In Jamie Vollmer's video, A Reason to Change he discusses the origins of the American system of public schools and how important it is to ensure a well-informed citizenry. He explains however, the idea of a well informed citizenry looks quite a bit different today than it did at the founding of our Republic. Nevertheless, I do believe the basic premise of this idea is as important to our mission as an educational institution today as it was in the 1700s. He goes further though, and takes on critics who sometimes claim that schools were also much better in the past. Sometimes folks will opine, 'if we had the schools we had when I went to school, we would be much better off''. Now, granted no one has ever said that to me, but I do find the comment a bit perplexing. Does the protagonist suggest a school with fewer options for students? Perhaps one where supports for students who struggle academically don't exist? I truly find the opinion vexing.
In all honesty I want to understand, why the visceral?
The origins of our system can be traced back to Thomas Jefferson when he said in 1779 that we should 'Educate and inform the whole mass of the people… They are the only sure reliance for the preservation of our liberty.' He went on to argue for a system of public education that would be tax funded for a period of 3 years for all free children, male and female. This vision most certainly provided the foundation on which our public school systems are built to this day. Now, in the late 1700s, a three year public school system probably would have been sufficient. After all, the majority of the population at that time wasn't expected to live in a highly complex world but rather partake in a low skill high wage society.
That America no longer exists and I don't believe anyone can argue that it does. The fact is, we live in a complex world where problem solving and critical thinking skills are of paramount importance. Where our students need to have the ability to learn new skills so they can pivot quickly. An America where a college degree isn't the only pathway to a successful and rewarding life. And frankly, an America where we value truth, integrity, and can count on an honest broker.
Come to think of it, I think Jefferson would likely approve of these attributes of our modern day educational system.
Over the 245 year history of our Republic, this system of public education has evolved from the vision that Jefferson first proposed into one that will serve more than 50 million students this fall. To put that in perspective, the population of the United States in 1776 was around 2.5 million. This year, we will teach more students to higher levels in a broader range of content matter than ever before. The fact is, schools continue to be both ever changing with new mandates for higher standards and with tensions in the system that are not new!
Consider how far our system has come! Why would we want to go back to that? In the intervening years the strategies we employ have become more scientifically based, the programming that we offer has become richer, broader, and more diverse, and our graduation rates; well at least ours here at Hudson are close to 100% annually. That alone is a departure from Jefferson’s original vision for education. His goal wasn’t designed to produce high school graduates. It was designed to select and sort, into a system of 'doers' and 'thinkers. The Laborers and the Learned. In that same publication previously quoted, ‘Notes on the State of Virginia’, he lays out the idea of a very basic education for everyone that will produce a well-informed citizenry—and at the same time separate out the best students, to quote ‘rake the best geniuses from the rubbish annually’. Can you imagine a system today where the goal is to encourage dropouts? The consequences of which are not only catastrophic for the individual, but the society.
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