More of the Same

In this country our school effectively educate 0% of the population. Unfortunately, we have somehow misrepresented the schools as the solitary source of education in this nation. When a supermajority of the population consists of uneducated products of our single rigid schooling system, we look for ways to increase our reliance on the process.

Graduation rates have become a hot topic in recent years. We act as though 100% is the ideal graduation rate, and we have to find ways to increase the rate if its anywhere below that point. Instead of addressing the inability of our schools to meet individual needs, we are always looking to increase the number of people who succeed with the process that we already have in place.

Civic Enterprises (http://www.civicenterprises.net/) and The Everyone Graduates Center (http://every1graduates.org/) have just released a report regarding their goal to reach a 90% graduation rate by 2020. The report can be found at GradNation_2011Update.pdf. When I read this, I immediately thought, “Not again.” When will we finally realize that the population should consist of more than just schooling-produced mindless drones.

In all fairness, 90% isn’t the percentage of the entire population. They’re only comparing the number of students who graduate to the number of students in the same class when they enter high school. Kids with parents who have enough sense to remove them from the schools early will not be factored in. Regardless, I feel that their 90% goal is 90% higher than it should be.

The problem with education in America isn’t that we don’t have enough high school graduates. After all, we have already exceeded what’s ethical. This report is focused on one thing, and it’s the wrong thing.

The real problem is that we are restricting education and making the thought of learning anything distasteful. As I have said before, we need to restore educational rights. The stronger we make the schools the less likely it will become for us to encounter another Thomas Edison. Just remember, the schools helped shape the modern world. Do we really want to continue down this path?