Welcome to the Future

In the final installment of the Story of School series, we looked at what has happened in schools since the 1980s. Throughout the episode we saw that while we may have made certain advancements, we are in no way living with a prefect system. Since the beginning of the American education system we've seen m any things that have improved schools and learning in general. This includes things such as movement throughout the school during the day, professionalization of teachers and teacher certification requirements, teacher empoowerment, accountability for students, magnet schools with specialized learning focuses, charter schools and other alternative education options. These things have brought us forward in our profession and have advanced education for our students. In the same vein, we have also institudted many ordinances, practices, and laws that have impeded our progress. In brief, these include busing, tracking, segregation, and so many more. What we, as educators, must remember is that we must think of what is best for our students in the longrun. What will help our students just as much today as it will 10, 50, or 100 years down the road? Can we think that far ahead? What should we do to make our schools the best that they can be?