I wanted to speak to the issues related to public education, testing and accountability for schools and those involved in the school system.  Instead, I’m going to let someone else speak for me in this case.

I recently was pointed to a video that very poignantly describes issues regarding privatization of schools, issues with accountability based on testing, and other issues such as pay for performance.  In the video below, Diane Ravitch makes an outstanding presentation dealing with several issues in our public education system today.

I encourage you to take the time to watch it, and to be open to what she is saying.  I would also like to embolden you to try to place yourself in someone else’s shoes:

• Someone living in poverty
• A single mother working 2 jobs to support her family
• A military widower trying to raise a family and serve a nation

People without the ability to homeschool, or the financial capability to send their kids to a quality private school

I would ask you to at least consider re-thinking some of your positions on public education.  Please take a second to consider what the education of the poverty stricken, and less fortunate looks like.  As unemployment rises and the number of those stricken by poverty grows, can we, as a society, afford to ignore the growing educational gap between the rich and the poor?  Do we, as a society care enough to try to change public education for the better?  Do we understand that there is a direct correlation between a lack of education and crime and teenage pregnancy?  

On a different note, what can be done to address issues relating to the structure of our current education system regarding teacher, school, and student accountability?  Is a punishment/reward system the best way to encourage teachers to be great teachers and students to be great students, or is it true that education needs to be structured differently, as Ravitch stated in the video, around “motivating people by a sense of purpose”? 

Please comment on this blog post to share your opinions of how our education system should address the issues Diane raised.  Here at Stinky Kid Math, we value the opinion of parents, educators, students… everyone!  Feel free to be candid, but please honor the opportunity for all to benefit from your opinions by remaining sensitive to appropriate use of language.