Education and Equity
“Education is a better safeguard of liberty than a standing army.” Edward Everett
When it comes to education and politics I often wonder why the major candidates do not hold forums with public school teachers to get their recommendations. As a teacher who dealt with programs like No Child Left Behind and Race to the Top it seemed like there was very little input from education professionals. The current Secretary of Education, who has no formal training or experience in education, is focusing her energies on getting tax breaks for private and charter schools.
Several of the candidates this election year are focusing on free higher education. I know this would have been a great help to me 30 years ago, but I think there may be an alternative. As a retired schoolteacher, here is my opinion on the subject.
End formal education at the age of 16. With preschool education and access to technology, my grandchildren are almost two grades ahead of where I was at the same age. Use the last two years of high school as an equivalent to an associate degree at a junior college. This could include vocational or trade specialties where at the age of 18 a student could step right into an entry-level position. It would also allow students who wish to go on to more college a chance to get their general subjects out of the way without the expense of university prices…
