Transitions in Education

The education system in America is very poor, to put it bluntly. Our students are falling behind in many subjects such as reading comprehension and mathematics. America’s universities keep raising their tuition fees to unprecedented levels, and numerous positions and programs are cut for the sake of salvaging scarce education dollars.

For the purposes of this project, we will focus on the education situation in Idaho. Judging from firsthand accounts and the news, it appears that the Idaho educational system is constantly under attack from all different directions and is in the process of a major overhaul without the use of federal dollars. Idaho lawmakers seek to increase the number of charter schools, require high school students to take at least two online courses per year, and allow them to earn college credits while in high school. Additionally, Superintendent Tom Luna has proposed to “beef up technology in the classroom and provide high school students with laptops…Class sizes would increase to help pay for the overhaul, and the state would shed an estimated 770 teaching jobs over five years” (Bonner 1).

Some people will see part of the appeal of this education plan at first glance. The notion of moving from the traditional practices of teaching to a practical learning experience seems like a step in the right direction. In theory, providing students access to technology will encourage them to practically teach themselves, and a few extra college credits will pay off in the long run. On the other hand, many educators are outraged at the thought of potentially losing their jobs just to pay for the increased class sizes. A higher student-to-teacher ratio means a less personable learning experience for the student. Parents are equally perplexed as to why taxpayer money should pay for students’ laptops and other technical innovations. How would the schools adjust their respective infrastructures to make sure every student’s laptop has a plug-in? How do we know that the students will be responsible with their laptops? How do we know that they will not pawn them or break them? How do we protect the school networks in case a virus infects one of the laptops? Are the laptops efficient in terms of power and processing? Furthermore, people are even more concerned about the advent of the online class requirement. A lot of students have a difficult time finding the motivation to learn when they are not in the classroom. As such, the failure rate for online classes is very high. So what is the point of adding an online requirement if the students lack the motivation to fulfill it?

So we must ask ourselves: Is this overhaul the best way to address the education crisis in Idaho? Is a more student-based education worth cutting nearly 800 teaching positions in the state? Will the benefits of more charter schools outweigh the increasing classroom populations? Will the entrusting of laptops to students justify the cost in Idaho taxpayer dollars? I am all for education reform in this state, but at what cost?

Bonner, Jessie L. "Tom Luna Seeks Education Reforms Without Federal Money." Idaho Press-Tribune 18 Jan 2011: 1. Print.