a national spokesman for how important public education would be for the future of our country. He modeled our education after the Prussian (German) system. "Character development was just as important as reading, writing and arithmetic. Obedience to authority, promptness in attendance, and organizing the time according to bell ringing helped students prepare for future employment."
Fast forward to 2013 and we see that the K-12 system no longer cares about character development in the traditional sense but does spend a disproportionate time teaching about cultural diversity, sex education, and Liberal politics. Our graduation rates are abysmal, as low as 50% in some major cities, even though it costs $15,000 per student per year to support one child in public school in places like New York City. Nothing new has happened in education that has made us more competitive in the world. We spend so much time worrying about the sensibilities of our students and building self esteem in those who think they deserve it for "Showing up" that there is little time for Readin', Writin' and 'Rithmatic." Everyone does have a computer or an iPad and we have gaggles of graduates ready for employment, as long as they start in management where their teachers have told them they deserve to be because they "showed up" and the only job skills required are the ability to play video games and spend all day on social media.
You described the good old days of this country that were the same in many others in the world during the same period. Unfortunately, the current days are real and also copied around the planet in all those places that look-up to the US.
ReplyDeleteI see now that I teach at the university the level of education of the students; with a few exceptions, their ignorance and lack of interest are appalling. I feel sorry for their parents that are making a big investment thinking that their children will get a useful tool for their future.
When some young person, falling for the government line that everyone must go to college, or own a house, whatever, graduates with a degree in Women's Studies and a $200,000 student debt, and now lives in her parent's basement or in a one bedroom apartment with 4 friends, and works long hours waiting tables, you would think that they could ask themselves "What was I thinking?" Rather than that, they just vote Democrat and hope that all student loans will eventually be forgiven. Their "Dream Act" is coming soon, and I suppose he or she is not responsible for bad decisions.
DeleteFelipè
ReplyDeleteWe were fortunate to attend high school in an affluent suburban community outside of NYC. Typically most fathers were the sole wage earners while our mothers remained home attending to family volunteering in our schools and participating in other charitable activities.
These household income levels were perhaps 2-3 times that of working class families whose children attended crowded schools with dedicated teachers who often taught classes with 50+ students. (I graduated from grammar school at the top of my class in an inner city Catholic school and learned that my reading skills were sub par after having the good fortune to get to go to your community school with the resources to address my problem)
Many dads from our high school town worked in commercial banking and
in advertising. They created
the infamous $500 credit limit Master Card, which were bulk mailed to the public. This resulted in rampant consumerism fueled by those Madison Ave advertising campaigns tactfully run on television which became widespread during the 1950's.
Our parents drove Fords & Chevys. Bet more than a few of those copied on this drive Mercedes, Lexus, or Prius.
In the 1950's, our parents concerned themselves with family first, relatives, community & friends.
We focus on the stock market, preserving wealth, investments, housing values, summers in the Hamptons, Nantucket, & Connecticut, and our children getting into the "right" schools.
A typical discussion in our Connecticut community at a social occasion in the 1980's focussed on school sports, academics, PTA Activities, and fund raising for a new teen center.
Fast forward to the late 90's, and it shifted to housing values, portfolio performance of Internet stocks, decorators, winter & spring break vacations, and consultants & college prep courses to help get our children into great colleges.
Progress? In the state of Connecticut, there are only 6 non gifted children according to a parent poll taken in Fairfield County in 2005 ;-)
I have 2 of those 6 who had to work hard to earn high grades in college.
We were fortunate to be able to drive our parents cars when we got our licenses at 16 - some of us were real lucky to get our very own 6 year old used car!
What did we give our children when they turned 16?
The two mommy reference caused me to reflect a bit as well. Next post maybe.
And today's income level multiplier differential between working class & CEO's - several orders of magnitude I'm guessing.
You know I like to think of myself as fairly conservative.
I think we have to be honest & begin to accept some of the responsibility for what we done did.
(Probably could have used a remedial writing class at dear old Pelham High School)
You asked for feedback Felipè.
You can take the boy out of the Bronx but not the Bronx out of the boy!
-bob
Though what NOMASDINERO says may be true, it is not the MAJOR difference between then and now. Back then, you were responsible for your decisions, both good and bad. Nowadays, no matter how big a dumbass you are, someone will make an excuse for you and there will be a government program to forgive your sins. WE are all entitled today. It is not longer the "PURSUIT" of happiness that is guaranteed but happiness itself.
ReplyDelete