This is the mission of my local public school district. "The School District of the Menomonie Area, by embracing the unique needs and using the strengths of our diverse community, is dedicated to preparing ALL students to become lifelong learners, caring individuals, and responsible citizens." This is read at the beginning of every board meeting and it seems off-kilter considering that the reading and math scores are so horribly low (https://www.nationsreportcard.gov/profiles/stateprofile) in my district, my state and the country as a whole. I would suggest that number 12 would be to FEED the children. I think 40% or our kids are on free or reduced lunches and there are programs to, additionally, offer breakfast and to send bags of food home with the kids on weekends. Aptly named "13" would be the administration of all government services to children that the parents are unable to provide, unwilling to provide, or that the government doesn't want parents to know about. Through SEL programs and the placement of very explicit rape and sex books into all levels of the school, often through e- or audio-books the parents would not be aware of, I am pretty sure my district is providing psychological evaluation and "treatment" by unlicensed staff without parental knowledge. I have written about that on my blog at https://menomoniematters.substack.com/p/sel-surveys-and-alexs-data. This post was interesting. Thank you.
While all of the reasons listed are important, I think 1, 2 and 9 are the main purposes for schooling. I could probably be talked into the others, as well, because all are important, in one way or the other. However, I do think people have come to believe schools are supposed to do all of these things, in addition to the myriad of things required by state and federal law, because all children go to school . The rationale follows that schools should do these things because school is where the children are and thus, the responsibility falls to the schools. That works, until it doesn't. The impact for schools is that the ability to focus on 1,2 and 9 are diminished because schools have to do so many things that make it impossible to focus on the main things and do them consistently well for all children, regardless of circumstances. I personally wish schools could be all things for all people but is it really fair to ask?
Thanks for taking the time to reply, Robin. A few thoughts....I do think it's important to ask what a school's stated purpose is because a school may think it's doing one thing when it's really doing another, and taking time to clarify its mission and vision is critical to aligning its curriculum and pedagogy with actual practice.
Also, I don't think schools should do all the things....and I completely agree with you that schools are being asked to do too much. I would much prefer to see more local control of schools, or at least sufficient funding for any "extra" initiatives mandated by state/federal policy.
This is the mission of my local public school district. "The School District of the Menomonie Area, by embracing the unique needs and using the strengths of our diverse community, is dedicated to preparing ALL students to become lifelong learners, caring individuals, and responsible citizens." This is read at the beginning of every board meeting and it seems off-kilter considering that the reading and math scores are so horribly low (https://www.nationsreportcard.gov/profiles/stateprofile) in my district, my state and the country as a whole. I would suggest that number 12 would be to FEED the children. I think 40% or our kids are on free or reduced lunches and there are programs to, additionally, offer breakfast and to send bags of food home with the kids on weekends. Aptly named "13" would be the administration of all government services to children that the parents are unable to provide, unwilling to provide, or that the government doesn't want parents to know about. Through SEL programs and the placement of very explicit rape and sex books into all levels of the school, often through e- or audio-books the parents would not be aware of, I am pretty sure my district is providing psychological evaluation and "treatment" by unlicensed staff without parental knowledge. I have written about that on my blog at https://menomoniematters.substack.com/p/sel-surveys-and-alexs-data. This post was interesting. Thank you.
While all of the reasons listed are important, I think 1, 2 and 9 are the main purposes for schooling. I could probably be talked into the others, as well, because all are important, in one way or the other. However, I do think people have come to believe schools are supposed to do all of these things, in addition to the myriad of things required by state and federal law, because all children go to school . The rationale follows that schools should do these things because school is where the children are and thus, the responsibility falls to the schools. That works, until it doesn't. The impact for schools is that the ability to focus on 1,2 and 9 are diminished because schools have to do so many things that make it impossible to focus on the main things and do them consistently well for all children, regardless of circumstances. I personally wish schools could be all things for all people but is it really fair to ask?
Thanks for taking the time to reply, Robin. A few thoughts....I do think it's important to ask what a school's stated purpose is because a school may think it's doing one thing when it's really doing another, and taking time to clarify its mission and vision is critical to aligning its curriculum and pedagogy with actual practice.
Also, I don't think schools should do all the things....and I completely agree with you that schools are being asked to do too much. I would much prefer to see more local control of schools, or at least sufficient funding for any "extra" initiatives mandated by state/federal policy.