The Education "Riddle"
Our President challenges us to establish free public education for all citizens from age 4.
In spite of our long, sordid, and wasteful history of effort to provide public
education, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_in_the_United_States , he thinks we can "get it right" this time.
In spite of our long, sordid, and wasteful history of effort to provide public
education, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_in_the_United_States , he thinks we can "get it right" this time.
No one, politician, educator, unionist, parent, or tax-payer, can come to this question without first checking their own ability to "identify". We are a nation of many races, ethnicities, factions, creeds, and political persuasions. We are also locked in pervasive economic competition with each other; across the boundaries that each category sets. Over several hundreds of years we have "thrown money" at "education"; with dwindling results.
We have not, and cannot, reach our stated goal this time without first examining the conflicts inherent in our willingness, or ability, to be honest about "identifying" with those we wish to see benefit from our funding, or any other efforts, to achieve the outcome we seek.
From our Founding until our Civil War (the slavery/WASP period) our intent was to put to death any slave who became "educated"; exterminate all natives; and to keep most women "barefoot and pregnant". During the "Peonage" period, (Civil War to Civil Rights) the prime focus was to limit the education of that portion of our population targeted as victims for peonage and segregation. Post Civil Rights, since 1965, we're struggling with racial, class, and other economic difficulties associated with funding, operating, and legislating for "education"; at all levels. Economic and racial competition dominates the scene today and there are few indications of significant change.
From our Founding until our Civil War (the slavery/WASP period) our intent was to put to death any slave who became "educated"; exterminate all natives; and to keep most women "barefoot and pregnant". During the "Peonage" period, (Civil War to Civil Rights) the prime focus was to limit the education of that portion of our population targeted as victims for peonage and segregation. Post Civil Rights, since 1965, we're struggling with racial, class, and other economic difficulties associated with funding, operating, and legislating for "education"; at all levels. Economic and racial competition dominates the scene today and there are few indications of significant change.
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