General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: A 13-Year-Old's Slavery Analogy Raises Some Uncomfortable Truths in School [View all]davidthegnome
(2,983 posts)But the child has a valid point.
While I am not a member of a minority, I agree with a lot of what she had to say and can see how she might come to that conclusion. Even in rural, very white communities (such as the one I grew up in) there are similar issues with the educational system. I come from a family of many teachers and will most likely be marrying a teacher next year, so don't mistake me and think that I do not like them. It is, in most cases, the administration I dislike. The policies put in place by the higher ranking education officials - I do not think education should require such politics or political officers.
Consider how many text books originate in Texas and are more than a little slanted regarding what information is available - what true education experience you may gain from reading and discussing only the material therein. Yet teachers are screwed either way because they are unfortunately required to teach to the test - if the students fail, the teachers are held accountable, similar if they pass. It has become extraordinarily difficult to inspire creative thought, or to experiment with a creative learning process. I know a few teachers who, having gone far above and beyond the call of duty, work far past exhaustion to teach to the test and STILL manage to inspire creative thought and really help children learn to think. Sadly, I feel they are a minority within the public education system.
Worthy of concern is the fact that education is a federal mandate (it is required by law that children attend some school or other until a certain age). Whether public or private... or even home schooled. Most of us, being too poor to afford private tuition or to home school our children, are forced to rely on public education. When it comes to that, we are entirely at the mercy of those who make the rules. No child left behind - which is leaving the vast majority of our children behind, is only one example.
Frankly I feel that a lot more of the educational process should be left to the independent discretion of individual teachers. I think this might solve a lot of the problems the child is talking about.