There is no good title for this diary because this is really a jumble of thoughts and observations. Let me state a few things off the top for me personally. I despise the current structure of mandatory testing. I feel it leads to teaching to the test instead of building skill sets for the next level of instruction. I am all for some form of metric based evaluation, but not end all be all.
I do voluntary financial literacy teaching at a local high school. The classrooms are overcrowded and the disinterest from the kids is palpable. When we get to the question part of the course they want to know how to make money and how to get credit cards.
My job brings me into contact with various Community organizations and non-profits and education is topic one, two, and three in our discussions.
But during a meeting this week the subject became "what kind of education?" To me, first and foremost the skills needed are reading, writing, basic math, and critical thinking. Science, History, and other subjects flow from the ability to read and comprehend what is being presented.
One of the members asked "What is wrong with being a cosmotologist?" I know that TEA mandates what is taught in High school, but to what extent? Getting every kid "college ready" is leading to a 29% drop out rate in the Houston area for freshmen entering high school.
What happened to metal shop? What happened to teaching some of those skills in high school? Part of financial literacy training is about giving people skills to naviagate credit and loan applications, managing money, building savings, 'good' uses of credit. The Texas Dept of Banking has tasked banks with trying to improve financial literacy in Texas to cut down on pay day loans. One of the best ways to do that is to get people those skills early to avoid pitfalls.
The other issue then becomes skill sets that allow for earning income. This is where I think we need to reevaluate the structure of education. People have aptitudes in the way they learn and areas they excel in. How do we get kids to find areas they are good at and find a passion? And once that is done make sure that they still get a well rounded education so they do not just survive in the real world but can thrive?
We at the community level are looking at all kinds of data and see all these programs to help kids, but ultimately it seems there need to be systemic changes in the approach. Community business leaders here talk about it all the time. These kids are the future work force. We want to help them now so we can employ them later.
And to be clear, I have met and interviewed some wonderful young women and men in this capacity. I see many bright futures. But that 29% dropout rate is a nightmare on the horizon. That is what needs to be fixed.
I could go on and on, but we need solutions. That level of dropout rate leads to a permanent underclass and a cycle of poverty that is crushing. For years we as a nation have said that education is everything. Now I think we need to examine how we do it to build a future for all the kids tomorrow.