How do you change a broken system?
Nothing in the world is purely black and white. Life continually requires us to negotiate nuance, quell disagreement, and find compromise. But there are some issues about which we cannot afford to express anything less than our true beliefs. When the stakes are high, we must draw a clear contrast between what is right, and what is not.
We put our heads together with New Roads School to create (UN)COMMON SENSE: a publication with a point of view. New Roads believes in disrupting inequitable systems and this issue underscores the shortcomings of America’s education system while looking optimistically toward inclusive advancement. We’re thrilled to share some highlights from Issue 1, “Because We Have Always Done It This Way.”
Education is a system. Historically, that system relied on the factory model: top-down management, outcomes designed to meet societal needs, and efficiency at any cost. These days, many schools are reverse-engineered to spit out students ready-made for college. AP exams, standardized testing, and grade inflation contribute to a system focused more on efficiency than student potential. So what is our collective response? Too often, it is to maintain broken methods because trying something new is scary. We can’t change the system overnight: reshaping education will take generations. But that doesn’t mean we should sit idle.
The founding documents of our country burst with inspiration. Messages of equity, self-determination, and the right to a good life still ring true. The opening statement of the Declaration asserts that when a system is broken, those within the system should challenge it. So what does that mean for education? We must democratize opportunity, ensuring that all have seats at the table. We must create a habitat where student-driven learning cultivates inquiring minds. We must challenge our assumptions and break bad habits. We must do the hard work of identifying our values, and the even harder work of living up to them.
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