The Future of Education Needs Your Ideas
What do you feel are the biggest issues our education system needs to address in 2050?
The pace of change is already so quick today that much of the material taught to students in grade school may be irrelevant by the time they graduate high school. How do we best equip them to succeed in an uncertain future?
Today’s high school graduates, meanwhile, are competing for scarce college entrances against highly-educated students from around the world. How do we ensure our students have the best access to world-class, post-secondary learning?
Less than 40 percent of our region’s high school graduates meet the math and science requirements for admission to the University of California and Cal State systems, according to a 2008 study. In addition, the study showed students in California have lower achievement scores than almost all other students in the nation.
There are approximately 500,000 students in our region, and the population in San Diego is expected to grow by about 1.3 million in the next 50 years. Picture what our education system will look like without a plan in place to create competitive, world-class schools that can absorb the population growth.
The next generation of students will predominantly be our own children and grandchildren.
And Our Greater San Diego Vision is giving this generation the opportunity to have a say in what education will look like for future generations, this is why thousands of San Diegans have already shared their hopes and concerns for the region’s education system at ShowYourLoveSD.org. The online public survey offers several different strategies for improving education in the region.
One approach is to personalize education and learning so students can learn more effectively.
A second approach is to offer a variety of learning options. Competition among education providers would promote affordable, innovative and quality learning options.
A third approach is to prepare students for success in the global economy by exposing them to world cultures, teaching multiple languages, teaching workplace skills and offering career planning and mentorship.
A fourth approach is to expand post-secondary learning options and financial assistance so all students can further their education.
The last approach is to prepare students to learn by offering affordable prenatal care to mothers, school preparation to parents and universal preschool and kindergarten to children.
San Diegans can rank these approaches according to their values and priorities and seek to influence educators and policy-makers based on the outcome of this unprecedented public engagement process.
Visit www.ShowYourLoveSD.org now through Jan. 31 and voice your choice for the future of education.
Donald Sonck
10:00 pm on Sunday, January 22, 2012
Want ideas? Heres you go! 1. Eliminate teacher tenure at EVERY education level! I want the best teachers according to how their students fare academically; not how long the teacher has been practicing! 2. Teach all kids proper English grammar and spelling! You want to introduce them to "the global economy by exposing them to world cultures, teaching multiple languages, teaching workplace skills and offering career planning and mentorship." Are you kidding me? Too many high school and college graduates can't even assemble a resume and cover letter in English that is grammatically correct! I should know; I see them every day when they apply for a job! 3. If teachers really want to "put the children first" as their unions constantly prophesize, then quit pining for more money, benefits, time off, and pensions and get the kids prepared for the real world! 4. Increase the number of charter schools and make the enrollment costs for charter and private schools tax deductible. If my child has to attend an academically-challended public school, I ought to have the right to choose to send my child to a charter or private school as a viable alternative and deduct the tuition from my taxes. Ever heard of competition? It separates the good from the bad and elevates performance at all levels of the private sector. The same should hold true with schools.
I realize I'm dreaming, but you asked for alternatives! Are you and the terachers unions listening???????????????
Kevin George
9:41 am on Monday, January 23, 2012
Excellent Donald !!!! I agree with everything you so eloquently stated.
You hit my favorite point: It's all about the kids.....right up until it's all about the money!
Joe Spencer
2:24 am on Monday, January 23, 2012
Well said Donald. I was reviewing information from a published school accountability report card from Rio Seco.
http://www.santeesd.net/cms/lib/CA01000468/Centricity/Domain/610/SARC/Full%20SARC%20RS.pdf
I was shocked to see the difference from a beginning teacher to a mid range teacher to the highest end. Its a shame that salary is based almost solely on tenure.
One of the things in our school district that I haven't grasped the understanding of yet is the school based decisions to have one modified day per week. That is, that the students get out at 12:45 instead of 2:35. At Rio Seco it is on Wednesdays.
First I dont understand why it is a school based decision instead of a district decision made uniformly. Why is it left up to the schools to decide individually on whether they want a modified day each week?
Teachers (rightfully so) complain about how much work is crammed into a school year as it is. So why do some schools cut two hours out of one day a week? What exactly is being done with those two hours? Very few jobs require two hours of new training each week.
With as educationally challenged as our education system is in this country...I would think our students would be better served each week with those extra two hours of classroom time than the extra two hours playing XBOX 360.
Christal Ferris
10:37 am on Monday, January 23, 2012
I feel it would benefit students to learn on different levels instead of grades. For example, say little Jimmy excels at reading comprehension, but lacks in math comprehension. So, he is at level five for reading and level 2 for math. Once requirements are met, those students can acrue credits or move up grade levels.
I also feel that our students have too much time out of school. Two weeks for Winter Break and two weeks for Spring Break? That is an entire month. Then the various holidays off. Not to mention the weekly early dismissal Joe mentioned.
Joe Spencer
10:58 am on Monday, January 23, 2012
I agree about all the time off. I understand the budget crisis has shortened the year a bit...but why doesnt that just come off of the end of the year? This year the schools get out June 26th. Seems rather late. Not only is there two weeks for winter and two weeks for spring....but we also have full week of Thanksgiving too.
Two weeks for winter is common...but I dont remember having two for spring. Certainly not a week for Thanksgiving. That one really gets me. Have a week off for Thansgiving..then come back for three weeks..then leave for two weeks.
Then factor in that because New Years fell on a Sunday...Monday was the holiday so the first week back was a 4 day week. Then, 3 out of the next 7 weeks are 4 day weeks because of Federal Holidays. Keeping in mind all of those 4 day weeks STILL INCLUDE the early dismissal day as one of the days.
How does this crazy schedule help the educational process?
Building Velocity
4:58 pm on Friday, January 27, 2012
Donald = Nail on the head. Great post!