Let me share a story that highlights the challenges we face in our schools. A few years ago, my young son came home with a wooden box from school. It was decorated with his favorite pencil drawings of fish. When I opened it, I found a scrap of paper inside that had a curse word on it, along with more bad words scribbled on other pieces. Confused, I reached out to the school.
This was part of an assignment called the “tacky box.” A guidance counselor asked the kids to collect the worst words they could think of and put them in the box instead of saying them out loud. It was meant to be a lesson during anti-bullying week. Unfortunately, it seemed like the bullies might have learned some new vocabulary instead.
More recently, parents in my kindergarten group shared their concerns about inappropriate images appearing on school-supplied tablets. One child accidentally stumbled upon them while searching for something school-related. This raises questions: How much time are kids spending on devices at school? And why are we still dealing with these issues? Research is expanding on how excessive screen time can hurt children’s learning and attention spans.
Then there’s the new math curriculum. It emphasizes intuitive learning over memorization of basic facts like addition and subtraction. This feels like trying to drive a car before building the road. Can we focus on getting the basics right? We’re also facing tests designed to measure testing skills, while kids miss out on recess. It makes you wonder how accountability got so convoluted.
These experiences shed light on why many parents, including those with kids in good schools, are frustrated with the education system. This growing dissatisfaction is pushing opinions for major changes, like President Donald Trump’s consideration to eliminate the Department of Education.
A recent Gallup poll shows that 46% of American adults are unhappy with public education — the highest level of dissatisfaction in over a decade. Problems plague every aspect of K-12 education, despite the federal government’s involvement being minor. Schools are not functioning as they should.
For example, the latest NAEP scores reveal a disappointing trend. Reading and math scores for fourth and eighth graders have dropped significantly, especially in Texas. Alarmingly, fewer than 1 in 5 eighth-graders can read proficiently, and this number shrinks even more when looking at those in lower income brackets.
Despite spending more on education than ever before, including a staggering $190 billion during the pandemic, results continue to decline. We are investing heavily in education, even outspending other countries on a per-student basis, and yet we seem to be falling behind.
This situation is fueling calls for a radical overhaul of our education system. Many believe that highly educated individuals are not passing on vital skills like critical thinking and curiosity to our children, especially those who need support the most. Even Betsy DeVos, a former Secretary of Education, has voiced support for closing the Department of Education.
But here’s where we need to pause. While cutting funding, banning books, or eliminating departments may seem like a solution, these actions won’t actually improve student learning. Real progress demands hard work and patience. Improving reading and math skills is complex and requires local solutions.
Some believe the answer lies in better pay for teachers, which may help, but the leading education economist, Caroline Hoxby, suggests that issues may be rooted more in school culture than in the teachers or families themselves.
In conclusion, fixing education will take more than tearing down existing structures. The Department of Education has an important role in showcasing effective practices in the classroom, including technology use, curriculum standards, and graduation rates. It should lead the way in gathering valuable data and promoting innovative methods that can benefit local schools while also considering the needs of parents and students.
While frustration with current school systems is widespread, dismantling what we have will not lead to solutions. Instead, we must address the core issues to truly enhance our education system.
Check out this related article: Join the Movement: Why Every Community Member Must Participate in Transforming Education – Insights from the House Speaker | Waterbury Roundabout
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