A New Educational System

An article in the LATimes (courtesy of Greg Mankiw) led me to contemplate my Thoughts on Education. Milton Friedman advocates deregulation of Education as espoused in the article. I imagine this may actually be backing away from the problem of poor Elementary and Secondary Education in this Country. I will advocate the economic advantages of more significant regulation–again the Devil’s Advocate.

The current system does not assure acquirement of the basic skills associated with each Grade level. Teachers push the Students through each Grade so they can ‘stay with their Class’. Only about 20% actually learn the material, 30% field the basic elements sufficiently to match the superior 20%–though later dropping the essence of the material, and 50% express inferior grasp of the basic in one or more areas of study. Does this sound like an efficient system?

I would call for a complete revolution in the Educational system, but one which would benefit All, not just a certain segment of Students. My Concept is to establish Grade, Secondary, and Remedial campuses, like unto College campuses. Here We get much greater regulation, with all Students living in dormitory facilities (Parents finding it necessary to check their Students in and out only on specified days). Study Periods would be mandatory (but with Instructor assistance), Students would have to test out of all Subjects, never advanced in any area until proven to have achieved a quantified mastery of the Subject; complete discard of the system of Grades and Grade levels. Each Student would attend until the appropriate Age has been reached.

Parents would be freed of the burden of Child Care, except in the entertainment Periods assigned (of necessity being very liberal as We are talking of children). Instructors could instill common goals and discipline on all Students; while at the same time, being supervised for proper behavior on their own part. Employers could ascertain the strengths and weaknesses of potential Employees far better with access to these records, while Students would have already attained a disciplined Work Ethic with years inside an institutionalized form of Workplace. The Total Costs of such a system would actually be less, as Parents paid in Taxes, rather than in Subsistence Costs, Spoiling activities, and Supervision Costs. lgl