by Bob Branco
Remember when we were in school? It was a very controlled environment. We would take our courses, pay attention, and realize that the teacher was in charge. There were no ifs, ands, or buts about this. Some students learned more than others, but that was acceptable. Each student was placed according to his scholastic abilities. Today, education is valued much differently, so much so that I am concerned about the future.
First of all, teachers are required to do much more than teach the kids. They have to be babysitters, social workers, and parents. Many kids believe that they have the right to do what they want in school, so when they get a chance, they text on their cell phones and talk back whenever they feel it’s appropriate.
With the addition of Common Core, society wants to treat every student equal to any other, which, in my opinion, waters down the education process. In many school systems today, History and Civics are no longer taught, which means that many children do not understand our Constitution, how this country was founded, and who some of the famous historians were who helped shape this country. Some colleges are too generous with their grading process. I know a college student who was told by his teacher that if he guessed 16 out of 25 questions correctly, he’d get a B. In my day, I’d likely fail under these same conditions. Finally, with all the testing that kids are required, how much time is there during the school day for actual learning?
With the dumbing down of education, what will our future doctors, lawyers, police officers, firemen and other professionals be like? Will they possess the same knowledge as a result of what is allowed to happen in our schools today? I am very worried about our future, as well as the quality of our future leadership. Someone needs to pay attention to this issue quickly before it’s too late.
About the Author
Bob Branco resides in New Bedford, Massachusetts, and is a self-published author of four books. He is a community organizer, tutors persons with visual impairments, and has written columns for local and international organizations. Bob’s web site is www.dvorkin.com/robertbranco/.
