Education

I have been thinking about what my stand is on education, if someone were to ask me. I think that we currently have a one-size-fits-all approach to education. I don't think one-size-fits-all however. (I know, I never fit clothes that say one-size-fits-all.) So if I were to state how I think education should run, I think it is okay to have a one-size-fits all school (or the public school system), for all the people who fit the system, but I don't think the rest should get tossed by the wayside or forced into the box of the "norm".

Examples from my life: First-My brothers got out of high school and basically have done terrible. It has been years, they both have student loan debt and no degrees to help pay for them, and they are both really struggling in the world. I don't think the public schools properly prepared them for college or for jobs. However, I did fine in school and did fine in college. (I struggle in a few things that I think could have been taught better in schools, but that is fairly minor, they aren't minor to me, but they are compared to the success of my life) Second-My husband did terrible in school, but was still seen as an "exceptional student" and moved into "exceptional student" classes. He hated those classes-they were more homework and more work in general. My husband is the genius type, genius' don't fit the school system, they hate busy work, and they could learn everything from a book. Finally, after years of failing, his mom pulled him out of Jr. High school and home schooled him. He learned to program and took classes he wanted to take from the high school without grades. When he did go to college he shined. He doesn't take notes in classes, he just basically shows up and gets an A in all the courses in his major, but he doesn't do as well in all the "Generals", he got a C in PE... how do you get a C in PE, I might ask? :) But he did good in some of the other "Generals". He is about to finish his masters degree in Physics, already has a programming job and is doing fine in life..... My question is this-Would my brothers have done better had they been pulled out of school or put into a different school?

I think I am all about the one... meaning... how is this child doing? How is that child doing? How is this other child doing? Not... how is everyone doing. I think parents should be the deciding factor here. They have the instincts/intuition, as well as, the most interest in the success of the child. The state has some interest in the child because they are interested in the future, but the parent has a greater interest, because that child is their future! I care about the one.

I am all about choice (which makes me a capitalist). You can choose to send your child to public school or you can chose something else. There really should be no laws against it. Parents should be able to chose what kind of education they would like their children to have. That doesn't mean the state should take charge of making every kind of school available (the state should not have to do everything for us, we should be starting our own businesses and programs), but a parent shouldn't be forced to have their kids in public schools (which in Utah, they currently are not forced, it is a pretty open state to other forms of education). I hope we keep those kinds of choices open. Other choices might include: home school, charter school, and private schools. Having lots of great choices for education gives parents the option to find the best education for their children. Especially, for those parents with a child who is struggling, those parents are very worried and they need options.

I also think parents should be able to be very involved in their child's education-volunteering and being informed as to what is happening in the school, at least if they want to be. Some parents aren't very involved and some parents don't care at all. The children of these parents still go to public school and they are still getting an education, and that makes it so they are not being forgotten, even if the education they are receiving isn't the most ideal for them. That is where public education shines, it takes care of the forgotten children, and that is very important. However, I think most parents care and the few that don't are most likely having problems with other things (such as their marriage, drugs, alcohol, financial issues, etc).

I'm all about making sure each child is getting his best education, parents having choices, and parents being able to be involved to the degree that would like to. And, also, that public schools do have their place in our world (they just shouldn't be the only place kids can get an education).