The Absent Uncle: The state of education

I use the phrase “a way back when” quite often when I begin to write about memories or events that surface and give me a bit of inspiration on a subject that seems to pop out of nowhere. (I am so thankful for those unexpected thoughts that can be translated on a keyboard!)

Somehow the word education stuck out. I have always been thankful to the State of Minnesota, the School District 413 in Marshall, Minn., for giving – and I mean “giving” – the opportunity to be exposed to the full spectrum of educational choices, for mostly excellent teachers, clean and safe schools to attend, and the ability to be transported to and from school – on time and ready to learn.

I have all my report cards from kindergarten to 12th grade; dutifully signed by each teacher and my mother’s receipt of the report card to be able discuss with me the good and the bad as matriculated through the system.

Today, it would be labeled as a “liberal” education. Not in terms of the meaning of “liberal” by political standards, but because of the wide range of subjects touched on through those meaningful 13 years of attendance. 

Not just your standard, reading, writing, and arithmetic (the treasured ‘3R’s’ of today’s world), but exposure to various sciences, art, music, history and social studies, philosophy, current events, bookkeeping, typing, industrial arts, PE, and one of the most important – Civics! 

We learned the system of government; how it was formed, how it worked, who was in elected office, how they got there, and what grassroots politics meant, about free speech, the right to protest, and the responsibility that each of has to determine our own governance – as a majority through the voting system.

As I watched our son go through a very good educational system in our local Kansas district, I was amazed at how education has changed. Tests to vet the system is teaching what the State expects, tests to see how the district rated in the area, and tests to make sure individual teachers were doing their job. 

But it seemed to be an afterthought about who was graduating and how prepared they were to be citizens of this great country and understanding of the responsibility to take a part in governing and being informed on the issues of the day. Just as long as our test scores measured up … 

We are paying the price today for this oversight. The state of our education could use some civic education.