God University is proud to introduce you to a remarkable young god, Donovan Bridgeforth. He is an avid reader, writer and leader. He manages The Great Change blog located at thegreatchangeofageneration.blogspot.com. Donovan is the founder and current President of the Black Students Association at Hardin-Simmons University. Mr. Bridgeforth is a Political Science major and Legal Studies minor, with law school aspirations. He has a passion for people, words, logic and justice. Please enjoy his piece below!"
Education Reform
As a lover of learning and knowledge I see a vivid need for a change of great magnitude in our current state of education in America and across the globe. As an African-American it blows me away that the literacy rates in African states is roughly equal to Shaquille O’Neal’s free throw percentages in his days as a Los Angeles Laker. So you are telling me the education system is so fugazi that it fails its citizens about half the time to the point of illiteracy?
Wow.
Anyways back to the good ole, U-S of A’s one size fits all education system. In the states, high school education, especially in Texas, teachers are vividly handcuff in the class room to teach toward and exam and are only retained based on how good “the numbers” look. Quite frankly, “the numbers” can go to hell.
We are in the process of a mass miseducation of several generations. Rather than fostering creativity and allowing young bright minds to follow their passion to lead to a deeper understanding of the desired subject, the current education system only allows for “great test scores”.
If I had a sim city version of the world to build an education system I would teach more citizenry subjects that will allow for students to be successful citizens. Basically, high school would be a “Citizen School” that is “lab” focus, so that student will be further engaged in their class time.
Instructors would teach you basic math, basic English, how to drive, how to grow food, how to do your taxes, how to open a bank account, how to fill out a job application, how to report a crime to the police, how to change a diaper, how to change a tire, first aid, certify students in CPR, etc. Essentially, all the basics to being a “big boy or big girl” in the adult world we call society.
A student would not have to learn about chemistry, algebra, physics, etc. unless that was their passion.
After high school there would be specific “Colleges” set up for a WIDE variety of things that a person could possibly be passionate about that would further the society. There would be things like a Chemistry School, Algebra School, Physics School, Physical Education School, Sleep School, Biology School, Law School, Medical School, Business School, etc. These institutions would be like graduate schools are now… but would all have the capability to accredit Doctorate Degrees. So if you were passionate about sleep, you could learn all the ins and outs of sleep for several years and walk across that stage to receive your diploma (possibly sleep walking) and we would then after refer to you as Dr. Sleep or something catchy like that.
But the jist of this post is that the current system has WAY too many bullshit obstacles in the way from you doing what you really want to do and learn about. While simultaneously stifling specialization and creativity.
The current system is flawed, that is undeniable. My way may not be the “golden plan” but I assure you it would’ve helped a lot of the students I saw skipping high school class and eventually dropping out.
But, then again, what do I know?
For Contact Information Donovan Bridgeforth can be reached at thegreatchangeofageneration.blogspot.com
