I have come to really realize that the world of education is a very complex, multi-layered mammoth that has good, bad, and everything in between. At first, one can’t help but wonder—it has taken decades to create today’s public education system, so will it take just as many decades to revise and change it?
If there is any place to start, it is with citizenship. The lessons that come with citizenship could help offset some of the biggest issues many of us teachers face in the classroom—like attendance, turning in homework/assignments, and respect. But, the problem is the lessons of citizenship have been pushed under the rug as schools are trying to incorporate other conflicting goals and aims. By moving citizenship out of the shadows, and expanding beyond the social studies classrooms, perhaps we can change education for the better. I know at my school students do get a “citizenship grade” which is ranked 1-4, but when it appears on the report card, it has no impact or importance—in fact, it is located, in tiny font, on the bottom of the page where students and parents can easily overlook it.
Along with citizenship, we might need to look at the way we have create a “one curriculum fits all.” Students need to see that there are other options for learning that can fit what they want to do in life beyond high school. But, are they really seeing this now with our current education system?
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