Basic Education: Is it really just reading, writing and arithmetic?

I was reading the feature article in The News Tribune today "Experiments in Education."

Since it has been a long time since I was in school ... I reminisce just a little ... thinking back to the one-room school house in rural Manitoba, where I spent the first six grades, sharing the same space and teacher with about 20 others, all in various grades, various subjects and various capabilities.

It seemed like a fun time, a mixture of study, tests, interaction, Christmas concerts, and field days ... and, yes, I did have to walk almost 2 miles to school in the dead of winter..often 30 below zero...even remember a timber wolf in the nearby field keeping an eye on us. Heat was provided by a wood stove in the center of the room. If it was worse than this, a neighbor would take a number of us on a horse drawn sled. Summers were more fun, we could ride our bikes!

I then remember, with great anxity and excitement, when we were going to get to ride the bus to "town school" for grades seventh through 12th ... no more walking..and, we got to be in our very own classroom with our peers, with our very own teacher ... often a different one for a different subject! What I remember the most was a couple of science/math teachers taking notice of me..and encouraging me to go to college. (No such luck with the PT teacher, or the music teacher!) We certainly had no computers..we actually had to write our essays and exams..if we needed to learn a little more, there was always the library or the giant encyclopedia.

As I recall, black and white TVs were all the rage..and the most exciting news story we heard was the assassination of President Kennedy. And, of course, we watched the unfolding of the US space program..ahh, to go to moon!Growing up on a farm, I learned about chores and responsibilities, the devasting effects of the weather, the fragile life of a piglet or new born calf, the satisfaction of first prize at the local fair.I suppose this was "basic education."

I am not sure what it is here that the state government is supposed to provide, for what there never seems to be enough money, or schools or books, or `qualified' teachers.We hear of the `no child left behind' , disadvantaged kids, disadvantaged schools, class sizes, WASLs, it's the schools, it's the parents, it's the government, no pledge, no prayer, no results. Tuition at public schools soaring, kids with a near 4.0 not being able to get in, no jobs when they get out. On-line universities, several hundred students in a college class, special ed..no ed? Can't teach this, no money for that! Old computers, or a new Mac, no cell phones in class, every one cheats, (so they say) ... My o' my!

I really like some of the things discussed in the article..interaction, actually building something, working outside, a sense of commitment and collective responsibility, being supported, change... I found the report card interesting..especially the categories...didn't mention reading, writing and arithmetic directly..but considered some important items..shared focus, family and community partnerships, safe and orderly environment..So, what is basic education..caring and sharing is more important than having and holding, wisdom is more important than knowledge, difference between right and wrong, it's not about me, family.

The article describes this $4 billion dollar federal government experiment to raise acedemic performance..but I am not sure we know the definition of performance..so the experiment may be doomed...another effort to leave no child behind..There are many school district issues locally. There are several school board candidiates up for election..take the time to understand their formulae for success..then be involved..after all, our future is in the hands of our kids!