Education

I definitely think that part of redesigning our lives and communities comes down to education. The education system in the US is in the midst of crisis as we transition from the Industrial Age to the Information age. Methods and standards once thought to be gold standard are now outdated, and I think a lot of people are starting to realize that. The problem is developing the infrastructure, the funding, and the enthusiasm for embracing new methods, technologies, and policies. It's a huge problem to tackle, even at a district level. My father has been a teacher at the same school district for over twenty years, and for a good 2+ he served as the school's union president. Time and time again I saw him stressing out over contract negotiations, students behavior, and having to do more with less. He gets to school at 7am and sometimes doesn't leave until 5-6pm. He buys classroom materials with his own money. Educators are totally unsung heroes- and anyone who had a problem with them actually had a problem with the district's policies (usually). I have a lot more thoughts when it comes to education, especially higher education (I opted to not attend graduate school right out of undergraduate, unlike a lot of my friends. I think it was a wise but unpopular choice.), but I think this list is a good place to start for thoughts on misguided education. It was originally taken from Forbes.com, which means someone higher up recognizes the need for change, right?

1. The people in charge have all the answers.That's why they are so wealthy and happy and healthy and powerful-- ask any teacher.
2. Learning ends when you leave the classroom.Your fort building, trail forging, frog catching, friend making, game playing, and drawing won't earn you any credit. Just watch TV.
3. The best and brightest follow the rules.You will be rewarded for your subordination, just not as much as your superiors, who, of course, have their own rules.
4. What the books say is always true.Now go read your creationism chapter. There will be a test.
5. There is a very clear, single path to success. It's called college. Everyone can join the top 1% if they do well enough in school and ignore the basic math problem inherent in that idea.
6. Behaving yourself is as important as getting good marks.Whistle-blowing, questioning the status quo, and thinking your own thoughts are no-nos. Be quiet and get back on the assembly line.
7. Standardized tests measure your value.By value, I'm talking about future earning potential, not anything else that might have other kinds of value.
8. Days off are always more fun than sitting in the classroom.You are trained from a young age to base your life around dribbles of allocated vacation. Be grateful for them.
9. The purpose of your education is your future career.And so you will be taught to be a good worker. You have to teach yourself how to be something more. 

And so it goes. There is a huge disconnect between what kind of education students need and what educators are taught that students need- on all levels, but especially high school & college. I can't wait to delve into this further as topic of discussion, especially as it relates to my own experience. I think "education" is much more than school- it's learning, curiosity, trying new things, meeting new people, visiting interesting places, taking risks, and really enriching your life with culture, history, and a variety of ideas. Anyways- what do you think? Do you think formal education is the best (or only) way to move forward in life, or do you fully believe that alternative education can provide the same, if not better, experience. Or do you fall somewhere in between? I would love to hear your thoughts!