Can You Hear The Music
"The important thing isn't can you read music, it's can you hear it. Can you hear the music, Robert?"
I never realized until I got older that memorizing class material wasn't helping me learn. I used to cram all the material, usually the night before, to do decently on the day of a test. Once I completed the exam, I would forget everything once again because I thought I had no use for that information anymore. It wasn't until maybe my last 2 years of college that I realized this process wasn't really benefiting me. I was getting through my classes, but I wasn't actually learning the coursework. I essentially memorized my way through my Associate's degree and felt like I didn't genuinely learn at the end of the day. Eventually, something clicked in my brain where I began to make the effort in understanding what I was being taught and applied the information to my daily life.
I think many of us grew up feeling like a lot of the content covered in school was useless for everyday life. I've seen online posts saying something along the lines of, "I still haven't used the Pythagorean Theorem since graduating high school," and people agreeing with those types of posts. "Another day of not using the quadratic formula in real life." I have also seen people say things like "I would've paid attention in class if they taught us about credit or real estate." While those things would've been nice to learn early on in school, besides the school funding part, the skills to attain that sort of knowledge requires a foundation of basic education which is still a widespread issue in American school systems.
The thing is, although you might not use those math formulas and equations in your daily life, the purpose of those lesson plans were to teach you how to think critically. But how is math going to help you make better decisions? The answer to that is more complicated than it should be. In short, you were supposed to learn how to problem solve, analyze a concept, and use logic and reasoning to help your cognitive development. Maybe you don't need to know that A^2 + B^2 = C^2 in your daily life, but these mathematical concepts were meant to help sharpen your mindset and, as a result, help you make informed decisions in real life scenarios.
Math isn't the only educational subject that was intended to help you sharpen your mindset. For the most part, every class you had in school was intended to do that. English, History, Physics, Biology, Music, Art, Government, etc. Each subject has its specific criteria and objectives. Unfortunately, I find that many educational institutions fail to set students up to thrive and succeed and generate curiosity for learning. Whether its the lack of support from educators, lack of resources and materials to teach, negligence from school board members, or general lack of support for students, many don't seem to fully realize their potential because of the obstacles that hinder their growth.
I think the problem with standardized education is that the priority is set on making sure students pass their exams instead of fostering an environment for learning and long-term success. I'd assume that even a passionate teacher faces the pressure of meeting deadlines set by their respective board of education. The focus on standardized state or unit exams often comes at the expense of students' deeper understanding of the material. The emphasis on memorization and obedience can lead to a situation where students are praised for their test scores rather than their ability to think critically and apply their knowledge. This can ultimately leave students without a strong foundation for further education or success in the workforce when they become adults. Even worse, it can lead to people lacking the understanding and ability to comprehend the things happening around them and around the world.
I think many of us have experienced a person in our life who changed our outlook for the best to some degree. I had an English teacher in middle school who believed that I was destined for something bigger and to this day I feel like I owe it to him for believing in me way before I believed in myself. Had I not encountered this teacher during my adolescence, I honestly have no idea what could have been of me in the present day. I would likely be a completely different person. At the same time, I feel for those students who were frowned upon and never given the chance simply because they weren't honor students or were "difficult" students. I strongly believe that every student, child and adult, has potential waiting to unfold. It just takes one or two people to believe in them and reassure that they can achieve things if they set their mind to it.
For many of us, education was not a readily available or easily attainable thing. Our upbringing may not have provided the academic support we needed at home, not because our families disagreed with education but because they didn't fully understand its importance. Students without a support system to help them with homework, read to them, or actively engage in their school life face these sort of significant challenges. It's difficult for a child to get the importance of education when their parents, who may not have had the same opportunities, struggle to see it themselves. Schooling is more than just attending classes and sitting in desks and it's also not solely meant for babysitting. The challenge, in my opinion, is in getting students eager to learn, instilling a clear understanding of the purpose behind their education, and ensuring that they have the proper resources to thrive in their academics.
My hope is that more students are given the chance to learn and develop their skills in a meaningful way while being informed of the reasons behind their education. People within my community and people of all communities. Grasping skills that help with critical thinking and problem solving could go a long way for each individual person and at a macro scale as well. Maybe higher education isn't the goal for every person, and that's fine to me, but a strong foundation of elementary and secondary education could take our society much further toward a better direction. Like with many issues, this is obviously way easier said than done.
My elementary school's daily motto encouraged learning for a brighter future, but it didn't click back then. Now I get it and I wish they'd explained the why earlier.
