Wisdom and woes…A look at our public schools
Last week, in the first blog of this series on education in America (“Teaching our children”), I presented my view that parents, caregivers, and family are our children’s first and most important teachers. Following this primary influence, I believe our educational system—schooling—has the next most significant impact. From age five, and sometimes earlier, our children will spend six or more hours in the classroom, 180 days per year, for 13 years. If you do the math, that’s a LOT of time in school. Extracurricular activities add even more influence from the school.
According to the National Center for Education Statistics1, the majority of our children attend public schools. Projections for this academic year were 56.4 million K-12 students. Of that number, 50.7 million (nearly 90%) were estimated to be enrolled in public schools.
We didn’t always have a prevalence of public schools in the United States, but our first one was established before we were even a country. The Boston Latin School, supported by taxpayers of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, was founded in 1635.2 Clearly, early in our history, some leaders and parents visualized schools funded by taxes as an important endeavor.
But tax funded schools were rare in our early history as a nation. Most schools were private academies for white, male students. Since these schools charged tuition, only wealthier families could afford them. Thankfully, some of our forefathers saw the need to extend educational opportunities to more of our children.
The push for universal education in the United States began in the Northeast with a group of individuals who spread the concept of “common schools” throughout the region. In 1837, Horace Mann accepted the position of Secretary of the Massachusetts State Board of Education, stating that the field of education was a “higher calling” (he was a lawyer).3
Mann believed:
“Schools have a moral purpose to give each child a common moral education based on the general principles of the Bible and on common virtues.” 3
Horace Mann, The American School, p. 69
“Common” was the first descriptor of our fledging public school system. The name came from the intention of providing children with a common education (the same instruction and opportunities for all). Emphasis was placed on educating children together, teaching a common social and political ideology.4 By 1840, many states were implementing common schools, supported by taxpayer funding.
We’ve not departed from the concept of teaching a common curriculum for our students with universal goals. Joel Spring writes of the benefits of our public school system:
“Public schools exist to serve public goals. The public goals of schooling are determined by elected representatives in local, state, and federal governments. U.S. public schools were established to reduce political and social unrest by teaching future citizens a common set of political values and patriotism; to reduce social tensions by promising equality of opportunity; to decrease crime by teaching morality; and to eradicate poverty by stimulating economic growth. Twentieth and twenty-first century concerns with urbanization, industrialization, racial and cultural harmony, juvenile crime, nutritional health, epidemic diseases, and globalization add to these early goals.”5
Joel Spring, American Education, p.6
I’m overwhelmed by the responsibility placed on the shoulders of public school teachers and administrators. We are being asked to teach all children to develop common beliefs in support of our American principles, help students reach their fullest potential, and prepare them for employment. We are charged with developing economically stable, law abiding citizens with the goal of contributing to a better society for our country. In addition, we are now responsible for their good health and ability to get along with others.
What do you think? Are these reasonable goals? Are we accomplishing these goals?
Consider my blog title—Wisdom and Woes…
I strongly believe in and support our educational system. It makes us unique in the world that we believe ALL our children deserve and are entitled to a free and appropriate education, preparing them to be economically stable, happy and productive citizens of a country that treats them with compassion and respect. This is where wisdom and hope shine—our goals are admirable—through our educational system we have the opportunity to impact nearly every child in the United States and have a positive influence on their life.
I think teachers have the most important job in our country.
But back to the woes… I don’t always agree that we are doing everything right. There are many critical concerns in our schools that need to be addressed. We will look at those next week. Meanwhile, I hope that you will continue to pray for our children and educators.
Prayer makes a difference and so does perseverance!
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Galatians 6:9
Previous blog in this series on American schooling:
Sources:
1 National Center for Educational Statistics, htpps://nces.ed.gov
2 “A Relevant History of Public Education in the United States,” February 17, 2021, publicschoolreview.com/blog/
3 Joel Spring. (1994). The American School: 1642-1993. (3rd ed.), New York: McGraw Hill.
4 Katherine M. Pasour. (1996). Voices of Southern Women: Speaking from the Country Schoolhouse, 1915-1940, Doctoral Dissertation.
5 Joel Spring. (2006). American Education. (12th ed), New York: McGraw-Hill.
I appreciate your post, your friendship, and your commitment to teaching my friend. I agree with everything you wrote, but I must respectfully disagree that we are adhering to the goals of education that Mr. Spring writes about. In speaking with young people who are home-schooled or enrolled in church-sponsored Christian schools, I see many of these goals being attained. When I speak with many of the children and young people in these same age groups who are educated in the public school system, I see much less critical-thinking and problem-solving; and much more social indoctrination. I see a great many high schoolers who have no idea how our government is formed, how it is supposed to operate, or how to function as part of a moral society. It seems “self” is being promoted much more that common and community. I suspect you’ll address many of my concerns in upcoming posts; and I join you in supporting the need for a quality education and equal opportunity to every American child. I also join you in praying for our educators and education system. I truly believe it reflects what is happening on a broad scale to American society as a whole. God’s blessings ma’am.
J.D., I believe your concerns are justified and valid. You are right in that some of what you address will come up again in this series because I am certainly not blind to the negative aspects of our public school system. If we closely examine our own goals in life, I expect we will find that we have high aspirations for our actions, but often fall short for a variety of reasons. I believe God gifts us with hope and optimism which helps us get up each day with a sense of anticipation about what we can do to serve Him today. We need that hope and optimism to keep going. I think it is much the same with most things in life, including our educational system. Our legislators, educational administrators, and teachers have great hope and optimism about educating our children and meeting the challenging list of goals we are charged with. For teachers, it is this hope and optimism that enables us to face each new day in the classroom. We love and value our children. But, sad to say, there is disagreement on what our goals really are, how we should achieve those goals, and who is best able to make the important decisions about what is to be taught in our schools. In the end, with all this disagreement and controversy, it is the children and their parents, and ultimately our society which suffers. Thank you, my friend, for openly expressing your thoughts. I look forward to more discussion. Wishing you blessings!
I think our educational system has degenerated from what it once was. Too much emphasis is on social ills and political correctness instead of learning reading, math, geography, etc. And now history classes are almost non-existent because it might offend someone. I take my hat off to all teachers because they have a high calling and a difficult job. Those who want to take a godly stance walk a fine line of what they can and cannot say. Parents should take the initiative to educate their children about morals and integrity and not leave that up to the schools. Thank you, Katherine, for all the work you have done as a teacher and for bringing these posts of educational backgrounds to us.
Thank you, Barbara, for sharing your wonderful insight. You are correct that those of us who walk with Jesus are challenged by the limitations placed on us not to openly share our faith; however, we can share love, compassion, integrity, and encouragement, the very same attributes Jesus demonstrated in life and expects His followers to emulate. I agree there is an attack on history and believe we must teach history as it occurred. Of course there were mistakes made and actions taken that were harmful to others. But to pretend it didn’t happen is no solution, we must admit our mistakes and learn from them so that we do not repeat the same harmful actions.
Katherine, thank you for this history in our public education. I think the pressure on teachers is enormous and unrealistic. They have my utmost respect. However, as expressed in the comments above, the emphasis has moved from education to indoctrination. I wish they promoted a healthy sense of patriotism and morality. When I volunteered at my children’s schools years ago, I was appalled to see the literature allowed in the media center because of freedom of speech and what was banned under separation of church and state. When you remove respect for God from our system you won’t impart wisdom. I’m afraid we’re promoting foolishness.
Thank you, Debbie, for your comments. You have pointed out legitimate concerns with our educational system. I agree we need to promote patriotism and morality. These behaviors are essential to the future of our country. We will talk more about indoctrination in a future post as it is an important issue to examine. Thank you for volunteering in your children’s schools. It’s so important for parents to be involved.
This is an informative and helpful review of the early beginnings of education in our country. Thank you! As a fellow teacher, I know what you mean by all those goals that have been added to the curriculum over the years! I remember when I first started out as a kindergarten teacher, it was the year our district added tooth brushing to an already over-crowded schedule. I was team teaching with another much more experienced teacher, and she had seen many things added over her teaching career. By the time I moved up to middle school, the add-ons had proliferated even more. But dedicated teachers have tried hard to keep up with it all and do their very best. They do indeed need our prayers!
I remember those days, too, Kathy. My first 16 years of teaching were at the elementary level. It seemed as if each year (or even more often) a new assignment, that normally would be a parental responsibility, was assigned to the school. It’s no wonder it is so challenging to teach the necessary subjects when we have to take time out for brushing, swishing, hygiene issues, etc. I’m so thankful for the many dedicated teachers that keep holding on and doing their best in spite of the trials. Thank you, Kathy.
Education is a subject near and dear to my heart, as you probably know. As a longtime teacher of preschool through college levels, I’ve been through quite a few pendulum swings in the field.
Although we know more than ever about the needs of students and how they best learn, our challenge has never been greater than it is now. As always, teachers soldier on, putting one step in front of the other with the goal of making a difference.
For those of us who are career teachers, we have seen a lot of those pendulum swings, for better and for worse! But as you point on, we keep on keeping on–because it is the children who matter. They are our future! So we give our very best to help them grow and develop to their fullest potential. Thank you for your service to our children, Candyce. You make a difference!
So many public educators shine light into darkness. Education lost its way when America began to see learning primarily as employment driven. When we rejected God, we rejected education as character building. We began to think of students as future workers rather citizens.
You’ve given us much to think about, Nancy. I agree that, for the most part, public school teachers do all they can to shine a light into the darkness. They care deeply about the students they teach and want to do all they can to help these children grow into the adult they are meant to be. I think perhaps you are referring to those who plan the educational curriculum when you emphasize preparation for employment. That is an essential part of educational goals, to prepare our children for a career (or the pathway to one–college prep or vocational or technical training). But as you point out, character education is extremely important. I don’t think it’s lost, yet, but is struggling to complete with the trickle down of social issues that are facing our country. Thank you for sharing your thoughts.
Good morning, Katherine. I’m thankful you’ve chosen to wander a bit in your blog program. It is essential America retrieve its essence of education. I do understand this is early in your blog series, so I’ll mention items I am aware of so you may address them as you will.
Since 1995, Haversack History presents a look at the 1792 early US citizen’s life. You may find a tab on my blog, warrenajohnson.blogspot.com, to learn more about what I do. I’m not an academically educated man, but I have some 130 credit hours of college level courses. None of these were in a single program aimed at a degree. I point this out because education should be a life long learning experience. I’m of the opinion our national education system misses that mark if an individual wants to think rather than be indoctrinated.
For instance, in reviewing early North American history, many programs start with Columbus. He certainly carried the banner that brought Europe to our shores. Do you know which way he sailed when leaving the Iberian peninsula? Most would say west, yet a copy of his ship’s log indicates he went south along the African coast.
You wrote of the early school in Massachusetts. I think it important to cover the use of the Bible in all of the early schools, including the coming printing of the early primers, which clearly continued to use scripture. It’s that common education foundation which built American essence.
Once the revolution gave us our national birth, the Articles of Confederation did a poor job. But the founders didn’t stop thinking. By 1787 they passed the Northwest Territories Act. Article 3 describes the necessity of schools for instruction in morals, and established the system of selling a section to fund a school in the national survey system townships. It was so important the new federal government congress repassed the law as one of their first efforts.
Then there was John Dewey, who, in 1898, wrote a liberal progressive essay published in a newspaper and indicated the only way progressives could ever hope to influence national government was to control the education of children. What you allude to in your blogs is a direct result of his influence.
All of this to say America must find its roots if we are to ever regain the national focus. Thank you for addressing the issues.
Warren, thank you for your informative and interesting response. I appreciate you sharing your extensive knowledge of our United States history. I enthusiastically agree that education should be a life-long experience. I hope to continue learning new things until it is time for me to meet Jesus. I address the issue of early Christian education and Bible focus in our public schools in my upcoming blog. As an education major, I’m certainly familiar with John Dewey. Like most influential people, he advocated points which we can agree or disagree with. What I remember most about Dewey is he believed in experiential learning–learning by doing. This type of learning could involve hands-on experience which we might call an internship in today’s educational system. Many would call this a positive progressive step away from the recitation and rote memorization practiced for so long in our early schools. I believe most (but not all) educational practices can provide some value, but that doesn’t mean they are always the best. We learn in a variety of ways. One aspect I will speak of later in this series is the importance of considering the child as a unique individual, not as a classroom full of children that should all learn the exact same information in exactly the same way.
Thank you for joining the conversation. I hope we can continue to dialogue as this series progresses. Wishing you continued blessings.