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Failures in Education

Thomasena Martin-Johnson · Friday, October 8th 2010 at 12:32AM · 493 views
John Hood, columnist for 'Reason' , a magazine reports"

1900 72% of school age children enrolled, 72% of those attended school 150 days.

2% were in 9th grade or higher.

1989 ---90% of the school age children attended school--100% of those attended classes daily in a 180 day academic year. a 40% increase since reconstruction.

Most stayed through high school.mThis is not graduation numbers.

1898-1910 the high school population was 90% by age..

Education was basically focused on learning skills and reflected the community.

At the turn of the century, different groups decided that a comprehensive, centrally controlled, bureauratic, public education was the thing to do.

This became the bedrock for the future.

Child welfare focused on the family:
- - - child labor and family neglect,
- - - business became international and competitive,
- - - a growing labor movement developed.

Culture became conservative, immigration was incouraged, a focus on languages and customs became a part of the movement.
.

Focus on providing a common culture and a means of inculcating new Americans with democratic views was major. A high pressure "melting pot".

Education became the vehichel to provide health, nutrition, fighting delenquency and crime, a orotector for physical abuse, etc.

Education played a key role in accomplishing political and social objectives:
- - - integration
- - - democratic participation
- - - social tolerance
- - - environmental awareness.

Through the decades of reform, and adding new tracts to the umbrella of education, more areas of concern and responsibiity are taken away from the family and the parents and made the responsibility of the educational system.

THERE IS MORE...






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Comments (8)

Adam Fate Friday, October 8th 2010 at 10:39AM

There is indeed more, and we are the shapers of the future. The public school system is pretty firmly entrenched, just as our government. We can work within the system, or outside it, or both, but work we must. and what we are doing here is a part of it. Thank-you Thomasena, for your continued research and reasoned commentary.

Richard Kigel Friday, October 8th 2010 at 11:16AM

Thank you for this--and keep it coming.

As a nation, we have fallen so far behind other developed nations it is not a joke.

And as a professional educator, I am truly saddened to see how our leaders are vying with each other to distort and destroy the actual teaching process. We need some REASON in the conversation!!!

Jen Fad Friday, October 8th 2010 at 5:25PM

@ SIster Thomasensa
[Education was basically focused on learning skills and reflected the community]
I think the point above is a really essential point that should be emphasized and now I think I have an idea of how parents should proceed with their children's education and grooming for the real world. The Royals in England are being groomed to take over the throne of England one day so why can't we do the same type of coaching for our own children inspite of current education system!

@ both Bros. Adam & Rich
I think we all need to make sure that we are apart of the solution rather than the problem with education in America. Parents really have to take being involved with the educational system more seriously by becoming proactive and participating in local elections, PTOs, etc... we need to make our voices heard. Teachers have their hands tied so it is important for parents to get involved at the grassroots level~ talking to other parents and making sure that we are informed. So many parents don't attend PTOs. It's sad.

Thomasena Martin-Johnson Friday, October 8th 2010 at 7:13PM

I agree with the idea of getting involved but we all know that many times the parents come into the schools defending bad behavior and accusing the teacher of misconduct when we know that the student is "bad news", has no respect for authority, and will rather buy a cell phone or some Jordons instead of a book or a dictionary. The only time some parents go to school is when the student is in trouble.

DAVID JOHNSON Friday, October 8th 2010 at 7:45PM

@ ms Johnson
My wife is at every pta meeting and has the email to every teacher that teaches our kids then we pay for teachers to tutor the kids,we have a policy that no games no tv until the weekend if you finish your home work then play the piano ,read a book ,,find some thing educational to do !
if parent can get involved early in the child's life then they will have more control ,,dont wait until the child is in the 10th grade to start taking control ! my kids are 14 and 16 they know we dont play when ti comes to school now they are eligible to get scholarships and take collage courses so they graduate with a asoc degree !

Jen Fad Friday, October 8th 2010 at 8:23PM

@ Sister Thomasena,
Well I think that's really unfortunate that parents blame the teachers for their children's behavioral problems especially when they know good and darn well that the techer is telling the absolute truth about the child. I want to encourage parents to be active in their child's education first day one that they enter the "system".

Thomasena Martin-Johnson Friday, October 8th 2010 at 9:38PM

David,
You need to go with her to those meetings. Your presence is vital---united front you know.
It is not the parents like the two of you that creats the problem. Your children are well behaved because the two of you won't stand for anything less. It is those others who never come until the child is in trouble that causes the grief.

DAVID JOHNSON Friday, October 8th 2010 at 10:12PM

YES
I GO TO I JUST WANT TO GIVE HER THE PROPS ,,,

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