Never Let a Crisis Go to Waste
By Charles Weis, Ph. D.
From “Spotlight on Schools” August 2009
In the past year, California has slogged through a budgeting fiasco that has
been both frustrating and painful. It’s no exaggeration to say the state has
been in a crisis.
Well, to borrow a phrase that is popular in Washington these days: Never
allow a crisis to go to waste.
That is a piece of advice especially worth considering in public education.
Schools can no longer afford to operate as they have for over a century. The
crisis on everyone’s mind today is a crisis of financing. But the crisis of
tomorrow is that of a staggering achievement gap and unacceptable drop-out rate.
The educational system we have now may work adequately for most students. But
that majority will soon be a minority. And a population that California’s
schools are not serving well—Hispanics—is on the verge of becoming a
majority.
Unless we make some fundamental changes soon, we are awaiting sure disaster.
This state cannot afford--socially, politically, economically, morally—to have
most of its residents undereducated and unqualified for life in the 21st
century global economy.
Let’s make the best of a bad situation. Let’s use this financial crisis as a
reason to rethink how we spend our education dollars. This is a perfect time to
ask some fundamental questions about education. For example:
- Is the concept of 30 or 40 students per teacher the only way to organize a
classroom? Or even the best way?
- Must students take six classes per day in high school? And must all
students come to school every day at the same time? Perhaps the periods of the
instructional day could be staggered for greater efficiency.
- Must disciplines be taught separately? Maybe we should look at redesigning
courses that better mirror how the outside world works. For example, math
could be taught with science. Reading could be taught with history/social
studies. This would not only require fewer separate courses; it also would
help students understand how subjects are integrated in everyday life.
- What role should project-based learning and community service play in
school? These courses might be used to reduce class sizes in high school, as
juniors and seniors work and contribute to the community.
- How can we best use electronics in teaching? Can the internet augment—or
even substitute for--expensive textbooks?
- Can community members, serving as volunteers, bring their special skills
and knowledge to students?
I believe these, and many other questions, bear study. The last thing we need
is business as usual—not in state government, and not in education. From
Sacramento to the local school district, we should reconsider everything.
If we do that, this crisis will not be wasted.
Date last updated: August 6, 2009
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