Essentials of a Good Education

In her essay, “The Essentials of a Good Education,” education activist Diane Ravitch argues that the overemphasis on testing for basic skills has led to public schools neglect of important life and social skills when parents want and need. Ravitch wants parents and policymakers to shift public education away from testing to a full liberal arts curriculum.

Ravitch argues that our education reform programs like, “No Child Left Behind Act,” led to cuts in important parts of the curriculum. This program tied school funding to standardized test scores in Math and Reading, and as a result schools put their resources into testing and test prep and due to the fact that there are so many hours in the day this meant that something had to go. When cutbacks were necessary, it was on the non tested subjects such as arts and athletics. When teachers were laid off they were usually those that did not teach in the tested subjects.

To get at what a good education is, Ravitch argues a first place to start is to look at what the most involved parents demand of their children's schools. Arguing that affluent parents and in general the most demanding of parents in this regard, Ravitch asks the reader to consider the kinds of questions they pose their children's schools. Such questions should be, “How small are classes? What educational experiences will my child have? Will my child have a good curriculum?” She then mentions how educated affluent parents would not accept their children going to a school that focuses only on state testing and basic skills. Ravitch further asserts demanding parents to pose these questions to school officials to set what is truly necessary to make a strong curriculum. Policy makers often fail to recognize that each and every individual student is unique from his or her peers and need a variety of subjects in school in order to be ready to move on further in life.

Next, Ravitch argues that beyond patents, that's public schools need to teach children that skills they will need in the future to be responsible citizens, prosperous workers, and both innovative and independent thinkers. She believes a citizen of a democratic society must be able to read correctly, evaluate competing claims, weigh evidence, and come to a thoughtful judgment. To come to a thoughtful judgment about political affairs, Ravitch claims citizens need a solid grounding in history, economics, and science, for example.