The Education of Today (Paper 2)

After reading various arguments by Kozol, Moore, and Gatto, I began to realize that much of what they had to say about the education in America is true. Although I do not agree with them completely, they all make valid points. Gatto, a public school teacher for thirty years, especially got me thinking when he stated, “Do we really need schools? I don’t mean education, just forced schooling: six classes a day, five days a week…for twelve years” (Gatto 153). He made me wonder, is compulsory education truly helping the children of America, or does it have complete and total control over them? I’ve realized, and disagree with the various aruguments, that the type of education that students are receiving is essential in this day and age and, without proper schooling, the youth of this nation would not be learning as much as they possibly could.
Compulsory education began in Massachusetts in 1852, and Massachusetts was the only state to have it for fifteen years. Between 1867 and 1918 the rest of the states followed behind Massachusetts in inforcing compulsory education(“Compulsory”). Before compulsory education existed, parents decided when their children should begin being educated at home (“Compulsory”). Gatto makes a point in Against School, stating how unnecessary schooling is by explaining that George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, and Abraham Lincoln “never went through the twelve-year wringer our kids currently go through” (Gatto 153). I, however, wonder if he realizes that the historical figures he mentions were raised in a time where technology was not even close to being as advanced as it is today. I agree that those men played a remarkable role in the way the United States of America is today and that it’s clear that they were well educated even though they weren’t schooled, but they also didn’t have the distractions that are around in the 21st century. I wonder how educated Benjamin Franklin would have been (had someone else made all the discoveries he did), if he was raised in this time period and owned a computer, television, a number of video games, parents that had to work five days out of the week to provide for him, and no need for a compulsory education. I honestly don’t believe that he would be as knowledgeable of a person if he didn’t attend school.
Technology has had an immense impact on the world and, in my opinion, does not educate the children of this nation in the way it should. Granted, there are educational games, movies, and toys, but is that all that parents are buying? No. Yes, there are cartoons and television shows that are meant to enhance minds, but that isn’t all that is on television. I helped a third grade English teacher my junior year of high school, and as sweet as the children were, theyknew so much more than I did when I was their age, but not in an intellectual way. Nine year olds were cursing, singing degrading songs that they hopefully didn’t understand the meaning of but most likely did, and were dancing like some girls do in videos. If America didn’t enforce a compulsory education for the youth of this nation, there would only be children who learn mostly from technology and the media rather than from teachers who are there to help them achieve their goals, whether it be to advance to the next grade, graduate from high school, or go to college.
Others argue that parents should choose what their children are learning as they did before the 20th century, quarrelling that there should be more home schooling (Salberg). I have nothing against parents wanting to teach their children, but unfortunately, not all parents are able to do that. Many have to work while their children are in school to provide for living expenses as well as the cost of having a child, and although many might love to be with their son(s) and/or daughter(s) all the time, they simply cannot. The fact that children are able to receive a free education in public schools is beneficiary to the population because, without it, our nation would be full of unintelligent young minds, with the exception of some cases, like Benjamin Franklin. Where would they learn how to do basic math which leads to geometry and algebra and also a career that needs those skills? How would they learn what a book is for if their parents didn’t take them to the library or read bedtime stories before they went to sleep? Schooling helps to shape young minds into bright individuals who are able to learn how to think for themselves, know what they are interested in, what they want to eventually do with their lives, and learn how to get along with others as hard as that may be at times. Nothing in the world is perfect, and although some children are limited to what they learn in certain areas or school districts, I wonder if we would rather them be “limited” or learn nothing at all? Yes, everyday is a new learning experience, but it is not always enhancing the mind.
Compulsory education will continue to be an important part of the youth of this nation. It is where students are able to realize what they are capable of and the importance of knowledge, as well as being a part of growing up and maturing. We should focus on creating a generation of empowered thinkers, problem solvers, and people with ideas rather them be limited on what they know.



Works Cited
"Compulsory Education Laws: the Dialogue Reopens." HSLDA. Sept.-Oct. 2000. 13 Sept. 2007 .
Gatto, John T. "Against School." Rereading America. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin\'s, 2007. 152-159.
Salberg, Lawrence. "Compulsory Education Laws and Their Effect on My Family." Lawrence Salberg. 13 Nov. 2002. 13 Sept. 2007 .