This is Part 2 of the series, Support the Teachers and Education in Jefferson County. You can read Part 1 here.
I teach a constitution class. We have been discussing the book The 5000 Year Leap. Cleon Skousen presents 28 principles of Freedom. Number 4 is Religion. Our churches play an important role in our community, including education. At a minimum, churches do teach what is morally right vs. morally wrong. Isn’t this part of education? I get it, we have been told about the separation of church and state, that mixing religion and government can be taboo. Although I don’t agree with this concept, I am not here to discuss it. I want to talk about supporting our teachers.
Basic Education Concepts
First, I realize that each child is different. Each has their unique upbringing and way of learning. Therefore, a customized education program would be best. But we have thousands of students and only a handful of teachers. A customized education for each student is simply not feasible. That said, an education system properly established can remedy a lot of imperfections.
Second, let the teachers teach. While my encounters with teachers are limited, I have noticed that some instructors rigidly follow the guidelines given to them. Not surprisingly, they are not the best-performing ones. Similarly, some teachers are willing to go the extra mile to look into the needs of each student, individually, and do their best to address each individual’s need.
Third, if an individualized education is not possible, a perfected education system can still do a lot to approximate the goal of an individualized education program.
Our Local Schools
The schools in Rigby are indeed trying to do many of the things that I consider essential to a world-class, superior education. We do not have a broken system. If anything, they need to do MORE of what they have been doing well.
High schools and middle schools, for example, offer a variety of elective courses so the students can pick what interests them. Earlier, I mentioned that an effective education would need to allow for customization. Selecting classes according to the interest of the students will go a long way.
We have teachers for each discipline to address the ways of learning–auditory, visual, and kinesthetic. Students are advised on what classes to take and which teacher can best help them.
Our local schools do care. Now, how could we help them? To begin with, not all the students are the same. Many of them do not know their natural learning style. Nor do they know what interests them, or what they want to be when they grow up.
Options
President Trump’s intention to eliminate the Department of Education and HB 93 means that parents can have a stronger say in education by being able to send their children to whichever school fits them. Especially in the area of curriculum.
In the past, the curriculum taught in schools reflected the ideology of the Administration. If a Democrat is in office, the schools’ curriculum tends to promote social engineering. If a Republican is in charge, the curriculum tends to promote skill training.
My preference is to return education to its core function of intellectual development. As for the other functions of skill and social development, they are secondary. Incidentally, that also includes moral development.
Schools, like any organization, function best if it has a clear mandate or entrusted mission. Working with schools and school boards, we will need to establish for them a clear mandate of intellectual development.
As for the other functions of social, skill, and moral development, there are other social units to lend a hand. For example, family is a much better place to teach a child the social value of extended family ties. Within the walls of a church, the concept of right or wrong can be taught with much clarity.
Conclusion
I visited a restored village in Southern Utah. The main focus of that village is an old church, which also functions as a schoolhouse and a city hall. It worked. Because it involved every unit in the community. We can support education if every unit in our community is involved.
