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Education Reform:
Discovering Who We Are
Shaun Kerry,
M.D.
Diplomate, American Board of Psychiatry
and Neurology
When students graduate, they often feel lost and bewildered. The real world is
very different.
One graduate's boss told him: "Forget everything you learned in school."
The new graduate has usually lost touch with his emotions long ago, and his
brain resorts to denial as a means of dealing with the pain of the outside
world; a world that is huge, overwhelming, and confusing. He does not blame the
schools for his problems and shortcomings; he faults himself rather than the
system. He is often at a loss when it comes to relating to the opposite sex, he
has difficulty expressing his feelings, and his meager salary only allows him to
live at the subsistence level. Test scores, reading comprehension level, and
math skills are the least of his concerns.
We could rectify this situation by taking the following course of action. First,
we should abolish mandatory school attendance. Our compulsory school laws once
served a purpose: they protected children from being used for excessive labor. Like the factories of the past, schools are currently serving as the exploiters
of our children. As home schooling becomes a practical alternative to the
classroom, compulsory school laws are already being abolished in some areas of
the country.
Some might contend that if children are not forced to attend school, they will
be roaming the streets and wrecking havoc on our communities. This is a false
assumption. Time spent outside of the confines of the classroom can still be
productive, beneficial, and utilized for learning. Granted, school is a natural
meeting place for socialization, which is an important part of adolescent
development. In no way do we advocate abolishing schools altogether, but rather,
altering them such that they become places where children would want to be.
Removing the constraints of compulsory attendance is a profound step in this
direction. All children are different, and not all will require the same amount
of classroom time.
Second, we must abolish rigid, required curricula. People remember only what
they find interesting and useful. Children want to learn things that will help
them make sense out of this often-confusing world. They want to make a valuable
contribution to society. We do not need coercive force in order for them to
accomplish this; there are plenty of positive motivators.
Third, we must bring more of the real world into the classroom, both through the
use of interesting guest speakers and audiovisual communication. Also, we must
stop segregating the classroom from greater society. In Philadelphia and
Portland, there are already schools that exist without buildings. Children, with
proper guidance, use the real world as a powerful learning resource. Private
schools in many cities are beginning to do the same thing.
Additionally, we must
recognize that teaching a subject is one of the best methods of learning that
subject matter. Children are often the best teachers of other children, and
should be encouraged to tutor each other. Some schools already implement this
practice of "paired-learning", which promotes teamwork, a natural,
morale-building function that will be actively used in the real world. Not only
should we let our children serve as teachers, but also, we should allow them to
judge their own work. It should be our job to listen, and be available to help
when asked to do so.
Some parents may be concerned that, through these alterations, their children
may fail to learn something that is essential to their future success in life. In all honesty, we cannot be certain what future generations will need to know
in order to ensure their success. The world is a rapidly changing place, and
education should never be treated as a stagnant phenomenon. Learning should be
viewed as a lifelong process.
We must stop teaching our children that, in order to be anybody of importance,
they must attend college. College must not be preceded by a course of
preparatory study that requires a 70+ hours per week and volumes of paper-based
busywork. We must stop using formal education as a display of prestige, or a
ticket to a high paying job. Rather than stress rote memorization and blind
obedience, we must stress self-discovery and exploration. It is not necessary
for everyone to be an employee in order to make a living. It is possible to
start one's own business with just a computer and internet access. Many
companies hire people based on ability, rather than on the basis of a degree.
One of the most glaring deficiencies of our educational system is how our high
schools completely fail to address their students' needs to earn money following
graduation. It is no wonder that there are so many high school dropouts.