Wait, what were you expecting, Pink Ponies on Ice?

You’ve probably heard the stories on the newspaper. You’ve probably laughed about them around the lunch table. Most likely, you have your own little twist the story.

The American Education System. Sounds regal, right?

I am going to sound extremely biased. Bare with me, but I am going to use several comparisons.

You’ve probably had a project in school. In which, you get in a group and work together.

 Question: Where is the emphasis placed?

Let’s say Group A had a gorgeous looking poster that cost you $25 to make, with just enough information, chances are you are getting a 100 plus bonus points.

Let’s also say that Group B had a very information poster that was not decorated and cost no money. It was minimal but contained lots of research. You might get just a 100, maximum.

Most teachers consider this “going above and beyond.” But how far are you going? Spending more money? Is that really “going above and beyond?”

My father, who is a product of Indian education, said he never spent a single cent for school, with the exception of textbooks which he earned money to buy.

So is money the real factor when it comes to grades? Isn’t that…well…wrong?

Posters are ridiculous, especially in grade school. Why can’t we stick to the simple reports and essays?

 ”No, Susan! That’s not showing ‘creativity’! We need our children today to be well rounded and have good creativity!”

In any case, look at our children today. Are they creative? Since when did posters and powerpoints define creativity? Since when did crayon coloring become the turning point of all things “artsy”?

No, reader! Creativity is not confined in posters! And look at kids from other countries: They never had all these posters and creative junk!  And yet, they are still besting us.

Teaches continue to stray off to other irrelevant things, not sticking with the cold hard curriculum. We place our priorities with sports and band, and not with Math and Science. Why are we complaining about United States’ children declining academically when we ourselves are setting our priorities straight?