Is it time to rebuild public education?

In the beginning there were public schools. Basics: reading; writing and arithmetic. Over time public education has evolved with the times. Reading; writing, math; history; science; sports; STEM; feeding children; healthcare (physical and mental); morality (“genderism”)…the list of what schools “teach” (some might say “indoctrinate”) has grown and grown. Testing…testing…testing. Educational fads (over time) see: https://www.swweducation.org/?p=4383

Should public education be torn down to the ground and rebuilt? What would a re-imagined K-12 program look like? Are we destroying creativity and snuffing out the spark of wonder and delight in education? We are putting children on computers so everyone gets the same lesson; the same testing…are we getting so rigid and trying to make every student the same we are failing most? Pre-K at age 3? Children are no longer allowed to be children. What should schools focus on? Should it be Social Emotional Learning? Positive Behavior Intervention Systems? Should children be taught about emotions and feelings? Or, should we first deliver students who can function by being able to read, communicate and function in society before we spend the time and money on non-essentials?

Is it time to put a “Voucher” system in place that allows parents to use some of their tax payments to choose the education sources they want for their children?

This classic song from Pink Floyd, metaphorically, asks those (and other) questions. It’s 6 minutes long and the classic song comes in at 2:20.