The Ever-Changing Faces of Education

The field of education is undergoing many changes. Students are being more actively involved in their education, while teachers are taking a role that more closely resembles a facilitator, rather than a presenter. There are current trends evident in school systems across the nation. Schools have come under major scrutiny over the past decades. Violence has been on the increase in our educational institutions; school officials scramble to address the outbreaks in a form that does not discombobulate the entire system.

Other issues plague educational systems in a push to make massive school improvements. Many of these efforts geared toward the increasing number of students choosing not to pursue Post Secondary education, and yet, there are ever increasing numbers of student who need to be provided with the basic fundamental life skills to survive on a daily basis. The biggest pushes toward academic empowerment, in my opinion are centered on issues concerning standardized testing, school-to-work programs, and school reform.

Academic Success

It is the desire of many Americans to be a world academic leader. Students feel the daily stress placed upon them by parents to be school and classroom geniuses. Schools place significant emphasis on the importance of standardized testing, student performance on these tests, and the implications these results hold for individual teaching efforts, school systems, and districts.

Parents purchase "miracle" grade makers to improve their child's performance. Other parents combat any effort schools make to switch from letter grades, tracking systems, or any other academic programs, that in the past, have prevented students showing their own thinking and creativity, and therefore, have their progress creatively judged. Other parents want their children to be graded according to a drill and practice based curriculum.

Still further, exist an increasing number of teachers who "teach to" these standardized tests. These test mandate and dictate the learning in the class; thus, opportunities for real-life examples and exploration, based on their previous knowledge and experience is somewhat halted.

Beyond the School Walls

Many students, especially the population of students with which I work, do not desire the opportunity to go to college. Many dread their daily requirements of attending grade school, so Higher Learning serves a functionless appeal for these students. However, these students must have skills that will help them survive in the "real world."

Although Technical High Schools exist, more systems adopt programs to cater to career and vocational options for students.

Vocational education makes individuals more marketable for survival. Students receive the skills necessary to problem solve, make decisions, reason, and be creative, while working a job enabling continuous learning during wage earnings. Click here to get more info plagiarism

Implications for Change

Widespread adjustments in practice and pedagogy exist in current school systems. These practices are in tact to improve and increase school rankings, pupil attendance and dropout rates, and academic rankings. It has become increasingly evident efforts from parents, teachers, administration, and community members must jointly work to reconcile the deterioration in schools.

There exists not a single answer. Each institution must devise plan that addresses the unique set of circumstances that institution exudes. The answers take time; expedient results should not necessarily be the focus, but rather a set of standards by which the system can run and operate- yielding positive outcomes. Our students' futures deserve our concerns.