Literacy History

 School Choice BACKGROUND ON EDUCATION REFORM Historically, our country has been critical of the school system and student performance. In the 1970s, test performance was poor and a presidential commission assessed public schools. In Part IV of School: The Story of the American Public Education , we learn that by the 1980s, a majority of the population was enrolled in schools. But, politicians claimed there was a “learning crisis” and urged competition between schools (page 184). The report, A Nation at Risk , gave data supporting the claim that test scores were too low. This report said that education reform is needed for economic security. Educators and teachers argued against these reports. Consequently, schools ended up having longer days, additional homework, and traditional courses.  WHAT DOES SCHOOL CHOICE MEAN? The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines school choice as a “policy in which students are given the choice to attend a school other than their district’s public school.”

INTRODUCTION              The book, School: The Story of American Public Education, explains the various changes the education system in America has undergone. In Part III, Separate and Unequal, the author discussed separations in the education system from 1950 to 1980. A major separation that affected the country was segregation. For example, the U.S. Supreme Court stated that segregation was constitutional and the facilities are equal. However, this was proven to be false by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). These separate schools and facilities were not equal and colored schools often had no funds. Without funds, they did not have access to proper education and supplies.  SEPARATE AND EQUAL: SHOULD THIS BE AN OPTION TODAY? I argue that separate but equal is not a viable option in today’s society. Without diversity and being exposed to students from multiple social, racial, and economic backgrounds, we would lose the opportunity to learn about ot