School And Learning example essay topic

"Educational System" High school is a place where you grow up physically and mentally. In high school you begin as freshmen and graduate as a senior. Throughout that span of life a lot happened's, and you are constantly learning as you grow. But I know many high schools including mine are not perfect and have flaws in their educational system, that can be fixed in order to provide a better environment for learning. Learning is a never ending process that we draw from our personal experiences. Although Americans believe in our educational system, there seems to be many problems that we are not aware of that have a negative effect on our students as a whole.

One problem that the educational system faces is the obstacle between school and life. Schools need to break down the barrier in order to connect, going to school to learn and living your life. The students should be told that learning doesn't stop after the bell rings or it is time to go it is happening all the time. In "School Is Bad For Children", John Holt states", 'You come to school to learn', we tell him, as if the child hadn't been learning before, as if living were out there and learning were in here, and there is no connection between the two" (34).

I think schools sometimes play a role of being separate from life because they enforce the rule of 'you come to school to learn' and that is it. Children come to school curious to learn with other people, particularly other children, but when the school teaches them to be indifferent they lose interaction with the world. Holt explains, "You might say that school is a long lesson in how to turn yourself off, which may be one of the reasons why so many young people, seek the awareness of the world and responsiveness to it they had when they were little, think they can only find it in drugs" (35). Making the student disconnect from the real world, meaning life, allows the students to believe that drugs are ok, which is bad. School and living is a connecting subject because you are living your life while attending school, which can affect the way you are learning. Problems and other situation that are happening in your life can make you lose focus, which affects the way you learn.

Letting school and learning connect will break the barrier and create a better environment for students to function. Going to school to learn is not free, like any other thing in the world it needs financial resources. Another problem that the educational system is faced with is money. Public schools lack funding, so vouchers will help the students and parents make a better decision on what route the student should take regarding schooling. The proper funding to public schools will help better our educational system in order to give the students the best educational resources that they need.

In "Hon. Philip M. Crane in the House of Representatives" Crane writes, "The average Washington, D.C. kid might not be able to afford the $10,600 tab at Sidwell Friends when the average voucher would be around $3,750. But that does not mean that the voucher could not be used for a less expensive private, parochial, or public school" (2). This shows that the government will no longer tell poor families where they must send their kids to school. Also students and parents, serious about education, will have the opportunity to go to a better school. Private schools offer a good education that is effective. Crane states, "They know, as do the Clintons, that private education works.

The fact that so many private school exist in the face of completion from 'free' public school is prima facie proof of their success" (2). This shows that a person who happens to live in a bad school district should not be forced to get a bad education, if they wanted to go ahead. Having this choice means that all those students that want to achieve something will have that chance. If we were to adopt the voucher system this could mean a stronger educational system. The way high schools are run and their standards are out dated and need new and improved ways that appeal to the student. The way school functions is on a timely matter on a class-to-class basis in order to collect knowledge.

In "What High School Is", Theodore Sizer writes, "The school schedule is a series of units of time: the clock is king" (5). Students who didn't understand something during class can not be helped because the clock says it is 9: 00 am time for the next class and hurry don't be late; there are consequences for being tardy. This is not fair for the students nor the teachers because they have to keep in mind how much time they have with these kids. They do not have enough time to teach and answer questions, which is why time management comes in handy. The interaction between teacher and student is lost, which can have a negative effect on the way the student learns. The students who need help but whose questions could not be answered due to time, will most likely be confused and not understand what he / she is learning.

Sizer states", The lack of connection between stated goals, such as those of the California high school cited earlier, and the goals inherent in school practice is obvious and, curiously, tolerated. Most striking is the gap between statements about 'self realization and mental and physical growth' or 'moral and ethical values' common rhetoric in school documents-and practice" (6). I agree with Sizer because most of these things are not being enforced, so the students don't really learn any of these valuable goals and values. Improving the teaching methods will mean better-educated students that know the difference between right from wrong because they were taught morals and values. A common high school problem such as drug dealing would decline. This means they will no longer use the "schoolboy code" (not ratting on a fellow student) and stop protecting the marijuana pushers because they know it is wrong.

These new ways of teaching will appeal more to the students, which will make the educational system better and also make the students want to learn. The educational system is greatly affected in a positive way by having the problems fixed. The students would want to learn and be more successful throughout their academic years. This would mean well educated people making better decisions in the long term. Also the schools could establish standards that must be met in order to get the students to aim for academic goals. Addressing the problems with our educational system will mean better educated people for the future of the world.