No one would doubt the importance of education. Deliberately transmitting society’s accumulated knowledge, skills and values from one generation to another, education shapes children’s characteristics and competitiveness, defining a country’s future. T
his explained the result of the poll conducted for the Economist, which shows that almost three quarters of Americans think that the problems facing education are at least as grave as health care. Indeed, there is an appetite for reform.
Ironically, the financial crisis offers a great opportunity for education reform. Thanks to the federal stimulus, Mr. Duncan, Barack Obama’s education secretary, find himself in an unprecedented position, holding a surplus of more than $10 billion, including $3.5 billion to turn around schools. With his $10 billion, he has said he wants to “fundamentally change the business the department of education is in.” This ambition should not be too surprising, because this statement simply echoed the Obama’s demand for change while running the campaign.
The education department has divided cash into several programs, including a $4.4 billion “Race to the Top.” This program reward states for reform in several areas. It will streamline the collection of pupil data, which can be used to improve teaching. Also, states should set internationally benchmarked standards and use teacher’s performance to determine training, pay, and promotion. Moreover, the fund will support efforts to help struggling schools.
In some respects, education reform is even more difficult than health care reform. In the latter case, the problem is clear, and the solution is there. The “only” difficulty is that Obama must persuade his people that this reform is leading the country in the right direction. The education issue, however, is more complicated since it involves so many problems including race, social structure, parent’s attitudes, etc. Actually, a higher budget can bring the school better facilities, talented teachers, and a lower teacher-student ratio, but it cannot solve school violence, the imbalance of resources between private and public, and a high drop-out rate. Despite the huge budget, change will just be formalistic without the support of parents and the whole education system.
Of course, things are always easier in a theory than in practice. That is why Rand Weingarten, leader of the American Federation of Teachers, said “implementation is where reforms die.” But Obama promises that this time, change will be different- more comprehensive and more enduring. People are now waiting to see whether he is just a dreamer or a dream practitioner.
his explained the result of the poll conducted for the Economist, which shows that almost three quarters of Americans think that the problems facing education are at least as grave as health care. Indeed, there is an appetite for reform.Ironically, the financial crisis offers a great opportunity for education reform. Thanks to the federal stimulus, Mr. Duncan, Barack Obama’s education secretary, find himself in an unprecedented position, holding a surplus of more than $10 billion, including $3.5 billion to turn around schools. With his $10 billion, he has said he wants to “fundamentally change the business the department of education is in.” This ambition should not be too surprising, because this statement simply echoed the Obama’s demand for change while running the campaign.
The education department has divided cash into several programs, including a $4.4 billion “Race to the Top.” This program reward states for reform in several areas. It will streamline the collection of pupil data, which can be used to improve teaching. Also, states should set internationally benchmarked standards and use teacher’s performance to determine training, pay, and promotion. Moreover, the fund will support efforts to help struggling schools.
In some respects, education reform is even more difficult than health care reform. In the latter case, the problem is clear, and the solution is there. The “only” difficulty is that Obama must persuade his people that this reform is leading the country in the right direction. The education issue, however, is more complicated since it involves so many problems including race, social structure, parent’s attitudes, etc. Actually, a higher budget can bring the school better facilities, talented teachers, and a lower teacher-student ratio, but it cannot solve school violence, the imbalance of resources between private and public, and a high drop-out rate. Despite the huge budget, change will just be formalistic without the support of parents and the whole education system.
Of course, things are always easier in a theory than in practice. That is why Rand Weingarten, leader of the American Federation of Teachers, said “implementation is where reforms die.” But Obama promises that this time, change will be different- more comprehensive and more enduring. People are now waiting to see whether he is just a dreamer or a dream practitioner.
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