Education Reform: A Cultural Issue

As a political science major I often find myself in the middle of the contentious debate on education reform in the United States. As it currently stands, the United States ranks below over 15 other nations in education system performance. Congressional reform of the education system via legislation has been the center of the political stage for the past three years. An intriguing video produced by RSA Animate, however, presented a modern and unique stance on the growing issue of education reform which shifted the talk from a politically based one to a culturally based one in an attempt to reform the debate and ultimately produce change.

In their video, RSA explained that the issue of reforming education systems revolves around two pivotal points; the economy and the cultural climate. They explain that first, any reform produced need be economically plausible in the United States' currently troubled economy. And secondly, possible reform must create a system which would convey a clear sense of cultural identity for students in an ever changing society. It is discussed that all nations are experiencing the push for globalization, and it is now more important than ever to pass on cultural genes in the effort to maintain tradition and a reverence for the past.

The flaws of the current system can be most easily understood through the analysis the system's foundation. The video explains that the education system used today was created in the era which embodied the, "intellectual culture of enlightenment". The education system originally developed focused most intently on deductive reasoning and a knowledge of the classics. In the quest for education reform it is imperative that we analyze the changes which have taken place in our culture. Through the evaluation of cultural change we may develop of system of learning that is conducive to both economic success and cultural cohesion. It is through such success and cohesion that change may be see, and a broken system reformed.