What should be the purpose of pubic education in the Unites States in the twenty-first century?

Question

i am doing it for a school subject.

Answer 1

Oops-you mean public.
Teach the kids how to think-not how to get through state assessments under NCLB. Some students don't know how to apply common sense to solve problems. Yet they get through their state assessments!

Answer 2

The problem with the public school system today is that it was designed when America was primarily an agrarian society. We retooled in the early 1900's to address the industrial needs of a nation in transition and we've kind of been stuck in that mindset ever since. The public school system churns out good employees.

If I could waive my magic wand and upgrade the public school system I would emphasize financial literacy. At the heart of the discussion should be three key things:

1) The difference between an asset and a liability. Assets are things that put money in your pocket whether you work or not and liabilities will take money out of your pocket whether you work or not. Unfortunately, the middle class spends their lives working for money that they instantly convert into liabilities (that they think are assets). When income isn't sufficient they will take on consumer debt at heavy interest rates to keep up with people in their financial reference set. The entire rat race is contingent upon a population that doesn't know the difference between an asset and a liability. It really is that simple.

2) School should teach kids that being an employee is a good jumping off point but it is NOT the end game. If you're going to be an employee fine, you better also be an investor. If you're not going to invest then you better also be in business (and by business I do NOT mean self employed). Being self employed is a reasonable alternative to being an employee but if you have to be there to keep your income coming in, what you own is a job.

3) Don't work for money. Make money work for you. Case in point. My daughter has had a cell phone since she was seven. While that may seem young it's quite the opposite. My wife and I began buying small assets shortly after she was born. Today the earnings from these assets cover the cost of her phone and the monthly service. They will continue to do so for the rest of her life whether she works or not. If she wants an iPod, GameBoy, whatever, she has to help direct her investments so that they will grow sufficient resources to pay for it.

Unfortunately... My guess is that public education won't be the best bet for my great grandkids (if it is still around in 50 years). If I were speculating I would say that at some point a quality education will become a fringe benefit offered by corporations to attract and retain top employees. The lesson plan will meet all accredation standards but will be heavy in the tech spec's that will drive the future needs of the corporation.

Hope this helps. Maybe someone else will give you a better set of ideas. I'm just kind of frustrated that we know how to develop wealth in this country but we do such a poor job of teaching it to our children.

Answer 3

Originally one of the purposes of public education was to provide literate masses so they could make better choices during election. I would hope that the purpose of public education would be to provide our society with productive citizens thereby making a contribution to society and not becoming a burden upon it.

Answer 4

NEXT YEARS WAR PRICE TAG IS $800.00 FOR EVERY MAN WOMAN AND CHILD IN THE UNITED STATES~WHY IS EDUCATION THE STRAW THAT BREAKS THE CAMELS BACK~LIKE IF EDUCATION IS SO SMART WHY ARE WE STILL HAVING WARS AFTER 300 HUNDRED YEARS OF EDUCATION IN THE NEW WORLD-OR IF WERE SO SMART WHY ARE WE RICH SAME ASY IF WERE SO EDUCATED WHY ARE WE STILL AT WAR

Answer 5

I should be the same as it always has been, to train students to be productive, literate citizens capable of running this country and keeping it going

Answer 6

I wish I could have gone to a pubic school...I bet the girls are pretty there.