The Death and Life of the Great American School System-A review: How Testing and Choice are Undermining Education

My quest to understand the state of our educational system has led me to read several books that give me foundational understanding.  The latest book, The Death and Life of the Great American School System-How Testing and Choice are Undermining Education, is written by a historian who's goal is to provide a history of the American school evolution. In recent years, standardized tests have become a heated topic and he recommends reevaluating testing standards.  He also promotes implementing a national curriculum which I do not support.  However, the author lays a great foundation for understanding how the political movements of our government have affected the current system - a complicated push and pull that seems to be leading no where fast.  

When the government started on the campaign to get tough on education, the top down approach to fixing the problems led to some very ugly acts against school administrators, principals, and teachers as they were ousted for their 'non-conformist' ideologies and resistance to the new and extreme reform measures.  What we are left with are basically the linchmen-type administrators that are enforcers pressuring school staff to perform- I mean- get the test scores up at whatever the cost.  No more nice guys- if you want to keep your job, you MUST perform (read page 50).  Yes, and with less and less time and resources.

The author also criticizes charters as they excersize  'experimental' methods to get kids on track by breaking away from the public school methods, utilizing new cutting edge methods and curriculum choice.  A free market approach to fixing the problems makes sense to me as it creates competition and gives parents and students choice.  It would be a shame if the government were to go backwards and instate a one curriculum, one method approach to every institution.  What about diversity? Perhaps in a socialistic setting, diversity is not desirable.

I agree with the author's discussion of testing and how it should never be the most heavily weighted means by which we evaluate schools and students.  We are left with entire administrations and teachers AND students, stressed out.  That is the current state.  I have first hand experience of this crunch as the blame game crushed my child. Schools can get adversarial to those who cause their scores averages to go down.  The failures of the schools and curriculum (in my exerience), are not always criticized rather the blame shifts onto the student who must be broken for not fitting into the box.  Hence, my journey began...to save my child. 

Wow!  Today started magically with an early morning Chinese fire drill to get the trash cans down to the street.  Once completely exerted from the frantic race, I quietly went about putting coffee water on to boil and cleaned the kitchen.  Then, not so quietly, I proceeded to cool the house off with our wonderfully noisy whole-house fan.  Relieved by the coolness of the morning air rushing in, my French Press was ready to perform.  Adding two heaping spoons of freshly ground coffee, followed by scalding hot water into the laboratory styled glass beaker, I was in business and near ready to partake in my morning coffee ritual.

My granite counters were unusually uncluttered except for a stack of books and dvds I had just  checked out from the library.  Among the materials, the box set of The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones called to me. (note to self- underline titles of movies when handwriting, italics for computer.)
I thought to myself that it would make a lovely start for the day to begin with Disc One- "My First Adventure" of which the setting is 1899, the year Henry was born. (note to self-Quotation marks denote chapters within larger pieces.)  I did not know what to expect from this box set as there was no description but I knew there was good reason that I requested it as I was in pursuit of material to supplement our studies in The Story of the World vol 1.  I put it in while the children slept so I could preview.  I was absolutely delighted with what I had!  The adventure begins with a brief yet fun introduction of Henry and the highlights of his life up to the age of 9.  I knew from the first moment, this series was well done by George Lucas and I was excited to share with the kids. 

I went in to gently awaken the children and they were quick to rise with the promise of good movie awaiting them in the living room.  Cozy with dogs on laps, we started the adventure.  From the beautiful scenery of Victorian influenced New Jersey town where Henry lived to a steam ship journey to England then onto the Mediterranean Sea for a voyage to Egypt.  Henry had been studying ancient Egypt with his private tutor whose plan was to take him into the great Pyramids with Archaeologists.  I was impressed with the cinematography of this film!  Our book studies were coming to life as we traveled along side of Henry!  Nearly everything that the film highlighted, we had covered in The Story of the World so we were totally integrated into this learning experience.  Again, another amazing opportunity had unfolded before us where history had come to life in a manner so rich that my children have a true understanding that is sure to last in their minds forever.

Unfortunately, our fun was short lived as the overly used dvd was scratched and would not go on.  I am now off to Amazon.com to hunt down this dvd set to purchase.  This is one set worth owning as it covers so much wonderful history.

This post is to be continued!