tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3496007421871831721.post7244554848478042325..comments2023-09-08T16:15:00.960-07:00Comments on Reading Sage: The Decline of Public Education in AmericaThe Reading Sagehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05269503720197163765noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3496007421871831721.post-50079294852970305812013-04-18T13:50:13.559-07:002013-04-18T13:50:13.559-07:00Political aspersions aside, education has been on ...Political aspersions aside, education has been on the decline since government, beyond the school district level, decided they had to become involved. The educational needs of a student in farm country or cattle country are both the same and different from a student in an industrial area or a strictly urban environment. The core subjects certainly need to be stressed to all. On that there is no argument. <br /><br />Once those are mastered the student must decide on a life path and prepare for that. Should the student choose to be an educator then a broad based education is the foundation with extra emphasis upon the subject to be taught later. <br /><br />But perhaps the student wishes to work on a farm or in a factory following in the footsteps of a parent or grandparent. The core is still mandatory simply so that the student will still be educated in a way which will permit them to feel normal and function in society. Beyond that then whatever math or trade skills necessary to permit entry and success in the field chosen would be more important than say a course in The Music of Mozart or the paintings of Van Gogh. (although those thing could make the persons life more culturally rich)<br /><br />My mother constantly is critical of herself for "only graduating the 8th grade" as she puts it. I did some research and found the standard 8th grade exit exam for her time period and it is an eye opening experience. By today's standards her "simple" 8th grade education puts her about on par with someone about two years into graduate school. At 84 she routinely completes the Sunday New York Times crossword puzzle without ever reaching for a dictionary or other reference materials. <br /><br />Has education in America slipped? Yes.... and if fell off a cliff after slipping too. Rev. Joe Ruylehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16148491014672650225noreply@blogger.com