What is the purpose of schooling?
- Ellen Klinger
- Feb 14, 2019
- 2 min read
After reading through and discussing Chapter 5: Reforming America’s Schools with my classmates, I gathered a better understanding of what I believe the purpose of school is. School is supposed to provide a space for students to learn and grow into functioning members of society, wielding the tools to impact the future for themselves as well as correct the mistakes of past generations. I believe mainstream school has a similar intent, but is mostly focused on ensure students are ready for the workforce and not as much on civic responsibilities. John Goodlad, who studied a variety of documents surrounding the purposes of schooling, broke the goals down into four categories being Academic, Vocational, Social and Civic, and Personal. I believe todays schools do as much as possible to touch on all four categories, but there is a definite focus on ‘Academic’, ‘Personal’, and ‘Vocational’ with ‘Social and Civic’ trailing behind.
To me, a charter school is a great opportunity for students to receive an education that will work from them in ways that traditional public schooling may not be able to due to limited funding, materials, interest or a rigid structure. Allowing families to ‘shop around’ with the ability of a voucher reaffirms the idea that students should receive a quality education that meets their needs. Of course, even with vouchers, not all students can access a charter school due to socioeconomic or environmental backgrounds. They may stay with a traditional public school and not excel. However, charter schools have made a large and positive impact on the shape US education is a relatively short time period (1990’s).
I most recently (2011) attended a public school in rural, northern Alabama that I would not have had access to without the open enrollment policy set in place by the city. I attended Cullman High School as opposed to the closer, more accessible county school, Vinemont High School. My parents enrolled me into CHS because the school third in the state for highest academic achievement and graduation rate. I am truly thankful to have attended CHS because I was constantly pushed to achieve more. I graduated with honors, an advanced diploma, and preparedness for college I do not believe I would have gained from the county high school.
I do not believe I would have changed my schooling because I saw the benefits as I attended school--something my peers who entered the city school system in kindergarten may not recognize. I am intrigued by magnet schools. The concept of grouping together high achieving students is appealing, but also causes me to wonder if they are missing out by not attending a traditional public school where everyone has a more similar footing to achieve.
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