I’ve noticed changes taking place in the American education
system. While I am critical of the
American education system, it is not always for the same reasons as others.
First, I am willing to realize that government education is
a form of welfare. I don’t blame
anyone for using it, just as I don’t blame anyone for collecting Social
Security. They are being forced to
pay for it, so it is understandable to “redeem” some of your lost money.
The average middle class person hates it when I compare
government schools to food stamps.
But in reality, they are both a form of welfare and virtually everyone
is forced to pay for the benefits of a select group. There is nothing sacred about education where it has to be a
government function.
But aside from the fact that the government schools are
funded with taxpayer dollars, I have another major issue with the schools,
although it is somewhat related.
I am different than many others on this topic. I am not concerned that children aren’t
learning enough; I am concerned about what children are learning. Or more precisely, I am concerned that
children are being taught to be obedient, nationalistic, and overall good
little citizens of the state.
While many parents wish for obedience, there is a difference
between being respectful towards others and never questioning authority. I fear that too many children are being
taught to never question authority.
There has been a lot of criticism of the American education
system over the past few decades, and for good reason. Children in the U.S. rank well below
many other countries in the world in language skills, math, and science.
In my view, the American education system is trying to step
it up and demanding more. If you
have seen the “Common Core” curriculum, you will likely know what I am talking
about. They are pressuring kids to
learn all of these things at an early age, in most cases before the children
are ready for it.
Personally, I don’t see the point in struggling to teach a 2nd
grader how to multiply or do complicated word problems when he or she will
easily be able to learn the concept in a couple of years.
It is almost as if the government schools are trying to promote
a much more strict teaching environment where kids are supposed to constantly
work hard and study. They are
trying to adopt something similar to a Japan model of education.
But I don’t really care that many kids in Asian countries
score really well in math and science.
I don’t really care that kids in other countries know how to read and
write at an earlier age. I only
care in the sense that it is important for all children to eventually learn how
to read and write and do some math.
But it should be taught when the child is ready, not because they happen
to be in a grade where they have to learn it for a standardized test.
The thing that has made America great through its history is
the sense of individualism, entrepreneurship, and creativity. Americans have not historically been
obedient people, at least relative to the rest of the world.
It is no coincidence that it is the government schools
trying to teach children to be obedient.
They want them to grow up to be obedient citizens of the state and to
not question government authority.
I am not saying that all teachers are purposely promoting this, but the
system itself is promoting it.
The best thing we can teach our children isn’t math and
reading. Those things are
certainly important, but they will likely learn that no matter what. The best thing is to teach them to
think independently and to be their own person.