Public Schooling Troy example essay topic

With so many problems surrounding public schooling, it is difficult to understand where public school is headed. In the article "Taking Sides", William J. Bennett and Forrest J. Troy tackle the problem from two opposing views. Both sides present a compelling case, while at the same time helping readers to understand the difficulty of creating a program that functions the fullest potential. The article examines one major topic; "Have Public Schools Failed Society?" I hope to answer this question while taking a look at both sides of the coin. As the former secretary of education, William J. Bennet has a good understanding of what could possibly be right and wrong with public schooling.

After placing "goals" schools the United States realized, years later, that they have fallen into a lull. In other words, Bennet believes that the United States has reached a point where the schooling system cannot improve based on the goals they put in place fifteen years ago. This makes perfect sense. Why would a nation as powerful as the United States place "limitations", on what schools can and cannot do? Learning is constantly growing. With this being said, I believe that the direction that the United States public schools are heading is failure.

Teachers and students understand this more than anyone. Each student is completely different, in their own right. To make a blanket statement for the every school and setting the same goals is ridiculous. There are many critics to this status quo idea. They believe that "young Americans are not learning enough for their own or their nation's good, that international comparisons rank the U.S. academic performance from the middle to the bottom year after year, and that many employers say that they cannot find people who have the necessary skills, knowledge, attitudes, and habits to do the work". (Noll 173) If education is supposed to aid in the development of an entire nation, then why do so many people disagree with the system the United States have in place at the moment?

If the country continues on this path there will never be room for improvement. I think what Bennet is trying to say is that the world is ever changing, so in the same regard so should education. Chester E. Finn takes the criticism of education in another direction. Instead of focusing on the downfalls of the education system he believe that the problems stem from society. "A child's sense of "self-esteem" counts more than what he knows". (Noll 173) Finn believes that children should learn based on their race and ethnicity.

The only way I can make sense of this idea is by making a comparison. You wouldn't teach an inner city student how to perform brain surgery, but you would teach him English because chances are this is where he struggles. These problems are based on the belief that every child's situation is the same. In the Kool book we learned that this is never the case.

Knowing each students background is essential in understanding how to teach them. Restricting the creativity of teachers has led children to believe that they might not fit into society. Some public schools have given teachers a choice. This choice allows them to teach what has been placed in the guidelines, or teach what they feel the students truly need to learn. This is a great idea considering that some teachers are viewed as heroes in the eyes of society. What I found disheartening was the facts about United States schooling.

Math and science scores were among the lowest they have ever been. Out the 21 developed nations the U.S. ranked 16th and 10th in the two subjects. Bennet described how an entire generation of students had fallen into the perils of public schooling. He gives several reasons for this, but the most prominent one was based on our nations flourishing economy. In such a time of economic success schools have become segregated. The difference between a good and a bad school have become more visible.

Bennet described how poor and minority children usually attend poor school. Even the teachers in these schools are lacking when compared to a school in a wealthy area. Expectations have even lowered. Many times parents believe that all schooling is equal, but this is not the case. Depending on what school your child attended, he or she might not be learning the proper things.

Many students that graduate from grad school can't even read at a third grade level. This doesn't make any sense, especially when you think that this is the basis for our nation. If children are supposed to be the future of our country, then shouldn't we educate them as though they are all important? Horace Mann described good education as "the balance wheel of the social machinery". (Noll 176) Today schools only change when they must. Many times a schools stays in the same place in the education system, but then falters when it becomes time to develop new ideas.

The risk that the nation is facing is a stand still in the knowledge that we are teaching our children. The power of education is unimaginable and will continue to be that way until the end of time. It is the teachers and board of education's responsibility to give our children the education that they need to succeed in the world. Too many times in recent generations have we come to this crossroad. Change is not necessarily a bad thing is you think long term.

When we watched Pink Floyd's "The Wall", you could see the severe problems facing education. Today European education is among the best in the world. Something had to have happened. Certain people stepped up to the board of education and faced their problems head on. Playing with a child's future is a horrible crime and I believe that is what has been happening in the United States for several years.

Schools have created a monopoly. Since a child almost must have an education to succeed, schools will always stay open. Finding the differences in good and bad schools is the problem we are faced with. Correction this problem is the next step. Bennet and his associates have created a short list of ways to fix these problems. 1) Standards, assessments, and accountability.

2) Pluralism, competition, and choice. The standard of learning must increase and constantly change to develop with changes in society. Teachers and schools must have choices and alternatives on their ways of teaching. No longer should each school teach the same. I think Bennet understands how classes and races are different, which has allowed him to come up with these ideas. Bennet also created a list of breakthrough changes for the 21st century.

This list implements many of the ideas that students and teachers have thought for years. Not harming pupils' minds, higher pay for teachers, the classroom is a sanctuary, and enlarging the nations excellent schools are a few of these great ideas. I think that is a few or all of these ideas were put into place, the United States would see huge advances in their education system. Not only that, these ideas tend to foster creativity not only for the teacher but for the student as well. Creativity drives our nation and I think this is the key to a healthy development.

On the flip side of the coin Forrest J. Troy believes that most of what Bennet has been telling society is false. In the article there is a section entitled, "Myth Versus Facts". He states that, "Those who savage the public schools tear at the heart of this country". (Noll 185) Troy believes that much of what society has been told about public education is false.

He has spent 30 years developing these beliefs, but much of what he states in his list seems very controversial. One "fact" that troubled me was when he stated that, "America's smart kids are as smart or smarter than those in any country. Test scores have recovered after a huge dip due to integration of public education. Separate was never equal". (Noll 186) Troy has several interesting facts that I do believe.

He talked about how teachers are among the most respected professionals in the U.S. I liked how he showed the difference between public and private schools. There is a huge difference there, but Troy believes that public schools do a better job with the funds they have. The only problem I have with most of Troy's statements is that I don't really know whom to believe. Much is what Troy says in his section seems as though he is being attacked. He says, "What are you going to believe, the critics or the consumers?" (Noll 188) Although I do disagree with standardized testing, the scores don't lie and it seems as though Troy doesn't believe it. He says that public schools are always in the cross hairs when 90 percent of them are as good as any in the world.

I know this statement to be entirely false. He blames the media for feeding parents and society false information to dishearten the minds of their students. He uses examples from television shows portraying schools is unusual and unsafe. He explains how it is hard for a teacher to go to work know that he or she is surrounded by drugs and weapons. This is the difference between Troy and Bennet. Troy focuses his arguments on the students and the problems with society, where as Bennet focuses on the problems with the public school system.

The one idea that I do agree on with Troy is religion in schools. Schools are constantly being put down for taking religion out of the classroom. This is both good and bad. On one hand religion teaches students to have guidance, while on the other hand most students that attend public schools come from many different backgrounds. Picking one religion to place into the school system is difficult so I can understand why this is such a controversial topic. Troy also speaks on the importance in a teacher student relationship.

This is essential in the learning process. Since a teacher spends more time with a child than their parents you can begin to see the importance of taking care of teachers more. With so many outside critics that don't understand public schooling Troy does a good job explaining some of the strong points. Try talks about not giving into the hype that Bennet is trying to sell. He believes that you must study the background of anyone criticizing public schools. I do think this is true.

Troy says, "the failure isn't in the product, but in the marketing". (Noll 191) Troy is a good advocate for public schools, but sometimes gets his facts confused. If I had to take a side I would probably go with Bennet. I think he does a much better job explaining the true problems with society and education and gives resolutions that could work.

Everyone is different and people see different things whenever they are placed into a situation. The good news is that the United States is moving in the right direction no matter what side you take. Whether public schools have failed or not doesn't matter. What we do from no on is the key to our children's success. Both Bennet and Troy gave strong points for this idea and they both agree that no matter what we do it should be the best. The United States is the most powerful nation in the world and unless we continue to teach our students we could fall behind.