This reading examines many systems and their validity today. Focusing on the education system. I would say most today have some negative thoughts in regards to the education system within the United States. I am no different than anyone who the last statement is true for. There are two questions that immediately come to mind. First; why do most have negative feelings or thoughts surrounding our educational system? Second; Why have these thoughts and feelings not been addressed? I do hope to gain clarity to these questions.
The first section of the reading informs us on the history of our education system. Adopted from Prussia; it is rigid and serves many purposes. One of which is to create a base level of education for the public. While fulfilling labor demands of industry. One would think that is a positive purpose for an educational system. Another purpose of our education system as described in the reading “The standard classroom model offered boundless opportunities for political indoctrination”. The Broken Model Ch.2 pg.76.
So, if I am understanding this correctly. Our education system’s intentions are to fill needs of industry and indoctrination. I mean these can not be the only purposes for our education system. Youth should be learning, creating, questioning theories and all that fun stuff right? Let’s circle back to that question. Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh, I am looking for answers and only accumulating more questions.
Ok, it’s official. The first section has me feeling all the feels. The second and third sections of this reading did much more of the same. We delve into the trap of efficiency, prioritization and predictability of our education system. I mean really the further I get into this reading the more I realize the education system has many avenues of work to accomplish and bettering the population isn’t necessarily at the top of the list.
We learn although early on the purposes our education system satisfied were very well intended and some may argue beneficial. However, society and culture have evolved and our system of education has not. WoW! We have an answer to one of those initial questions. So many of us have negative views or opinions because we live in the time that we do and our system addresses our past as a society. Critical thinking, creativity and self motivation were not important in generations past. The Prussian model which our system is based on oppresses those attributes. As a result the system is no longer serving us collectively. While it does not serve the masses, it does serve industry which drives capitalism. Question two answered, that is why our negative feelings and notions concerning the education system go unaddressed. Is our education system broken?, or simply outdated.
Hey Gamble! I had to giggle when I saw the image you chose as I was reading your blog, I also feel like I was coming up with more questions/wonderings during this reading than answers!! I love how you pose the question at the end is it broken or outdated. I think both can be true at the same time. While it isn't inherently broken since the model does exist and function and has been "working" for all of these years, it still has many cracks that can be repaired. I think outdated is definitely true as well because we do not need to produce thousands of factory workers like the initial model intended for. Great work this week!
ReplyDeleteGamble, I really appreciated how honestly you walked through your reaction to this reading. The two guiding questions you posed at the beginning gave your reflection strong direction, and I found myself thinking alongside you as you tried to make sense of the system’s purpose.
ReplyDeleteYour frustration feels justified. When we look at the historical roots of our education system, especially its connection to a Prussian model centered on efficiency, order, and labor preparation, it can be unsettling. Like you, I had to pause at the idea that schooling was designed not only to educate, but also to serve industry and potentially shape political thinking. That challenges the more idealistic vision many of us hold about education being primarily about creativity, curiosity, and growth.
I think your distinction between the system being broken versus outdated is especially powerful. It may not be that the system is malfunctioning, but that it is functioning exactly as it was designed to in a different era. The problem is that society has evolved while many core structures in education have not. If our world now demands critical thinking, innovation, and self direction, then a model built on predictability and efficiency will naturally feel limiting.
Your reflection captures that tension well. You move from confusion to clarity without pretending the answers are simple. Ending with the question of whether the system is broken or simply outdated keeps the conversation open and invites deeper examination, which I think is exactly what this reading is meant to do.
Industry and indoctrination. While I know that this is not news to you, it feels like this text gave you language to name some things you already think about a lot.
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