Modern day school system needs changed

by Loren Hays

Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, today on trial we have modern day schooling. Think of a car and telephone in the 1950s and then think of one today, big difference right? These inventions have evolved over the years and as humans, we evolve with it. Look at a picture from classroom in the 1950s, and then one today. You would think they were different, but in reality, they are the same. The same classrooms, the same teaching methods and the same standardized testing the school system has used for years. School has turned into a competition to say the least, but the tragedy here is that these children are our future.

Albert Einstein said, “Everybody’s a genius, but if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.” Do you know how many students relate to that fish? The school system sets us up to believe we are stupid if we can’t pass a test. We aren’t learning, we’re simply learning how to pass. That’s because it’s all based on competition. If there was a more collaborative approach to teaching in the United States, the school system would encourage students to grow and to learn like an actual individual. There is no person in this world that learns exactly the same. So, what makes the education system believe that teaching us all the same is going to create a better future and help us achieve our goals?

Do you know how many students are afraid to speak up in class whenever they don’t understand? Maybe this is because they feel stupid, or maybe they aren’t learning anything at all. School today is more focused on memorization than the actual understanding of a subject. If you fall behind, they keep moving forward and expect kids from ages 5-18 to keep up. That’s a lot to put on a child; someone who’s still trying to figure out their place in society.

When thinking about successful people like doctors, think about who helped them reach that point. Who gave them an education? Teachers should be making just as much as doctors, if not more, because they are reason we all have a future. Teaching has a low salary, but there are still teachers out there that want to help our future and those people don’t get the credit they deserve. Because they get paid so low, many teachers put in half the effort. It’s unfortunate for them, but also for every student they ever have the privilege of teaching. Not only that, many teachers want to have a more collaborative teaching environment but they aren’t given the chance because of the way the school system is structured. Teachers and students are forced to stay in a building five days a week from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. while being forced to learn and teach outdated learning curriculums. Yes, we all need an education, but there’s a better way.

That’s why were calling the school system to the stand to accuse him for killing creativity and being intellectually abusive.  More than a century has gone by and nothing has changed. This doesn’t prepare people for the future, but maybe guides them in a direction towards something they aren’t passionate about because they are never given the opportunity to learn and grow within themselves. Instead, were told we are wrong because we can’t pass a test. No more excuses. The time has come that the school system needs to take responsibility for its actions. This is for well being and the future of every person in the United States that has ever felt stupid in a classroom because of teachers, the competition, and the modern day school system. Things need to change.