The more-than-adequate financial support of public education is an expression of democracy. Unfortunately, public education is under-funded. Teachers need to balance defense of the profession (How can we manage budget cuts?) with advocacy for students (How can we ensure smaller class size, for starters?*).
What can we do to help advance the idea of public education as a foundation for our democracy (assuming we agree)?
CLICK ON THE GRAPHIC below for an clearer image that helps me visualize the relationship between democracy and education. Comments/suggestions welcome. [* The graphic was designed to map the US Department of Education's emphasis on "college" and "career" as sub-sets of critical and creative thinking. As Gretel points out in the comments below, critical and creative thinking are life-skills that exceed college and career. I agree. GDS - 10-18-2013.]
* What are some features of adequately-funded democratic education? See subsequent post.
Developed and underdeveloped countries spending huge money on defense budget. Govt buying expensive arms and ammunition with public money. Although they are necessary for national defense. But if we compare defense budget with education budget, then there's big difference between them. There is need to spend more money on education.
ReplyDeleteediting and proofreading services
I notice that you refer to Critical and Creative Thinking Skills as being "Career-ready". Though I think that's probably true (depending on the career), aren't they really "Life-ready" skills? I have used more creative thinking skills entertaining my 20 month old daughter than most people use in their careers. And as a Brooklynite, a certain amount of critical thinking skill is necessary for negotiating a route to work on the subway when there's track maintenance going on. I don't mean to diminish the importance of college or career readiness, but I worry that when we place so much emphasis on it, we are, by omission, making a statement about how important all those other pieces of life (friends, family, travel, volunteer work, etc) are.
ReplyDeleteGretel,
DeleteI absolutely agree. I was s-t-r-e-t-c-h-i-n-g the US department of Education's emphasis on college and career as a sub-set of critical and creative thinking.