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STEVENS: Some things never change
By MARGE STEVENS, Positives in Education
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A school superintendent in a small town wrote a letter that is worth passing on. The letter is a straightforward and intelligent summary of the modern school system.
He commented on an item in a newspaper about the low scholastic standard of the average school, and put the blame in a number of places.
First, everyone now has the right to an education at a public school.
Second, schools offer too many activities. The student spreads his or her energies over too many things, such as football, drama, chorus and maybe class officer all at one time.
Another thing is the lack of cultural background in the home. Correct English must be learned at home.
Through all of this is the fact that people do not believe in education as they once did.
Times have changed. We used to go to school, return home at night and sit down to an evening of quiet. There was opportunity and atmosphere for study. Diversions were few and the nights spent at home as a family occurred often.
Now, students are more interested in dramatics, athletics and music than they are in their studies. Why is this? The public demands it.
Furthermore, it is expected that no student must fail to pass his/her grade.
But despite all of the criticisms, the superintendent believes in education. He said he would match the top students of today with the best of any period of the past.
There is plenty of room for improvement but it will not come until people want it bad enough to silence the radio, keep the children at home on school nights and stay at home themselves to encourage and help the child in his or her lessons, the superintendent said.
Does this sound familiar? This article was printed in the Kansas Teacher in January of 1941.
This shows we have come a long way in education but the challenges and problems change with the time.
We have found that, often, the more activities a student participates in, the better he or she does. Often, the top students in any class are leaders in several areas in extra activities.
I had to laugh about the students listening to too much radio. I wonder how our students learn with all of the technical equipment they have at their disposal. It seems to bother us but not the students.
We do teach all students now, and often it stretches the educational dollar but that is the strength of our school system today. Freedom to learn for everyone is very important to our community and our nation.
Evidently, our teachers are doing a great job of teaching English, because I doubt if the average family eats together and discusses cultural events very often. One time when I was still teaching, I had only three out of 24 students that ate as a family around the table for the evening meal. I doubt if it has improved.
Every generation faces problems, but children seem to learn and do better on the state tests than they did the year before. All of our gains come from highly trained teachers, great academic leaders and all of the extra people that help our youth. We expect more out of every child and for the most part the students gain in every area.
It may not be perfect but I am very proud of our educational system. Could it be better? Of course.
Our leaders are working on that as we speak.
Marge Stevens is a member for the Ottawa school board.
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