Chapter 6: The 3 Eras of Education

Chapter 6 of the book talks about the different eras of education.  The reason schools are the way they are today is because immigrants from various countries were entering the country at an alarming rate during the Industrial Revolution.  Before this rise in immigration, the majority of the education was done by apprenticeships. Children would learn the family trade from their parents.  They would learn how to read and write basically to succeed in their family business.  Women would learn how to cook and clean, if they were farmers they would learn specific farming tasks.  If I was born back then I would have hated having to clean and take care of the house for the rest of my life.  If students did go to school, it would be for 1-2 years in order to read and write. 

The reason this system changed is because immigrants were arriving and were unable to apprentice to find work.  These people who were new to the country needed to be educated to find a job and survive in the new country.  Schools popped up to educate children on reading and writing.  Eventually states mandated all children to attend schools taking the responsibility off parents and placing responsibility on the state government. 

Today we are on the front of a new wave of education. The responsibly is taken off the states and returning to the parents and students.  For the first time in centuries students are able to learn the information they feel is necessary for success.  Virtual schools are the a huge tool for allowing students to pick their education. While virtual schools are paving the way for lifelong learning I feel it may hinder students.  When students attend schools they are socially interactive through out the entire day.  They learn how to work through problems and deal with other students.  Students attending schools also have instant feedback from teachers.  Students are also monitored by the teachers for different learning problems and other disorders.  I would be worried if a student was in a virtual school and struggling because the teacher was unable to find a learning disorder. 

I feel that I am more of an advocate for technology in schools rather than virtual schools mostly because I feel that I wouldn't do well in a virtual school.  However for certain students, this type of education is the best method for them.  I feel that students should find what ever works as an individual.  This may be using technology in the classroom, or attending an online school.