Hosted by
The Center for Education Reform
Hosted by
The Center for Education Reform
IN MY OPINION: STUDENTS NOT ALL CUT FROM THE SAME MOLD
by Jerome Cole
The Oregonian, August 27, 1996
During my academic career I have experienced many well-intentioned educational refoms, but unfortunately they have all been without success.
These refoms have not worked because we fail to imagine school being much different than it is today. In fact the face of public education has barely changed at all over the past century. If my grandparents were to enter just about any place of work, they would be amazed at the level of computerization and how much has changed since their youth. But if they were to enter a public school, they would find it much the same as it was when they were children.
And isn't ironic that unlike those computers, which get cheaper and more useful all the time, public education gets more expensive and less effective?
Our schools do not function properly because they are modeled on the idea that all children can be taught the same material in the same way.
This form of education is not only ineffective, but crushes students' thirst for knowledge and harms the chance of their becoming lifelong learners.
In spite of the great efforts put forth by teachers and members of the community, the educational system does not work and will not work, because it cannot work. There is no way we can expect the current "one-size-fits-all" educational system to work for all or even most students, especially in a society that is as culturally and economically diverse as ours.
To quote John Taylor Gatto, a former NewYork Teacher of the Year, "There isn't a right way to become educated; there are as many ways as fingerprints."
In order to provide children with the best education possible, we must create an educational system that will serve the diverse needs, abilities and interests of students, while preserving Oregon's longstanding commitment to high-quality, affordable education for all.
The way to accomplish this is through school choice.
It's important for people to realize that school choice is not just some abstract theory or just another school reform, it's about giving people control over their own education. It's about empowering them.
Although a small step, the charter school concept, which allows parents and teachers to create their own innovative schools within their districts, moves in the right direction. It is sad indeed that both a legislative effort and an initiative campaign have failed to bring charter schools to those who need them most.
Unlike most teenagers, I will not be returning to school in September. Instead I am pursuing a combination of private tutoring, college and self-study. I am very lucky to have such an opportunity. Please give others the same opportunity: Support school choice.
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Jerome Cole turns 16 years old today. He holds two part-time jobs and is an intern at Cascade Policy Institute. Mail in response to this column may be sent in care of the Institute at 813 S.W. Alder, No. 707, Portland, OR 97205; phone 242-0900.