We Should Protect our Public Schools

The election of Donald Trump as the president-elect of the United States leaves many feeling apprehensive for the future of our nation, while some are believing that positive change is ahead.  Minimal discussions have been in the forefront of Trump’s campaign regarding the funding of public K-12 schools or education; which leaves educators like myself wondering, but hoping for the best. In retrospect, Mr. Trump has mentioned of school choice in his speeches, as through voucher programs, allowing public monies to pay for private school tuition. Our current President Barack Obama’s efforts for educational reform also embraced school choice. His Race to the Top rewards were given to states with innovative plans for, a) turning around low achieving schools; b) teacher effectiveness; c) data systems measuring student growth; and d) the adopting of assessments and standards for preparing students for the global economy. His Race to the Top reform resulted in rewards with a federal budget of 4.35 billion dollars. If states were to receive any of the Race to the Top funding they had to be amenable to charter public schools. President Obama spoke fondly of charter schools as providing choice for families.  

 My concern is that the threat of closing traditional public schools has become a reality in many urban areas. Selling the idea of alternative kinds of schooling for one’s child is a huge issue for many educators and urban families. While some charter schools have little to no oversight from the communities where they reside, I believe we should be constructively watchful of those who require more public school funding without any oversite from the communities. 40% of charter schools are for-profit schools and 60% are non-profit organizations. Unfortunately, organizations and public school unions throughout the country have had the challenge and threat of public school closures. The issue is relevant particularly as we see the strategies and plans for charter schools for replacing present public schools. Questions one may ask are: why not improve on the already traditional public school as the stakeholders and community are already invested in their success.  Why must innovation and improvement mean to scrap a societal system already in place? Where is the scientific evidence that says charter schools are a better choice or that vouchers will improve for equality in American education? Privatizing seems to be the recent buzz word in public education. Out-sourcing everything from school maintenance, school nurses, and substitute teachers. In the state of Pennsylvania, the newly elected Governor Tom Wolf signed a vetoed spending plan of 23.4 billion dollars; a proposed educational budget, while reinstating the needed funding to public schools contrary to the wishes of the republicans.  

I personally believe we should guard the current public school system, and fund them as an asset to our communities as we apply best practices from teachers and administrators, and the support of parents, stakeholders, and the communities where they exist. Providing the needed funding for educating children, can help to produce successful public schools in America that can restore American pride to our educational institutes and communities.  I do not wish to compare the charter to the traditional public school at this time, but I believe that with everyone doing their part, while not relinquishing ones responsibility fully to the schools, then the work of educating will be successful and rewarding.  To extract funding from already struggling systems is suicide. No school should be expected to function without the needed supports, tools and funding, while at the same time fearing the loss of additional funds for the sake of innovation or vouchers. This to me is futile. The NCLB act has been relaxed and much is presently in the hands of the states for improving education in America.  If other countries can value their public education systems and lead in the world system, so can America. I believe we should work to guard public education as they represent the system of the people.  As Abraham Lincoln once said of our government, we are a system for the people, of the people, and by the people. 

The Precedence of a Nation for Shaping Student Education

As I explored the top ten countries leading in education in the world, I recognized that Scandinavian; Nordic countries like Finland have traditionally led the world in education in the top five percent. This country located in Northern Europe is an educational super-power with policies that truly embrace equality with its principles and philosophy. One's policies cannot just use the words that no child is being left behind resulting in some children as winners, and some losers while the same opportunities are obviously not available to all students.  Curious to explore the people of the Scandinavia countries, I learned that although Finland and Sweden are still leading the world, they have had challenges of losing their competitive edge in education to other East Asian nations where students learn under pressure, cramming learning under long hours, and rote memorization.

 Republicans in America despise that democrats in the present presidential election speak of equality in education, as republicans seek to negatively associate democratic ideas with socialism. The disparity between the rich and the majority of citizens in the United States is obviously shameful, as the egocentric, and self-seeking have run this nation for far too long. To provide tax breaks for the already rich and to ignore citizens leaving inequitable learning conditions leaves a blight on our democracy.  Trickledown economics does not work. Unfortunately, greed, apathy, and reprehensible practices for economics, and caring for the citizens of this nation of the United States have dominated our society. However, fair educational practices can help to equalize many economic issues if opportunity is allotted regardless of race and gender.  So many practices of the United States are intended to perpetuate classes of people, but the leaders must be about equality. None of the reforms have ever been for real equality for all people. Many detest the idea of equality because they want to maintain supremacy but it's time for change.

The Scandinavian country Finland is known as a super-power in education because of an emphasis on equality even over excellence. They engage students in creative play and assign less homework compared to East Asian models. The Finnish have no private schools, or universities, as none are allowed to charge tuition. Finland has no standardized tests except a voluntary test taken in high school. Teachers evaluate students and create their own tests and as for teacher evaluation and accountability, teachers are responsible. Finland ensures that teachers are highly respected, paid well and given lots of responsibility. The impetus of educational policy in schools is not competition but rather cooperation. In regard to school choice, all schools are the same so the choices are not for something better. All students having the same education opportunity promotes social equality and not a star pupil contrary to the approaches in American society.

Curious to know more about the Scandinavian people, I was surprised to learn that among the beautiful Scandinavian people are also found the most dangerous people of the world including Islamic extremist of Isis. Many have been said to travel from Sweden to join Isis. Literally thousands of Scandavian teens have joined Isis and even German teens and thousands of Europeans have become sympathizers to Isis and are joining to help build the Islamic state; ISIS/Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham.

Overwhelming levels of hate and terrorism occurring in Syria and Iraq with approximately 20 to 25,000 young fighters, are motivated by the belief that they are key agents to the upcoming apocalypse. My questions arise regarding the education the people of Scandinavia receive and the religion of the area. I personally wanted to know what religious beliefs they have, and what they are taught that breeds terroristic behaviors. I found that Lutheran Christianity is the dominant religion in Sweden, having 6.2 million members. Islam is practiced by 5.2% of the people and is the second largest religion in Sweden. Atheism and Agnosticism are also wide spread in Sweden. A poll taken identified only 18% of the people believe that God exist and 45% believe in a kind of spirit or life source. Only 15% of the church believe in Jesus as 15% are atheist. In Finland, three quarters of the people are Evangelical Lutheran; the state religion, and the Finnish Orthodox which one percent of the people belong. Muslim and Judaism are also practiced in Finland.

I conclude by saying that the systems of the United States do not represent the Christian beliefs that we like to claim. The demographic data shows that 70.6 percent of Americans are Christians in the U.S. We are a Christian nation who does not represent Christian values.  Inequality and social justice remain a massive problem in the United States. Many leaders and policy makers do not uphold equality which is why our laws do not represent what we say we believe. Electing people to lead our society because they are rich or hold a high position in their community will not solve problems related to education. We must seek out stakeholder who will uphold human rights, dignity, equality, and social justice. We must seek people who are genuine and not who pretend to care; if we will preserve a humane society. I believe we should consider the values of Finland for equality in education, and see how success has resulted by caring about all of their citizens.

                                                                       Reference

Partanen, A. (2011). What Americans keep ignoring about Finland’s school success.                                              The Atlantic. http://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2011/12/what-                                               americans-keep-ignoring-about-finlands-school-success/250564/