Social and Cultural Foundations of American Education/Chapter 1/What is the purpose of schooling? 2

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Jazmizzo 16:56, 29 August 2006 (UTC)

The Purpose of Schooling

Jasmine Moore

What is schooling? As defined in the Webster International Dictionary (1993), schooling is “education in an institution of learning.” So, when we look at the importance of schooling, we also have to look at the importance of education. According to Albert Einstein, education has two central functions relating to the individual and their society. The first function is “to educate the individual as a free individual” and second, “to educate the individual as a part of Society.”(Haselhust, 2006) The majority of Americans have long since agreed on the importance of schooling and education, but not on the type of schooling that provides the best and most inclusive education to our children. We now have many different types of schools available to American children, from public to private preschools, public schools, private schools, community colleges and universities. As you continue reading, you will learn about the different school systems in the United States of America and the emphasis they place on the schooling they provide to our children and young adults.

“Research conducted for more than two decades has proven that the first years of life are the most important, when children learn more than at any other time in their lives. Studies show that beginning a child's education at age 5 is already too late.” (Stratos, 2003) A good preschool education teaches children socialization skills that help them adjust to different life situations as well as introducing them to letters and numbers to better prepare them for entering into elementary school. “Children who are not given this opportunity have been shown to be at a definite disadvantage, lagging as much as a year and a half behind in language skills, and never completely catching up.” (Stratos, 2003) Some educators feel that the most important key to academic success starts with a preschool education. The United States is now starting to see the importance of schooling before children reach kindergarten. In a State of the Union Address in January, 2002, President Bush emphasized the importance of all children being given the opportunity to have a preschool education by stating, “We must make sure that every child enters school ready to learn-every child-not just one, not just a few, but every single child. We must give our children the life-long gift of early learning.”(Committee for Economic Development, 2002) For preschool age children, schooling is important to prepare them for a lifetime of learning and to provide them with the tools to become successful adults.

The importance of schooling has also been stressed in the American public school systems. There are thousands of school systems across the United States that provide education to our children because American people believe in the importance of schooling our children. What are children learning in public schools? Our public school systems have been going up against a lot of critics, yet students continue to learn reading, writing, and arithmetic. According to W.T. White, Superintendent of the Dallas, Texas Public Schools (1951), the “three R’s” are being taught better than they ever have before. He states that not only are the “three R’s” still being taught effectively but that “the public school is the institution upon which rest the greatest responsibility to see to it that we have a citizenship able to cope with these increasingly complex and varied conditions of life and living.” (White, 1951) Today, as we understand the importance of schooling, we are holding our public schools accountable for providing quality education to its students through standardized tests. The education that public schools are providing our children has been under scrutiny. Americans view schooling as a way to get economic gain. “We want schools to equip all students from all ethnic and socioeconomic groups to compete equally for better jobs and to get better jobs. And we expect schools to prepare them.” Schooling provides our children with a better opportunity to achieve these higher jobs, but are we giving a lot of our youth false hope? If all children get better educations, there will still only be so many jobs available. While education is important, it cannot alone change the problems of income differences among socioeconomic groups. (Rothstein, 2001)

As we face challenges in the American Public School system, many people are turning to private schools to achieve the quality schooling they think their children need to succeed in life. According to Michael Mote (1999), “More and more parents seem to think the answer to public schools is private schools.” These parents are in search of a better education for their children. Parents that pay for their children to attend private schools want “discipline, high academic expectations, and structure for their children – things that they do not believe the typical public schools offer.”

Post-secondary education has also become very important in the United States of America. There are a large number of universities and colleges that offer students the opportunity to continue with their schooling. “The importance of postsecondary education has increased significantly in the last decade. A high school diploma is no longer sufficient in the 21st century.”(National Conference of State Legislatures, 2006) In today’s world, in order to be successful, it seems you need to have a postsecondary education. In order for the United States to be economically stable, we need citizens who have postsecondary educations. The goal of postsecondary education is to provide students with the skills, the knowledge, and the attitudes they need to succeed in an ever-changing democratic society. However, there are many challenges to receiving a postsecondary education such as high costs and access to all students. “States want their systems of higher education to deliver high quality education to all students and be accountable to the public. As a result, states face multiple challenges in designing a system of higher education that will continue to be the best in the world.” (National Conference of State Legislatures, 2006)

What is the purpose of schooling? As Americans, we can come to a consensus that educating our youth is vital to the future of our country. Education provides children with a means to become skillful, knowledgeable, and successful adults. We just have not come to a consensus on what is the best way to provide our youth with that necessary education or the means to provide equal, quality education to all of our children.

Sidebar:

My dear children: I rejoice to see you before me today, happy youth of a sunny and fortunate land. Bear in mind that the wonderful things that you learn in your schools are the work of many generations, produced by enthusiastic effort and infinite labour in every country of the world. All this is put into your hands as your inheritance in order that you may receive it, honour it, and add to it, and one day faithfully hand it on to your children. Thus do we mortals achieve immortality in the permanent things which we create in common. If you always keep that in mind you will find meaning in life and work and acquire the right attitude towards other nations and ages. (Albert Einstein talking to a group of school children. 1934)

Education would be much more effective if its purpose was to ensure that by the time they leave school every boy and girl should know how much they do not know, and be imbued with a lifelong desire to know it. (Sir William Haley)

Essay Question

Describe the role postsecondary education plays in the American labor market.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Ms. Jones wants her son to continue his schooling by attending a university after he graduates. What are some of the barriers he might face when he tries to continue his schooling?

  A. High costs. 

  B. Limited number of universities available in the United States.

  C. Limited access to all students.

  D. Both A & B

  E. Both A & C

2. Mr. Smith has been unhappy with the public schools in his areas. What does Mr Smith think his son might get from schooling in a private school over a public school?

  A. High academic expectations

  B. Discipline

  C. Structure

  D. All of the above

3. Mrs. Jones is thinking about sending her three year old to preschool. What should she expect from a good preschool education?

  A. How to read

  B. How to speak a foreign language

  C. Socialization Skills

  D. All of the above

4. As many students in the United States are trying to further their education by attending post-secondary schools, what goal are they trying to achieve?

  A. The skills to help them become successful

  B. The attitudes to help them become successful

  C. The knowledge to help them become successful

  D. All of the above

5. What do some educators in the United States believe to be one of the most important keys to a successful education?

  A. Public school education 

  B. Preschool education 

  C. Postsecondary school education

  D. Private school education
  
  

Sources

Committee for Economic Development. (September, 2002). CED Launches Early EducationCampaign. Preschool for All, 1(1), 1-2.

Haselhust, G. (2006). Famous Philosopher’s Quotes on Educational Philosophy, Teaching Philosphy. Retrieved September 18, 2006, from Philosophy of Education. Web site: http://www.spaceandmotion.com/Philosophy-Education.htm

Mote, M. (June, 1999). Going All the Way. Phi Delta Kappan, 80(10), 766-769. Retrieved September 18, 2006, from The H. W. Wilson Company/ Wilson Web database.

National Conference of State Legislatures. (2006). Post-Secondary Education. Retrieved September 18, 2006, from National Conference of State Legislatures. Web site: http://www.ncsl.org/programs/educ/PostSecondaryED.htm

Rothstein, R. (March, 2001). The Blame Game. School Administrator, 58(3). 14-17. Retrieved September 18, 2006, The H. W. Wilson Company/ Wilson Web database.

Stratos, A. (2003). A Good Preschool Education is Important in Today’s World. Retrieved Sept. 10, 2006, from Middlesex County Community Guide. Web site: http://mid.guide.gmnews.com/Current/Schools/

White, W. T. (January, 1951) The Public Schools. Peabody Journal of Education, 28 (4), 203-204. Retrieved September 20, 2006 from JStor database.

Multiple Choice Answers

1.E 2.D 3.C 4.D 5.B