Issues with Public Schools Public schools are available to everyone and have been around for a very long time. Unfortunately, throughout the years we have seen how ineffective they are and many of the problems students face while attending these schools. Some of the problems with public schools include graduation rates, absences, social class differences and many more. In When Millennials Rule: The Reshaping of America, David Cahn and Jack Cahn write to people working in the government about many of the issues millennials face and what our thought on them are. In chapter nine, “Better Schools: Investing in Our Future,” they focus on education where they mention public schools and give reasons as to why they need to be removed. Although not …show more content…
In this essay I will analyze and evaluate Cahn and Cahn’s chapter on education by using multiple sources to support their claim that public schools have several issues that weakened the quality of education being provided to students. As Cahn and Cahn introduce their reader to the idea of school choice in chapter nine, they dive into some of the reasons why many schools fail to educate students. They argue that public schools are a “failing system” that needs to be replaced, and that through school choice parents have the opportunity to send their children to a better school (183). It is obvious that Cahn and Cahn, like many other millennials, believe that public schools are not competitive enough, which ultimately reduces the level of education being taught in them; since public schools are not focusing on improving, many students are not …show more content…
They use statistics, real life examples and anecdotes to offer proof that many public schools do contain bad teachers. One example of an anecdote used by Cahn and Cahn includes their old math teacher, John Taylor, who according to them was an excellent teacher however was fired because he lacked a teaching credential. By providing this example they can appeal to pathos and make parents feel sympathy for the teacher since he was fired even though he was a great teacher. This example also helps prove that public schools are not interested in improving themselves since they do not focus on the quality of their education. They then once compared public schools to charter schools to show that they don 't require teachers to be licensed which allows them to focus more on the quality of the
A definite correlation between impoverished school districts and disciplinary action can be seen throughout the U.S. This increase in security and authoritarianism teaches poor children their future place in society by inducing “fear of authority and habits of obedience.” He also mentions that corporations often target the least prosperous districts to market their products under the guise of “educational tools.” These schools often discourage creative thought and teach students that reading is dull and tedious as well. Conversely, the financially secure children can avoid public schools altogether by attending private school, or go to a public school with monetary advantages due to its location.
That broader conception of school allowed those schools to better support the students and address social issues that prevent students from accessing their full potential. This conceptual shift can only be spurred by a clear vision of “good education”—which then caused an improvement in their community’s education
America’s public school system started off very rough, but through the dedication of many hard-working Americans, it was starting to shape into a system that allowed all children, regardless of race, gender, religion, or nation of origin, to have an education.
In the text, The Death and Life of the Great American School System, author Diane Ravitch explores her ideological shift on school reform and the empirical evidence that caused this shift. Once a proponent and contributor of testing, accountability, choice, and market reforms, Ravitch’s support began to diminish as she realized that these current reforms were not viable options. She came to realize that the new school reforms focused entirely on structural and managerial adjustments and that no focus was given to actual learning.
John Taylor Gatto, who was a teacher at the public school for twenty-six years, and the writer of the essay “Against School” that first appeared in Harper’s magazine in 2001, censures and blames the American public school’s educational system in his argumentative essay with various convincible supporting ideas. Gatto argues that the demands of public education system’s schooling are essential problems in “Against School”. Gatto shows some positive examples of the educating without forced schooling and shows models of the ‘success without forced modern schooling’. Indeed, the writer insists that historically forced schooling is not related to intellectual and financial success in American history. James Bryant Conant, who was the twenty-third
Personal Thoughts- Education is a life-long endeavor. Education isn’t restricted to a classroom or confided by the time restraints of the bell. Education can, and does happen anytime and anywhere. Students who attend public schools are certainly becoming well-schooled, but are they becoming well-educated? For example, take politics. There have been numerous presidential administrations packed with people that have college degrees make foolish mistakes. Were they well-schooled or
In the 1990’s the school choice movement gained momentum through John E. Chubb and Terry M. Moe’s bold assumption that “school choice would make it possible to break the iron grip of the adult interest group, unleash the positive power of competition, and achieve academic excellence” (Ravitch 118). Many advocates for school choice share a similar belief in the positive effect school choice and competition create in schools. When comparing the statistics to this notion, however, one finds an opposite conclusion than the one proposed. The school choice approach and the importance of competition in schools generates a stress on both charter schools and district schools to feature high-achieving students and dismiss
An article from the Los Angeles Times showed that the majority of Californians give California schools “a grade of C or below” and half think that the quality of schools will continue to decline (Watanabe). While the economic downturn affected the public school system in a negative way, it was not the sole root of its problems. It just simply exacerbated existing issues. Because of widespread discontent with the public school system, many different solutions to reform the mainstream public school system have been brought up in public discourse.... ...
Many Americans do not question the credibility of the education system within the country because they believe it forms good citizens and creates a stepping-stone to success. John Taylor Gatto is an American teacher who has experience in the classroom for thirty years and has now devoted his life to critiquing American schools exploiting his own experiences. In his essay “Against School”, he argues that the 12-year system of school may not be necessary, due to its curriculum, and that it may be a tactic of manipulation from the government to promote obedience. I agree with his argument because there are many paths to individual success outside of public education, such as homeschooling or vocational school.
Julian Nava was one of the people who fought to end IQ testing. He believed that students that did not get high IQ scores still had the potential to be something greater than a factory worker.
The Quality of a child’s education often either limits or opens up a world of opportunities. Those who study the purpose of public education and the way it is distributed throughout society can often identify clear correlations between social class and the type of education a student receives. It is generally known by society that wealthy families obtain the best opportunities money can buy. Education is a tool of intellectual and economical empowerment and since the quality of education is strongly influenced by social class, a smaller portion of the American population obtains the opportunities acquired from a top notch education. Many people believe that educational inequalities are perpetuated from the interests of specific classes, but some researchers like John Gatto believe that there are even stronger social forces in play. In the essay “Against Schools” the author John Gatto presents three arguments: (1) that are educational system is flawed, (2) that the American educational system is purposely designed to create a massive working class that is easy to manipulate, and (3) alternative teaching methods should be applied to teach children to think for themselves. In this essay I will be summarizing and relating each of these arguments to other educational essays. Also, I will be discussing the strengths and weaknesses of the author’s argument.
Tyack, David. “Choice Options: School Choice, Yes - But What Kind?” The American Prospect Online, January - February 1999, 42. [Online] Available http://www.propect.org/archives/42/42tyack.html, May 1, 2000.
Many people in today’s society believe it’s wise to send their children to private schools. In making the decision on whether to put children in public or private schools, they look to four main factors: curriculum, class size, the graduation rate, and cost. When people have to pay for something, their first thought is, “Will I be getting what I’m paying for?” With a private school education, the amount you have to pay is usually well worth it. Public schools offer diversity. Here students can find people who are just like them and can associate better. Wherever you live, you have to send your child to the closest school. There’s no choice on what public school you can send your child to, whereas for private schools you can pick to send your child there. It’s not an easy choice for parents to decide, but many factors point toward a guarantee that a good education would be achieved, which is most important.
A focus needs to be put on the needs of the individual as opposed to the masses. We do not want our system to fall prey to dropping education standards. Rather than challenging the lower level students to make higher grades, administration currently matches their minimum level of effort as a passing grade. This is hurting students of all intelligence levels, as it holds back the stronger students and reduces the challenge for the weaker children. Independent study will be a major part of academic courses, so students can choose their own pace for many assignments. It will also be easy for students to get help before or after school, either through meeting the teacher in person or through utilizing online chat systems where they can speak to their teachers outside of the classroom. The classroom environment will be more laid back compared to how it is today, and teachers will serve as role models to our students. Ralph Waldo Emerson says in his essay “Education”, “Teach them to hold their tongues by holding your own” (Emerson). Students will thrive in a stress free environment, rather than in the current anxiety-building system. Final grades will be determined by yearlong success and by a course examination. Students will have freedom to choose whether they would like to focus their exam on multiple-choice or writing sections (whichever they feel more comfortable with). “Understanding doesn’t mean that you can suddenly speak the language. Far from it. It’s a small step, nothing more, yet rewards are intoxicating and deceptive” (Sedaris). Our schools wish to promote 100% success, and rather than letting students get away with putting in minimal effort, we will push them to give it their all.
Private schools should be abolished because education should allow for equal opportunities for all students. Education is supposed to provide better chances of success for the student. Students that attend a state funded school faces a disadvantage as soon as they graduate from secondary school and apply for college.{ talk about private school to college ration} There have been reports about college being biased in the selection process when choosing between state funded and privately funded school applicants. Many educators would agree that a privately funded education is typically more beneficial than a state funded education. “It seems silly to propose scrapping a system of education that provides positive results and successful results.” (CITE DEBATEWISE.ORG) The system should not be scrapped but instead needs to be inputted into the public school system. It should be put into the public school sector because it is not fair for a wealthier individual to able to obtain a better education just becaus...