The idea of institutionalizing education once seemed like the best possible solution in order to teach an entire class concepts, theories and ideas that can help them reap their true potential. However, after some time, the actual process of learning or the idea behind it got lost behind the need to get high grades, school expectations, extracurricular activities and other demands that not many students can keep up with. Not only this, but the fact that education is so expensive is limiting learning and is oppressing a large group of people. Education does not have to come from schools or any other institute that is “selling” it (Kimball). There are a lot of people who say that education in America has degraded because of the high prices it comes with. These people are so quick to point fingers, that they do not see the real problem. It is in the instructors and school systems who do not prioritize the students. Education can come from many different things, the only important aspect is that the child or person is willing to learn. However, not everyone learns the same way. How things were taught in the past is different from how they are now (Reigeluth). This is because people are dynamic and adaptive. Instead of following a guide or some rule written decades ago, people should strive to keep moving forward.
There is nothing wrong with the American schooling system right now, and it is not about the lack of funds. Teachers should understand that students are capable of learning, everyone just does it at their own pace. The film by Davis Guggenheim, “Waiting For Superman”, is a call-to-action about the public school system of America (Kimball). I do not fully agree with the thesis statement of this film, which says that schools lack funds, and that is why children are not learning. Those who are behind the schooling system should see that students just need a nurturing and facilitative environment where they can grow and flourish.
Many people use outdated theories that might have worked for students in the 1700s, however these theories are definitely not going to work now. Educators should realize that all students are different and grading them according to one type of system is unfair. It should be established that every single person has their own unique style of learning, they also have different interests, if one area of expertise or subject does not spark their interest, learning is much more difficult. Instead of thinking that the child or student is less than capable of learning or that he or she is unwilling to learn, educators should know that not everyone is the same when it comes to taking in new information. Every person is unique and is capable of learning through different means. These days, with the help of technology, children learn at a different pace, using different mediums. The theories on education that were once used in the past might not be as effective right now, especially with the younger generations.
The work by Hephzibah Roskelly entitled “The Cupped Hand And The Open Palm” spoke about how school systems use group activities in order to teach children how to read. This was done in what can be seen as a tiered system. The writer recalls this kind of grouping as a great experience, because as far as she knew, the group that she was put in was highly regarded for being the best at reading. However, one of her students recalled things differently. She claimed to have been in one of the “slower” reading groups. She laughed at the memory, saying that her teacher at that time would wait for them to make mistakes, and then would easily reprimand them for it.
A lot of schools are seen doing this, they adopt this type of thinking, and it can be good for some students, for many it is bad. This is the problem with many school systems now. Instead of helping the children learn and grow, they are being limited. The essay written by Roskelly (1993) explains that groupwork fails most of the time because there are a lot of flaws with it. There is always that one group member who takes over the entire project and believes that he or she knows everything that there is. There are also those members who are not interested in participating or don’t want to get their input because they feel shy or that they think their opinions don’t matter. This kind of learning experience can embarrass a child and stop them from wanting to learn. It’s not fair that a child has to conform to the school’s method of grading when the school itself cannot unleash the full potential of that particular child in the classroom. The ultimate goal in school should not be to get the highest grade or accomplish the most things in the school year, it should be to harness skill, talent and potential. Each student should not be limited by the grading system just because they are scared to fail or get lower marks than their classmates. This is limiting and it does not help most students learn. Just like what Roskelly (1993) says, there are a lot of students who fear starting something. This does not just work in terms of writing. This can apply to many subjects. Just because they feel that they will be graded according to standards that they do not agree with, they choose not to do anything at all, this means that the school automatically assumes that they are stupid or lazy. After which they are told that they are not ready to attend college or a higher form of learning, just because they cannot keep up with the standards set in high school (McAndrew 92). This is the real problem behind the school system, not lack of funds.
Works Cited
Kimball, Billy. Waiting for" Superman". Paramount Home Entertainment, 2011.
McAndrew, Donald. “This Isn’t What We Did In High School”. The Subject Is Writing (1999):
91-98
Reigeluth, Charles M., ed. Instructional-design Theories and Models: A New Paradigm of
Instructional Theory. Vol. 2. Routledge, 2013.
Roskelly, Hephzibah. "The Cupped Hand and the Open Palm." The Subject Is Writing (1993):
125-35.
