The following very short commentary is in response to a Facebook post. This post is just a photo collage of recent statements made by Congresspeople in the United States.
The desired results of an education system designed to “educate” children just enough to be able to work, be obedient, and conform to the norm (whatever that is), but not educated enough to think critically, creatively, or in any depth at all. This was the agenda from the beginning of education in this country. It’s been continued and refined. Now, it’s done by:
- “teacher accountability” = making teachers into technicians with no ability to make informed decisions about doing what is best for children,
- “high stakes testing” = avoids deep, interconnected learning;
- “teacher-proof curriculum” = another way of making teachers technicians, &
- “standards” = another way to dumb down children, so they don’t question, won’t follow their curiosities and passions, won’t think deeply, and will only learn simplistic and fragmented information with little or no meaning or relevance to anything in their present or future lives.
Please don’t blame teachers. They are fighting to keep their meager incomes and do their best in awful circumstances. But, please do blame your politicians, school boards, and most principals. However, we are all to blame for not speaking up, for not communicating with our politicians, and for electing our politicians. Parents need to work together to help teachers teach in ways that will really help children develop to their fullest potentials as learners, thinkers, and creators. Parents! You do have the power to make changes when you come together!