Originally the following letter was posted on Education Week in May of this year. As elections approaches, I felt the need to edit this and repost for those who are vested in education. We must think about education in terms of our entire society instead of focusing on one or two aspects such as industry and technology. I hope my thoughts are well received.
Dear Educator and others vested in education,
The future of this country is entrusted in your ability to prepare students for life. The belief that your job is merely to help students obtain an education (signified by receiving a diploma) or get into college is clear proof of a misunderstanding. I recently discussed the problem with the growing rhetoric of competing in the global economy and its supposed connection to public education. In summary, I concluded that using the philosophy of global competitiveness in education will not result in a generation of new innovators. I firmly believe it will cause us to create a colossal labor class to be exploited by the corporate class.
It is your duty as an educator to raise this question: what is the purpose of the public school system? Raise this question as often as you cross the threshold of a school building. Many do not ponder the purpose of the public education system overlooking that this question lies at the heart of all that is done in school. Teach your students to meditate on this question using you as an example.
The unfortunate reality is that many believe training students in Math, Science, English, and History is what it means to educate. Society is far more complicated than the limited ideas covered in these four subjects. Consider the overwhelming conversations that were had around the STEM subjects. These conversations excluded talking about students’ ability to interact with one another, their ability to interact in the larger society, and their ability to maintain our democracy (which the most important students can learn). If the previously mentioned are not learned as a youth, we may find ourselves in a society where members of the society are easily exploited. A lack of this knowledge is evident through the Occupy and Tea Party movements’ arrivals. These bodies of people suddenly realized that they were experiencing oppression. This is not the reality I hope to see students in 20 years from now.
So then what does "educate" mean? My personal philosophy states: To educate is to prepare and train someone in the necessary skills to have the ability to participate in society as a full citizen. This definition reaches far beyond the scope of the four primary subjects. Education should include thoroughly learning the functions and duties of government, a complete understanding of the constitution and one’s rights, learning how social justice movements change society, how to farm, how to cook, etc. The public school system should exist to prepare young people for life. This is the task of an educator: facilitate the progress of transforming youth into functional independent full citizens.
These ideas are summarized by the National Student Bill of Rights. Leaders in the National Student Bill of Rights movement are advocating for these fundamental rights because we understand that youth must be trained in living versus trained how to make a living.
I hope that you ponder on this question. Regardless of your answer, we face the next logical question: is public education serving its purpose and for whom?
Sincerely,
Bryant Muldrew
P.S. Remember that any member of a preceding generation is an educator for the following generations.