Better Schools

Education is the most important issue in our society. From an educated society flows a compassionate society. An innovative society. A strong society. The more we mistreat our educational system, the more our society and nation will fail against international comparisons.

A powerful pet peeve of mine is the denigration of public schools. This is fueled by partisan politics and corporate greed, of course, which seek to privatize and monetize schooling. This New York Times article, The Secret to Fixing Bad Schools (David L. Kirp), provides just one of many examples that overturn the lies hurled at public education. Our education system can be better, without resorting to corporate takeovers and so-called "charter" schools:

"A quarter-century ago, fear of a state takeover catalyzed a transformation. The district’s best educators were asked to design a curriculum based on evidence, not hunch. Learning by doing replaced learning by rote. Kids who came to school speaking only Spanish became truly bilingual, taught how to read and write in their native tongue before tackling English. Parents were enlisted in the cause. Teachers were urged to work together, the superstars mentoring the stragglers and coaches recruited to add expertise. Principals were expected to become educational leaders, not just disciplinarians and paper-shufflers. 

From a loose confederacy, the schools gradually morphed into a coherent system that marries high expectations with a 'we can do it' attitude. 'The real story of Union City is that it didn’t fall back,' says Fred Carrigg, a key architect of the reform. 'It stabilized and has continued to improve.'"