Sunday Musings - June 2, 2024
Public Education
In most places in the United States K-12 schools are closing for the summer although some will offer summer school, and a few are on a 12-month calendar.
During the summer and fall months, candidates for school boards as well as state and federal legislatures will be competing to have their opinions determine the content and direction of public education at the K-12 level and at the college/university level.
Some will insist that the goal of public education is to instill morals and ethics. Others may suggest that education is to explore the creative and intellectual potential of each child. Still others seem to think that education is to teach the skills and history needed to function within a narrow concept of religious dogma. Some of the later maintain that we are a Christian nation and the job of public education is to ensure that basic skills are taught within the framework of often narrow religious beliefs.
My understanding is:
o The United States constitution ensures that there is no national religion or allegiance to any religion. Church and state are separate
o All individuals are born with equal rights and unique gifts.
o Public education should strive to develop and nurture the gifts and talents of every child.
o Public education should teach how skills and talents add to the quality of life for all. I think this includes the role of the arts - music, dance, painting, sculpture, as well as other art forms.. The arts explore what is creatively possible.
o Public education should honor the fact that each of us have unique ways of accessing information and problem solving. Some learn better by reading; some by listening; some by independent study; some by hands on.
o Not all parents have the same skills, resources, or talents. Some are merely the biological parents and have no ability to nurture, teach, guide or provide basics values. Schools must honor this reality.
o Some skills are the foundation while others change. We must foster the excitement and ability of a lifetime of learning; to problem solve; think critically and creatively.
o Fairly or unfairly, there are parents or parent resources which can provide alternative, exceptional educational opportunities for some children.
o If we are preparing all children to function in the cultural, economic and environmental framework in which we live, we must teach children that we thrive together or perish together.
o Publicly funded charter schools have no place in the public education system. Specialty schools such as schools which focus on certain skills or talents may have an important role in public education.
o Funding must be equal taking into account living expenses for staff and that the needs of the children may vary. Property taxes and other local sources of funding vary too much to play a role in the funding of public education. If a significant portion of the education budget is based on property taxes, there cannot be any equality of opportunity for a quality education. The same is true of state funding. State resources are not equal.
o Teachers and school resource personal such as counselors, psychologists and other social scientists should determine age-appropriate teaching relating to sex, gender, sexual orientation, and birth control. Decisions of what and how to teach should not be based on political expediency, religious bias or limited versions of ethics/morals.
o Children vary in readiness for reading level and other skills. When we adults listen children will let us adults know when they are ready.
o School schedules in terms of age, time of operations. must be coordinated with work schedules of parents. Childcare may need to be incorporated into the publicly funded educational institutions.
o Holistic health practices (factors which affect the health of the brain as well as the rest of the body) must be taught and practiced by public school systems. This includes nutrition, exercise and other pieces of health care.
o Children must learn what they are taught can lead to thriving throughout their life journey. This includes a sense of purpose; of being an essential part of a whole.
The above can be debated and/or added to by educators, social scientists and students. They should not be the purview of elected school board members, legislators or religious groups all of which may have a biased agenda.
Written June 2, 2024
Jimmy F Pickett
coachpickett.org
Postscript:
In West Virginia, 14% of funding comes from the federal government, 34% of funding comes from the state government, and 51% of funding comes from local property taxes. Since much of the funding comes from local property taxes, opportunity does not flow equally to all students. (March 23, 202l4. theintelligence.org)
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