Times and Time Again
This is a school picture taken around the early 1900s. Twenty-nine children and one teacher.
In my research, American education is a bit of a puzzle.
Most of the early colonists were, if you remember, Separatists and wanted their children to know how to read . They didn't want their children to be at the mercy of church leaders who told them what the scriptures said, i.g., the Catholic Pope.
Early schools were not systematically organized and were governed by the children's parents. What a novel idea.
Many of the upper wealthy children had private tutors, yet the early schools prepared the less wealthy as well for entry into society of hard working, intelligent citizens. The students from these small individual schools were part of the reason Harvard and Yale were built.
Early on one room schoolhouses became the norm. In the education system of several levels such as grammar school, finishing school, and etc.
As strange as it seems Americans were 90 to 95% literate back in that day. You would think the term 'Progressive' carries a positive connotation to it, but it was when the Progressives took over education that it went downhill.
Like a well-meaning tyrant they set about to standardize education. By making everything equal they would make the outcome to become equal.
In a certain way it worked. Like putting a hot pan into cold water makes the hot pan cooler and the cold water warmer, standardizing education made the smarter students dumber and didn't help the less smart students at all. American literacy has declined accordingly.
Progressive standardization crippled the good teachers, the good schools, and the good administrators.
The Progressives were aiming to make Americans less intelligent in order to have a docile work force that would be content to do menial work in their factories. People who wouldn't question why...or just wouldn't question.
In our state, during these times when the state's funds are falling short of what the budget is deemed as needful, education has not been cut, yet 'it's not enough', is a constant cry. They need more money.
I don't know what they need. I do know our kids need something better. I could ask, are we spending more now and enjoying it less? We are certainly getting less.
Several thoughts; we do need education reform—why not back up to when education/schools actually worked and kids learned well. Go back where an informed godly society was the goal. What did they do, what can we do? Implement their method.
1 Peter 5:2 "Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; 3) Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. 4) And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away. 5) Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble."
