Watching the 180 days video was quite an eye opener. With all that happens in school, I was shocked to learn that we get as much as 65 days of “real instruction.” But what constitutes “real instruction?” If instruction focuses strictly on traditional academics, it is a wonder that anybody learns anything. Still, schools seem to produce competent and productive adults who contribute to their world.
While all institutions look to be more productive, a certain amount of time is always misspent or, more likely, taken up by mundane tasks that keep things working and operating smoothly to a reasonable degree. Apart from the routine tasks undertaken by schools to keep them up and running, what, if any, value do assemblies, pep rallies and specialty programs like character education have to offer? More and more seems to factor into the modern school day as schools are being required to address a seeming range of needs that are thought to be related to the betterment of individuals and society. If the purpose of education is to prepare students to meet and master the challenges of their present and their future and a greater variety of skills are expected of citizens to impact their world and effect meaningful change, then perhaps 180 days of instruction is not enough. To be sure, schools need to provide academic instruction but they must also provide experiences that enrich the lives of students.
Although many say education has lost its focus by expanding it, I wonder if it is fair to say more meaningful or “real” instruction occurred in previous decades. My guess is that every generation grapples to define the nature and scope of education even if we think doing so is unique to our experience.
While all institutions look to be more productive, a certain amount of time is always misspent or, more likely, taken up by mundane tasks that keep things working and operating smoothly to a reasonable degree. Apart from the routine tasks undertaken by schools to keep them up and running, what, if any, value do assemblies, pep rallies and specialty programs like character education have to offer? More and more seems to factor into the modern school day as schools are being required to address a seeming range of needs that are thought to be related to the betterment of individuals and society. If the purpose of education is to prepare students to meet and master the challenges of their present and their future and a greater variety of skills are expected of citizens to impact their world and effect meaningful change, then perhaps 180 days of instruction is not enough. To be sure, schools need to provide academic instruction but they must also provide experiences that enrich the lives of students.
Although many say education has lost its focus by expanding it, I wonder if it is fair to say more meaningful or “real” instruction occurred in previous decades. My guess is that every generation grapples to define the nature and scope of education even if we think doing so is unique to our experience.
2 comments:
The school of the 21st century seems to have become all things to all people. Teacher, counselor, health club, doctor, nutritionist, ethicist, and more.
If this is the trend, perhaps we need to rethink the way we "do school" to meet these needs.
There is no doubt that the education of the past was different than it was today. Yes, change is good, but it all depends on the description of change. How are we implementing the changes and how are the NCCCS related to 180 day?
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