Intro to a new series: "50 Myths and Lies"

Intro to a new series: "50 Myths and Lies"!

7/28/2020

“What is the cost of lies? It’s not that we mistake them for the truth. The real danger is that if we hear enough lies, then we no longer recognize the truth at all.” -- Valery Legasov

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Overview: Hello and welcome back to the blog! In this post, I will be introducing a new series that will reveal several truths on America's education system.

One of the main reasons I created this blog was to share what I know and what I have learned with all of you. I believe everyone should be educated on what’s best for children, teens, adults, or any age of student because today’s students are tomorrow’s leaders. If we don’t educate today correctly, what will tomorrow look like?

So, I think it’s important to tell you the truth -- one that I’ve only learned by taking classes on the subject.

That’s why this week, I’m creating a new series focused on revealing hidden truths about America’s education system.

What Will Content Look Like?

Each time I post under this series, I will break down one myth or lie exposed in the book “50 Myths and Lies that Threaten America’s Public Schools,” one of my required course materials last year.

To read more about this book, click the image below.

Why did you create this series?

Along with wishing to educate you on important topics regarding education, I think it’s important that you and the public know the truth about America’s education system.

America has been and sometimes is still referred to as one of the most successful countries in the world. People who come to America see it as the “land of opportunity” or the “land of the free.” However, under this mask of mythical success lies an outdated, poorly run education system.

Our education system has one purpose: to pump out successful, elite students. The rest don’t matter (according to the system).

Now I’m not blaming the teachers, administrators, or any school employees. I blame the people at the top who refuse to change the educational “constitution,” if you will.

American executives and policy makers, in general, are very uncomfortable with change. Today’s education system still runs on the same ideals as it did in the 1950s. For example, teachers are still paid the same low wage they were decades ago when teaching was seen as a “starting, single woman” position before they got married. More importantly, America’s schools still believe that all children learn the same and should all be expected to achieve “normal” standards.

Unlike many other countries, teachers here are undervalued, underpaid, and underrepresented. Students are expected to take standardized tests and achieve a certain score, despite cultural and language differences. America puts competition first, not students’ and teachers’ hearts and minds.

In short, our education system is messed up. Big time.

So, let’s talk about it!

Leave me a comment!

If you like this post, have any questions, or have ideas on how I can improve my blog, leave me a comment below! Your input is always appreciated. As always, thank you for your support!

Sources/Additional Resources

Click on the links below to explore the sources mentioned in this post!

"50 Myths and Lies that Threaten America's Public Schools"

Take Action. Start the Conversation. Be the Change.

2 Comments

Paul Hesterman

7/28/2020 02:32:33 pm

I would argue that, in the name of reform, the U.S. system has become more focused on defining content standards that are the same for all and testing to identify students who meet and don’t meet minimum standards. Then schools are evaluated on whether enough of their students meet the standards without regard for differences in students’ special needs, language and cultural background or economic circumstances. Schools are then penalized and labeled as failing.

Inevitably this drives schools to teach to tests and narrow their curriculum rather than focus on student needs to a greater extent than decades ago.

Meghan Hesterman

7/28/2020 03:20:46 pm

This is completely correct. I hope to explore this deeper in later posts, but thank you for bringing that up!

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