Blog Post #2

The Broken Model by Sal Khan and A Short History of Public Schooling

Argument:

Khan argues that our current education system stems from precedents set by generations before us, which should now be reevaluated to be more effective for the modern world. The basis of the current system is the Prussian Model, itself based on the philosopher Johann Fichte. Fichte argued for a system that would shape individuals into ideally obedient workers without an outlet for their own development. So the Prussian model was born, which divided both the day and ideas, meaning that students would not have the opportunity to piece various ideas together or discuss them with their peers. Despite the stifling nature of the system, it marked an important innovation in education, as it was one of the first systems to implement universal basic education. In the nineteenth century, Horace Mann introduced the system to the United States, where it was eventually implemented in every state. In 1892, the Committee of Ten from the NEA designed the basis for the current set of subjects and grades in American Schools. We have been working on their model for the past century. 

Johann Gottlieb Fichte

While these systems may have been innovative for their time, they do not necessarily meet the needs of modern students well. Testing, for example, does not always measure student mastery. Depending on how well the test was designed, it can at best capture a snapshot of a student, and at worst, measure nothing. Take the example Khan provides of state testing in New York. Scores fluctuated as different groups designed the state's standardized testing. Certainly, the student populace did not drastically change in ability, but the quality of the testing did. Furthermore, testing often focuses only on analytical thinking, leaving practical and creative students by the wayside, which can often lead to them being tracked into lower-level classes. All of this taken together, it seems clear that the current practices in place need to be reevaluated.

Similarly, the video "A Short History of Public Schooling" also discusses the Prussian model and its influence on American schools, with a greater emphasis on its spread in the United States. Horace Mann, the first Secretary of Education in Massachusetts, imported the Prussian model into American schooling in 1837. He saw it as the "great equalizer," allowing every child to become the ideal factory worker in an increasingly industrial world. In 1852, a compulsory attendance law was passed, requiring all children to attend school. These practices spread throughout the US, with 34 states having similar policies. By 1918, all states required compulsory elementary education. While universal basic education is somewhat of an equalizer, as Mann intended, the system stifles students' imagination, forcing them to fit into set roles in a post-industrial world.

Questions to Share:

These pieces make convincing arguments for the eventual restructuring of our educational system. However, neither seems to offer an alternative, at least in the format we were given. Khan's piece is part of a larger book, so I assume he shares his ideas there. Similarly, the documentary the video clip is from seems to advocate for homeschooling. However, since we are all here to become teachers, those solutions are not particularly helpful for us. What changes to the system would be beneficial for current students? Further, how do we implement these changes? As Khan said, it would require a fundamental shift in our society, which, while not impossible, is difficult. So, how do we do it?