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EducationReform 9 - 11 Feb 2010 - Main.PaulSmith
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| | A friend and I recently got into a discussion / argument recently over education reform. It all started when I scoffed at the fact that prospective grade school teachers who lacked a degree specifically in "education" needed to take an three extra semesters of education (get a Masters).
My argument was that if person A went to undergraduate school B, a respected, accredited American university and did reasonably well but majored in something than education, then that person should be not have to borrow more money just to attend another year and a half to two years of school to get the necessary qualifications to teach. The current requirements are in many ways, too burdensome. Not to rely on anecdotes, but, I have multiple friends who excelled in undergrad, got honors, wrote theses, etc. who wanted to become teachers but cannot (at least not immediately) because of the hoops and hurdles involved in entering the system. At least one will not become a teacher any time in the near future because of them. To be sure, I'm not in favor of a simple standardized test that tests nothing but your ability to take that test. But, I think that an alternative combination of a test and a shorter more affordable certificate program possibly coupled with an evaluation period or apprenticeship may be sufficient. (Teach For America aside) | | | P.S. I realize my post about education/democracy is vulnerable to a number of critiques, especially regarding the ease of voter manipulation, voter apathy, the poor state of our current public education system in meeting its theoretical goals, etc. I'll let someone else take up the mantle of poking holes in idealism tonight.
-- RonMazor - 10 Feb 2010 | |
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Hey Matthew,
Appreciate the substantive feedback. I’m going to put the actual issue-debate to the side for this post, since Eben has talked about how these forums are also supposed to help shape our writing itself.
I know this post was meant more as a discussion generator than a polished work, but I think some editing, cleaning, and tightening could help clarify a lot of the arguments you’re making.
I see roughly five main ideas:
1. Easier access to the teaching profession
2. Not everyone should go to college
3. The way we finance college education is broken
4. College Education systems themselves are broken
5. Pre-college education is broken
All of these ideas definitely interact with each other, but these interactions (and the role of some of your proposed solutions) seem to get muddled together in the post as it currently stands. Other folks might disagree, but I think some broader organization would help me understand exactly what you’re addressing at each point. Even if you disagree with compartmentalizing different sections of the post, I still think providing more guidance to the bigger-picture arc you’re shaping would be helpful. As it is I feel like there’s a good chance that in debating, we’ll end up arguing right past each other.
I’ll dive back into the substantive issues when I’ve had some more sleep. Hope I'm not misconstruing a purpose of the wiki.
-- PaulSmith - 11 Feb 2010 | | | |
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