Public Schools - goals and performance

Why were public schools created in the United States?

They established schools to teach not just the essentials-reading, writing and math- but also to reinforce their core values. After the American Revolution, Thomas Jefferson argued that the newly independent nation needed an educational system, and he suggested that tax dollars be used to fund it.

What are the goals of Public Schools - Preparing people for democratic citizenship was a major reason for the creation of public schools. The Founding Fathers maintained that the success of the fragile American democracy would depend on the competency of its citizens.

Prior to the first and second Industrial Revolutions, in the 1600s and 1700s, educational opportunity varied widely depending on region, race, gender, and social class. That was true not only in USA, but almost everywhere in the world. Funding was a critical issue and in order to reach out to every person, every family, every child, it was required that it is funded by tax dollars and made mandatory. 

Many amongst us may be of the opinion that nothing, not even education, should be made mandatory.  It seems logical from the basic fact that none amongst us, or at least the vast majority of us, want to be dictated or told what to do. None want a king or a queen to make laws for us. We want to make decisions and rules and laws for ourselves. To do all this effectively, in a vast country of millions and to make administration easier, we chose democracy as our way forward. We could take a vote for every rule of every subject by each and every one or elect officials who we put our trust in and work towards the same goals.

In either case, we need to be in the know of things, we need to be literate, we need to understand. If not, we could be taken for a ride by the select knowledgeable or by the elected people. 

Schooling, for the above reasons was made mandatory. Every child had to go to school to learn the basics till he or she becomes an adult. Once they become adults with this background, they can decide how to make a living - by specialized studies, learning trades, chose professions and careers etc. They are now well prepared to make these choices, selections. The school per se does not prepare for any of these. It only prepares you to make the selections, the choices knowledgeably, more intelligently. 

Why should we use tax dollars to fund public schools? Let us look at the alternatives. As a first choice, it could be a private organization or a philanthropist or an industrialist. These could be supporting sources but its consistency cannot be guaranteed.  Schooling is a continued and ongoing process which needs to be funded by a very rugged source.  Since it is a benefit and necessity for all he funds  should, best, come from all, in general. To keep the funding logical and equitable,, rather than equal. The wealthier and more fortunate amongst us contribute more. Every mature and civil society will see nothing as better.

However, nowadays, there is a question of evaluating the "performance" of schools to justify the funding. After all, it is the tax-payers' money and the tax-payer is demanding this. Typically the people who have to pay-in more are demanding this. That is very logical. Once again, they are the wealthier and more fortunate amongst us. Very logical, indeed.

To address this, we have to define "performance"

Initially in the 1800s, the minimum requirement to be a teacher was a 2 year course after High School. By the 1900s the requirement changed to a 4-year degree after completion of High School 

By the mid-1800s, most states had accepted three basic assumptions governing public education: that schools should be free and supported by taxes, that teachers should be trained, and that children should be required to attend school. 

As of now, in Pennsylvania, Individuals pursuing Pennsylvania teacher licensing must complete an approved teacher education program and a minimum of a bachelor’s degree, which should include a recommendation from the institution attended for a teaching certificate. 

While we are steadily,, albeit probably too slowly for some of us, improving the quality of the teachers, the goal and objective has and should remain the same. The objective is not to produce physicists or chemists or doctors or lawyers. It is to educate the next generation about how to live, how to learn and how to interact in society. The rules that bind us, the norms that define civil relationships. The goal has always been and should always continue to be the same - Prepare people for democratic Citizenship.

Yes, we have come a long way in improving the content also.  In addition to teaching, we now teach, arts, history, mathematics, physics, chemistry, social studies etc. We have steadily improved in terms of content. What we should not forget is the primary goal  and objectives, the purpose and meaning of Public schooling.

There are several bodies who have defined performance and and established metrics to measure performance.; however, with the fear of repeating myself, we should never forget the core objectives of purpose and meaning of public education.

The purpose -

The purpose of public education is to provide a free education to all children in the country. It is focused on the ideas of core content knowledge, citizenship, and the skills necessary for young people to be successful once they become adults.

The meaning -

The meaning of public education is an equal education provided to all children free of cost. This education is provided regardless of race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, or any other distinguishing feature.

NOTES 

Coming back toe question of "performance" - The 

Is one of them to "perform" in terms of Test Metrics?

How can "Performance" be defined for public Schools?

What is the purpose of public education?

What is the meaning of public education?