Today’s Schools and Education

In my current job as President/COO at Interactive Digital MultiMedia, Inc. I have deeply involved with learning more and more about today’s schooling system and the education provided. In that capacity I have been talking to Teachers, School Administrators, Researchers, and Students. I am VERY not happy with what I am seeing and hearing!

When I went to school, the standing joke was we were in prison. Today it is almost so! They even have “lockdowns” like they do in prison, you are required to wear an ID badge like many prisons require, and in many, if not most, schools, there are metal detectors at the entry points. Is this an environment that is conducive to learning? I think not! Students and Teachers are more worried about safety than they are about learning and teaching!

The next problem with today’s schools and education is the teachers don’t have the ability to write their own teaching plans, they have to follow a set plan, only altering it just a bit. And the emphasis is no longer on learning subjects but on mastering a test, FCATs, at least here in Florida. Now, in general, I think that FCATs are a good idea, but not the way they are currently using them. Add to that it is impossible to flunk someone now, and everyone must win/etc. Competition is all but forbidden in school now.

To do that though, there would need to be some loosening up on the curriculum and not making it “politically correct”. Teach history like it happened, and not like we would like it to have happened. Teach subjects that get the kids involved, and that open debate and excitement! Allow for competition. I’ve read were many of the “Educators” here in Florida think competition is BAD for people. I disagree. That is what has caused new growth, new products, and growth in life! Competition is great, and these students need to know that they will not always win in life. Having everyone “win” in a ball game or education or life isn’t real, and there will be times when loss happens.

Now, in business, the goal is to make it a win win situation. But even there, there will often be “losers” to an extent!

Parents, get back into your children’s lives and help them learn! Rejuvenate the desire to learn and the desire to do well and excel!