Schools have changed a lot over the past 100 years, but they still feel the same in a lot of aspects. Chalkboards and textbooks have been replaced with whiteboards and technology. There is no more segregation or harsh punishment, but when it comes to learning in the United States, what has changed? Technology has made learning more efficient and easier to find more information, but other than technology, what else? When I looked up how the school system has changed in the past 100 years, there was not much to go off.
What we know was the first school was opened in 1635 in what is now Boston, Massachusetts. Before the 1800s, school was mainly for the wealthy, but in 1865 most states started opening schools. During these times, schools had winter and summer sections. Having school from September to May started in the 1900s. Back then, teachers also had many grade levels in one classroom. Their primary way to teach was lecturing and students remembered. Teachers also focused on the three R’s, reading, “riting,” and “rithmatics.” We also know that schools were made to resemble an assembly line or a factory. I mean that students are in one class for 45 minutes and then shipped off to the next. This is also how we do grades.
I personally do not see very much change in the school system over the years. School is still set up like an assembly line, and we remember something just to forget it after the test. If we compare a car or phone to 100 years ago, they have made massive improvements, but I do not see the same school system improvements. I think we get taught to think like computers, which will not help us after high school, considering we already have computers and robots doing the jobs that humans use to do. I think we need to be taught more individualized. People who are “dumb” are not actually dumb, everyone learns differently, but we are all taught the same way in school. Finland is 17.5 percentage points higher than the United States, and 66% of students go on to higher education. This is because they spend less time at school and have more individualized learning. The principal of 24 years says, “If you only measure the statistics, you miss the human aspect.”
Just remember students are 20 percent of our population but 100 percent of our future.
Do you think the school system should be changed?
If yes, how should the school system be changed?
What do you think about the last 2 quotes in the writing?
Replies
I do kind of see the resemblance to an assembly line, students going from classroom to classroom, doing the same thing. I do think that the school system should be changed to a more individual teaching style like Finland. I think that most of school and the students are based on numbers and statistics, and we gloss over the individuality of people.
I agree with you Cole. Finland is doing better than the majority of countries when it comes to schooling, and I think we have a lot to learn from them. I think MTSS was helpful last year when it came to helping students understand concepts that they were struggling with.
I think that the school system has changed multiple times in the past, since my dad was in school till now where I am in school It is much different from the way he grew up in the classroom compared to me. I think that the schools are always going to be changing becuase there are going to be new things introduced to the world and new people that may need mroe things than another peorosn.
I agree that the curriculum has changed but the way schools run and work have not. When my dad was in school he did not take geometry or Algebra 2, but now that is required. I agree that we are learning more now, but to me that is not the same as how the school is run.
The school has changed a lot in the past 100 years. I think first of the School to Work Initiative in the early 2000s where teachers -especially english teachers- were asked to practice writing resumes, cover letters, career exploration, exc. to help students prepare for life after school. This effected a lot of our older siblings. I think next of the creation of standards, where guidelines are set by the state or at the national level for what students must know. Prior to this students were at the mercy of what their teachers felt like teaching.
The changes to teaching made in the past 100 years have effected teachers and what they teach and for this reason we don't necessarily see it. This entire forum post you -Abbie- have a negative outlook on the lack of change. You also keep replying to comments saying you thing there are things that should be changed, but I haven't seen once what change you want to see. So what change do you think we need?
Emma, I am sorry if I didn’t explain myself enough. I would also like to say that I do not have a negative outlook on this situation. I am actually excited to see what the future has in store and how our generation can make a change. In the system we have now you go to class, you learn, take notes, do some experiments, if you misunderstand something, ask a question, then you take the test. I would like to see more curiosity in the classroom and have the box be broken. I think asking questions even if no one knows the answer or if they don’t make sense is important. Instead of saying we have time for one more question, we let the questions roll in and see students' minds start to turn and grasp the subject for themselves. What I am saying is that there needs to be more creativity and curiosity. I understand that we have a curriculum and we need to get everything done, but I would just like to see the box be broken, we never saw any progress from not being creative or from staying inside the lines.
I think that there isn't anything wrong with the school system. I do know that students all learn at different paces. If a student is struggling they should definitely ask for help. The principlas quote is very true and honest. All people are speacial and if yiu treat them like statistics then how would you know who they really are? The Last quote is true as well. We might be a small part of the world but we really are the future.
When we take tests then all our scores get combined with so many other people I think it is hard to see that people are actually struggling. I know when I say individualized learning it sounds boring to the people that are keeping up and are smarter than others, but I still do think it would be a good thing.
I personally think there's nothing wrong with the school system. I do understand that students learn at different paces, and if students are having difficulity learning they should look for help. The principals quote is very true. Everyone is special and if you look at them as statistics you don't see them and who they are. The last quote is also very true. Even though right now we are just a small part of the population we are the future. Eventually the students now will be the adults in government, schools, businesses, etc. Then there will be a new set of students in school that will eventually become the adults and so on.
When I first read, students are only 20% of our population but 100% of our future, it really did stick with me. No matter what we decide to go into we are going to make an impact no matter how big or small you think your job is.
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