Major Themes in Education Reform

There are some major themes to education reform:

1. What we need desperately is a return to a curriculum based upon academic knowledge and skills...

...however, problem solving and critical thinking are mistakenly seen as more important.

2. Progressive pedagogy is a big part of the problem...

...however, most teachers today are trained to use Progressive methods.

3. Innovation is too often held as the solution...

...however, education is not rocket science.

4. What are most often blamed for our educational problems are aspects like inadequate funding, large class sizes, and lack of teacher certification...

...however it turns out that these items are just gravy.

We at ReformK12.com will focus our efforts on what happens inside the classroom, and will address the first three items above. The reason for our focus is we want to help real flesh-and-blood teachers, administrators, and parents improve schools today (hence our name).

Item number four involves greater issues in American Education, and while it is helpful to constructively criticize them, they will not change any time soon. In the interest of studying the bigger picture of education reform we will address some of these issues, but we will not dwell on them for they are not practical for the parent, teacher and administrator to change today.

1. Academic Curriculum

Don't misunderstand, we believe that children should be taught problem solving and critical thinking skills, but not at the expense of academic content! We'd shout it from the rooftops if we could: critical thinking cannot be taught if one has nothing about which to think critically!

2. Progressive School

The phrase "child-centered education" sums up the Progressive philosophy of education quite nicely. (This is opposed to "content-centered education" i.e., the reason why parents send their children to school in the first place.)

Progressive methods of teaching predominate in virtually all of the Colleges of Education in universities across the United States. In fact, this school of thought is so widespread that there isn't even any debate on the subject—the "progressive way" is essentially regarded as the way.

From the archives of do-as-I-say-not-as-I-do, an annecdote about the venerable Father of Progressive Education, John Dewey. In the early part of the twentieth century, he taught many thousands of future teachers using a very effective, time-honored method: he lectured.

3. Innovation?

There's no shortage of Educational Experts (and Progressive Educators, see above) to keep us tickled with a fresh supply of theories—and innovative programs based upon these theories—any of which could be the solution to all our problems.

We don't buy it.

4. Common Scapegoats

Yes, we know, all we need to solve the education crisis are: More Money, Smaller Classes, and More Certified Teachers. These oft-repeated phrases are the rallying cries of an alarming number of folks, including our teachers union, which of course has completely pure motives.

Don't believe everything you see on TV.