Feb. 26, 2009
Winners & Losers Through Public Education
|
We all know that the U.S. is being faced with some big challenges- the economy, healthcare reform, global warming, to name a few. The stakes are high- the consequences for not confronting these problems would be devastating not only for the U.S. but worldwide. With our future and way of life on the line, the government has turned to math and science to avoid disaster and lead us into the future. So it is ironic that school children in the U.S. are falling behind in these two subjects. With so much hope for our future invested in math and science you would think public schools would be putting all their energies into promoting and encouraging interest in these subjects. The reality is that public schools curriculum is designed by the few for the many. From grade to grade the math and science curriculum has been pre-determined, has guidelines that must be followed, and has goals that must be met. There is no room to nurture a child’s interest in a particular field of science or math. And there is no way to tailor the curriculum to make it appealing to different kids with different interests. Another big problem is peer pressure and the stigma attached to kids who show enthusiasm for math and science. The impact of peer pressure and inflexible curriculum in public schools is why our children’s scores in these subjects are dropping. When a child learns in an environment free from these factors they are given a chance to flourish. Children who are home schooled get to pursue their interests unperturbed and learn in a way designed just for them. We can't afford to let kids loose their passion for learning- Our future is counting on them! |
Comments