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What is the purpose of schooling? Before answering this question I would like to give a definition of schooling from my perspective. I believe that schooling is the process by which members of a society, particularly young children, acquire norms, values, morality and particular skills by attending formal educational institutions, schools. Defining the purpose of schooling I believe we need to answer the question: does everybody have the right to secondary education and what basic thing where the foundations for a common schooling? I believe that national unity, equal opportunity, morality, and citizenship preparation are the historic foundations of common schooling in the United States. Looking back into the history some of our early political leaders were concerned about the uneven nature of schooling and the educational needs of a new country.
But it wasnt until after the American Revolution that Thomas Jefferson became the first American leader to propose a publicly supported system of free schools for all persons. He considered education his highest priority. But not just education itself, but rather education for democracy, education for development, and education for building a common identity. He had three basic objectives: to make good people, to make good citizens, and to enable each student to find some area of interest in which he (it was usually he because girls were not considered to need an education) could develop his maximum potential.
He believed the government should support higher education and that the chance to get a quality education should be open to everyone, regardless of their wealth, social status, or other circumstances. Like Jefferson, Benjamin Rush also saw the value of education in a free society. He believed that without learning, men would become savages or barbarians. (p. 27) However, not until the 1840 s did an organized system exist. Education reformers like Horace Mann, helped create statewide common-school systems. He sought to increase opportunities for all children and create common bonds among an increasingly diverse population.
He also argued education could preserve social stability and prevent crime and poverty. During the late 1830 's, Mann felt that teachers needed more than a high school education in order to teach. He and other influential educators such as Catherine Beecher, felt that teachers needed a formal education. Beecher campaigned to make certain that women had the same education as men. She contributed significantly to the development of publicly funded schools for training teachers. Growth in schooling is one way to measure success, and in that regard common schools have triumphed.
In the 1900 s only about 50 % of children attended school (School - PBS documentary). Looking on the purpose of schooling from less broad perspective I believe that such things as the desire to educate children and eagerness to help students find happiness, meaning and enlightenment in their lives can be considered other purposes of schooling. Educational institutions together with teachers and staff have to help pupils learn how the world works from an objective perspective. They have to give children the basic knowledge of how to memorize, observe and experience different situations as well as to teach them how to evaluate, analyze and act in the latter. Summing all this is one sentence I can say that schooling has to give children the basic knowledge of the skills that might be crucial to surviving like training your memory, writing and reading abilities as well the ability to communicate and get a long with people of different ages. At the same time I dont believe that schools should be used for political and economic purposes at an early age.
A kid should get some basic knowledge about these spheres but he / she should not be exposed and influenced in ways they can not yet understand. As an example I can mention the necessity for children to learn the pledge of allegiance or national anthem though most of them dont know the meaning of most of the words. I also believe that the word opportunity that I have mentioned in the begging of my essays should apply to any kid either he is from a low class or high one. If we look at this opportunity from the political or economical side my belief is that everyone should have the right to choose their political ideas and career after they understand the possibilities available to them. Indeed, I believe that the common school, todays public school, has accomplished a lot.
The current standards-movement provides hope for improvement by attempting to address inequalities. If this movement is to be successful, than more attention and resources must be diverted to teaching and learning, rather than testing. Besides more opportunities of having a variety of choices in schooling itself appeared in last 20 - 30 years. Many parents' today have a choice to either a public or private schooling, or even a home schooling. Although now most people still think that a public education is better, most statistics and facts tend to show that home schooling is beneficial in more ways. Most of the time when adults think about educating their children, they often forget the option of home school.
The idea of home schooling started many years ago, but it really began to flourish in the 1970 's. For many people this was the only option, because either public schools lacked or the schools were too far away for them to attend. In the present day, there are over two million children being home schooled by their mothers and fathers, over a fifteen percent rise in home school students each year. A majority of home school students are white middle class families, but minorities are finding that this option is also better for their children rather than the public schools. Some of the main factors parents find from home schooling are: the children often become more independent and more responsible with their behavior, the influence of peer pressure is reduced, vacations and trips can be planned at the families convenience, families can spend more time together, and there is usually less stress because the children don't have to rush out of the house every morning. These factors and many more, are why parents of today's society are choosing this method. "Critics of home schooling attack it on many fronts, arguing that children are not taught by qualified professionals, homes often do not possess the resources of schools, home-schooled children tend to be isolated from their peers, and systematic evaluation of children's learning rarely occurs in the home (Simmons 1994). " Yet, research does show that home schooled children are equal, if not better than, those students in public school environment are.
Almost all reports have shown that home schooled students score above average on standard achievement tests. This could be because children have more one-on-one experience. On the whole, home schooling has had a tremendous rise in the past few years and has proved to be very successful in providing effective education. Home schooling is just an option that parents have to get their children away from the public education system. Concluding my essay I want to say that despite of all the improvements needed in public secondary education, nowadays public schools are providing more education to greater numbers of students than at any time in our nations history.
A growing diversity of students who are women, people of color, and low-income, are graduating and going on to college. And I truly believe that either school a family choose must provide its pupils with the equal opportunity, morals, and citizenship as well as basic skill for a normal life. Reference Fraser, James W. (2001) The School in the United States: A Documentary History. New York: McGraw Hill Simmons, John R. (1994) Home schooling. New York: Graphic Society.
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Research essay sample on Home Schooled Children Home School Students
