EDF 1005 Reflection Paper #19

Jackie Lawrence
EDF 1005
Reflection Paper #19

The education system in the United States, since its beginnings, has primarily attempted to prepare children to succeed in the world. A utilitarian system has always been dominant, whereas value is measured in terms of usefulness. In colonial New England, reading, writing, arithmetic, and religion were dominant areas of focus in local schools. During the 18th century, Benjamin Franklin impacted education with his faith in practicality and rational utility. Thomas Jefferson thought young people should be exposed to politics while in school through universal schooling. Beginning in the 1830’s, industrialization and urbanism swept the North. Immigrants were arriving in the US at amazing rates, and cultural diversity was exploding. It became increasingly important to make sure children became literate, and Horace Mann assisted in influencing the development of universal elementary schooling. It was customary for many parents to work incredibly long hours in the factories, so schools suddenly became responsible for “command of the basic intellectual processes, preparation for citizenship, preparation for an appropriate vocation, and training in basic morality.” In 1890, only twenty-seven states had attendance laws regarding children and schools, and lots of kids worked instead of receiving an education. Progressive reformers fought child exploitation in the workplace with a passion, and by 1918, compulsory education laws existed in all of the states. Slowly but surely, education became more clearly defined and structured. Questions began to arise in terms of what the most effective method of schooling our children may be. Would a set, clearly defined curriculum work better than a flexible system that adapts to student needs? Should courses of study be different for children who aren’t planning on attending college after high school? Is it better to stress individuality or conformity in the classroom? These questions and others are still largely debated today. The main consensus is that schools should focus on active learning, personal experiences in the classroom, acceptance of diversity, clarity of thinking, and building up of self-esteem/efficacy. Also, technology has assisted us in making major strides within our current education system. Computers, the Internet, DVD’s, projectors, tape recorders, and the like have made drastic changes in the way we learn. Issues of prejudice and discrimination have always been a social problem in the United States, including the school systems. As globalization continues to make our world increasingly smaller, multicultural education has become a major focus, with the belief that positive influence will advocate acceptance.