The Formation of Schools and Common Schools

  Today in class we discussed part I of “School:The Story of American Public Education” were we were introduced to the ideas of what they called “Common schools” which was the idea of how schools were regulated and run in the times that didn’t provide free public education to everyone or all races and gender. Taking a look at the conditions students and teachers had to endure and how it took a long time for things to effectively change really made me realize even more that we have been blessed with systems that have already been put in place way before our time. It’s interesting to see how many voices and opinions changed the way things were done in the educational system, today some may feel that their single voice won’t change a thing but in this section of the reading single men were out and ready to share their thoughts and ideas.

We were asked to select words that stood out to us, in my group we agreed that the word reconstruction basically summed up what was being discussed in the chapter. When something is damaged it is rebuilt in a way that is meant to enhance what was once there and destroyed. We felt this was an important word to the chapter because so many people presented ideas about the education system. They knew they would have to eventually create a system that would be more beneficial to the youth and women who were teachers. As a society they felt the responsibility of finding a system to best suit the most amount of people, whether they were poor or rich.

As time goes on, though I’m not even old lol, it seems as though education is becoming more a necessity rather than just something you want. Without education you will be isolated from society and looked down upon. What’s crazy is that even some hands on experience based jobs like babysitting require individuals to have a degree.

At the end of class we also formed a discussion circle were we discussed how the government plays a huge part in the education system, it’s as though they are creating robots and limiting the educational options. Everyone is given standardized testing and forced to take classed that they may or may not be interested in. It’s as though unless you are paying for your education, you have no say so in what you are learning.

Despite the down side to public education, American public schools has definitely came a long way and in ways evolved for the better. As time goes on it adjusts with the pace of society, and what is going on at the current time. Whether you are getting your education from inside or outside the classroom it is important especially in today’s society.