Eliminating the Divides: Supranationalism

Deciding what systems should be collectively or individually controlled is a hard assignment indeed. When it comes to dilemmas like these, it's strange how we think we know all the answers when these topics are being debated. Sure, we know when someone makes a comment that completely agrees or disagrees with us. How many times do we sit down and think it out for ourselves though to the exact detail? In the ideal world, how would you have it?

In collectivism vs. individualism, education seems to be one of the more confusing topics. Private vs. public school? Force everyone to take the same classes all across the country when they are the same age? Specialize vocational and academic routes? Do we standardize all lessons within a certain course across the country? Standardized testing? Allow teachers to have flexible teaching methods?

This is my suggestion: In every public school across the country (private schools can still exist), classes will be required to hit certain checkpoints in what they should be teaching. Perhaps some classes will have time to go more in-depth on topics than others. The point is to have a holistic outlook on what is being taught and allow a large amount of flexibility in the class concerning the textbook and how the teacher presents the material (we all have different learning/teaching methods). 

I think standardized testing is quite dangerous, but it is not a topic I am quite as sure of. Teachers spend so much time teaching to accomplish test objectives, rather than teaching for student comprehension. It really defeats the purpose of being educated on these subjects if no student can retain it. However, I can see that it is a case by case issue. Some states and counties need more structure and guarantee as to what their students are taught. Therefore, I suggest giving states the choice to create standardized state tests, mandate that all counties standardize tests, or do neither. Students should not be required to do BOTH state and county exams. It should be one or the other. I also think that this should only be for elementary, middle school, and perhaps, lower high school classes. Tests, such as FCAT (Florida's standardized test), only inhibit students who must concentrate on their mid-terms and exams in later years. 

Students should most certainly NOT be required to take the same courses as other students their age. If this inhibits a student from a small town in competing with students from cities, I would say it's fair. I say this being from a small town. Most likely, if you're forced to keep up with certain classes throughout your school years, your teachers are not as qualified to teach a class full of both more advanced students and lower-level students. Plus, in small schools there is not the opportunity to separate these groups into separate courses. I'm not saying that students should be allowed to take the same class for multiple years, but there should be enough variability created that ensures they keep moving while allowing them to jump back up to higher level courses if they take summer classes, study through dual enrollment or a special program, etc. I wouldn't want students to be tracked a certain way from a younger age when that can change so much throughout teenage years. 

Finally, vocational school in college should exist. I haven't researched the recent decision by the Miami-Dade area to go in this direction, but I believe that it is a good idea to not force intense academic courses upon students who are clearly not going to use them. To me, this is a waste of resources, inconsiderate to students, and a huge inconvenience to teachers who spend all their time trying to teach those that don't want to be taught. 

Ultimately, I think our education system would benefit from being individualized but with certain guarantees in place to ensure progress for all students.