A Broken Education System Essay Example

Rows of desks. Endless papers. Useless flashcards. A collection of meaningless information. This issue takes up the childhood of students around the globe. For 13 years, teachers expect students to sit, hold still, and memorize information they will likely forget by the time they graduate. Studies have shown that education is stagnating and has become inefficient and ineffective. If students of the future aren’t learning effectively, why isn’t anything done about it? To prepare kids for the future, the education system needs to be changed—and quickly. 

Clearly, the current education system is outdated. Rote learning is the most common learning style found in classrooms today. This method describes a learning approach based on memorization and repetition. While this was advantageous in the industrial age, when workers were taught how to use a machine, rote learning is no longer effective and appropriate for modern needs. Today, jobs have become more demanding educationally, and require mastery for the job to be done safely. Students only learning to pass isn’t beneficial to the students or their futures. According to Paul Boyce from Fee.org, “The… nature of tests relies on memorization, repetition, and regurgitation. They train students to know the answers. However, they don’t train them on how to find them.” (Boyce, Paul). According to neurologists Richards and Frankland, the brain disregards information that isn’t required. Since the current education system is based on memory, is this preparing students for the tools they need for adulthood?

Additionally, the current system fails to prepare students for real life. Research shows that some of the highest academic achievers are the least engaged. Many of these students have simply figured out how to “navigate the predictable demands of the system,” claims Hadi Partovi, the founder of Code.org. She continues, “We are faced with the challenge of redefining a foundational education to keep up with the evolution of skills required to solve problems… but as a society, we are… failing to adequately prepare the next generation for the future.” (Partovi, Hadi). Furthermore, improving communication and social interactions will benefit students throughout their lives. However, important skills such as appropriate response, listening, financial literacy, tolerance, and open-mindedness aren’t taught. In the workplace and society, many people simply don’t understand how to function without the constant help and direction they previously found in school. So if these classes aren’t provided and these learning opportunities aren’t provided, how can society expect students to adapt well after graduation?

While the education system of today is failing to prepare students for the future, there may be a solution. Making education learner-driven has been proven to be an effective teaching approach. Allowing students to make decisions will teach them why the information is being taught and where the knowledge will be used in the real world. (Bandelli, Andrea). Moreover, the ability to adjust to individual goals is crucial. With learner-driven education, students learn skills and tools that will equip them for their careers. (Dintersmith, Ted). Students will develop skills, not just for memorization, but to be successful people. In a New Hampshire school district, they modified the current system to fit the learner-driven approach. Senior Ryan Marquis says, “I had to switch from ‘Here’s your study guide and here’s your answer sheet’ to ‘How do you want to learn the content, and how can we support you.” Evidently, the learner-driven approach is not only beneficial but could influence the future of these students. 

Many in favor of the traditional education system argue that the current school system has worked for centuries and has educated countless students. While students do gain an education with the ages-old system, the quality of their learning could be vastly increased. (“The Current Education System Is Failing Our Students.”). According to the National Assessment of Educational Process, there have been no literary gains since the founding of the organization in 1971. Math performance has not increased in 30 years. (Lehman, Charles Fain). The way students are learning hasn’t helped them succeed for decades. Associating high scores with success has caused an achievement gap. As Weforom.org states, “Radical changes in our society mean that young people need new kinds of skills… such as emotional resilience, intercultural sensitivity, problem formulation, economic citizenship, and adaptability.” (Partovi, Hadi). Certainly, traditional education will not work for educating the future generation effectively.

Undoubtedly, students deserve a better education. The current system is outdated and fails to prepare students for their futures. With the learner-driven approach, however, the failing current system could be improved greatly. Students of the next generation would be taught the necessary skills to succeed in their lives. Unequivocally, the current education system is failing and needs to be changed.