What is the Ultimate Purpose of Education Today?
excerpts from an e-mail discussion by Sue Stenberg - Homeschool Mom and Certified Teacher
From a thread about why the study of Geometry proofs can be useful...
What is the ultimate purpose of education? In colonial days, the purpose of education was to ensure that the populace was able to read and understand the Bible, would be able to apply it's principles in their lives, and be responsible members of their society. The people were taught the basics, but along with it, they were taught logic...the art of thinking, of applying their raw knowledge to the solution of problems. This resulted in a nation that gave us a flock of brilliant men who led us to political freedom - the American Revolution. It gave us that incredible document known as the Declaration of Independence, and it gave us the longest-lasting system of constitutional government in the history of mankind.
When the ratification debates were going on across the country, deciding whether to accept the new Constitution, stay with the Articles of Confederation, or write a third document with a system somewhere in between, the common plowmen, blacksmiths, fishermen, and tradesmen of America were reading and debating the Federalist and Anti-Federalist papers. Most of us today not only haven't heard of them (or if we have, haven't read them), but the vast majority of our high school seniors would be incapable of comprehending these documents that the "unwashed masses" of 18th century America understood in depth, considered, and responded to with deep logic.
The purpose of public education today is very blatantly to create a suitable workforce of non-thinking "sheeple" who will be the obedient warm bodies trained (not educated) to fill certain slots in industry and/or society. Take a look at the stated goals of OBE...look at the Certificates of Mastery in Oregon. Compare today's NCTM standards to the demands of 19th Century Ray's Arithmetic. Look at the old Blue-Backed Speller, and compare it to the system we have now which results in letters sent home to parents instructing us to praise our children's "creativity" when they bring home stories they have written, and to ignore any errors in spelling or grammar, because we don't want to stifle them! Yes, we actually received several of these letters while our children were still in public school!
Part of the new standards in all areas of academic "achievement" involves working in groups successfully, lots of estimating, lack of emphasis on accuracy in grammar, spelling (the spell-checker will catch it!), mental arithmetic (training the mind to work independently without a calculator), accurate history (look to see how the "dead white guys" have been minimized in the newer texts!), and an entire sense that the most important thing is to be creative, to "understand yourself", to "accept others", to applaud "diversity", and to realize that the old ideas of black & white, right & wrong, and absolute truth are outdated and inapplicable to today's world.
You certainly HAVE read that it is not important to do them [Geometry proofs]. You have also noted correctly that they are not necessary to achieve acceptable test scores. Why is this? Because geometric proofs, as tedious as they are, TEACH THE STUDENT TO THINK FOR THEMSELVES. They learn to use logic. They learn to take what they know and apply it in a systematic fashion to a new situation. They learn that there are absolutes (theorems, axioms, & postulates) that do not change just because we are in a new chapter of the book. They learn that what you have assimilated in the past is relevant to what they are doing today.
A student who can reason, use logic, apply knowledge independently without having their opinions spoon-fed to them by the state is a dangerous commodity. They will not quietly accept the role of a "sheeple". They will speak out against tyranny, and they will be able to make their point of view understood by those who listen. They will recognize inconsistencies in the words and behaviors of their leaders. They will be truly educated, able to use the minds that God gave them as something more than a placeholder so their cranium doesn't collapse. The point is not the proofs themselves (just as understanding the strategy of a basketball game is not the ultimate idea), but the point is "can the student use these tools, these absolutes, to reveals new truths himself? Can this student THINK?
Look within yourself and decide what y our goal is as a teacher. What the purpose of your child's education is within your particular homeschool. Recognize that the national goals, whether they come from the NCTM, the federal Dept. of Education, the NEA, or frequently from our own local school boards, very possibly may be in direct opposition to what you want to accomplish with your children and the goals you have for them.
I would urge you to consider going beyond "teaching to the test" as it is sometimes called. There is so much more to impart, so much more that our children are capable of ,that they deserve.
I feel very strongly that it is not enoughjhto check the blank for "the 10th grade kit" in the catalog, and plow through the various laid-out assignments, cranking out the worksheets and calling it education. I know that each homeschool is different, and that each family has different goals. My purpose...is to urge you to find your own path. The varous scopes & sequences, lists of standard goals (like the NCTM), etc. have their place...they are handy for guidelines. Please don't regard them as carved in stone or sacred though. Ultimately, the "standards" they have now will change to reflect the new role that public school is expected to play in society. Your principles and values however, will be consistent. You may need to find new materials to accomplish your purposes over the years, and that's OK. But, clarify YOUR goals and purposes...and God bless you!
I appreciate Sue sharing her opinion and am proud to be associated with such dedicated and thoughtful men and women ... Homeschooling Parents!
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