Tuesday, June 2, 2009

What if Public School Was Public Like the Library is Public?

The Fort Worth public library system is a really great resource for our family. The Summer Reading Program is especially cool. There are free programs with science, live animals, puppets, clowns, etc. all summer. The kids win prizes based on how much they read. Our kids strive every summer for the circus tickets. Like I said a great resource.

Now what if public school was public like the library is public? What if the public schools were free and anyone could sign up to participate in what ever programs suited their fancy? What if it wasn't compulsory? What if out-of-district people could take classes for a nominal fee? Schools could still get paid on a kids in class basis like they do now. What if the day was broken up into different segments (reading, math, etc) and your kids could go to what ever classes you signed them up for? What if your kid didn't have to be in all level one but could be in some level one and some level two based on their ability? What if grown-ups that wanted to brush up on algebra or biology could take the high school level class for a small fee? Just wondering.

4 comments:

OneMom said...

Now Frances, there you go, thinking outside of the box and coming up with a really good and practical idea. That kind of thinking could throw the Dept of Ed and the entire government into chaos.

;)

Frances Clements said...

Thanks, OneMom. I could stand with a little throwing the DOE and the government into chaos.

Karen said...

Where did you get that idea? I think it is totally cool! I think it would be putting educational interests of children in front of all the other agendas in schools today. Children could have a more individualized curriculum, and perhaps educational offerings could expand as well.

Frances Clements said...

Karen,
I don't know where I got the idea. I doubt that it is completely original. I think that it would be a good step forward though I think we would be all together better if the government got out of the schools all together.