January 24th, 2025

Dear Readers,

A sentiment I often hear from my fellow Americans is a lack of concern about education.

Either they are not concerned because they are no longer part of the system, perhaps their children are no longer part of it, or because they are generally doom and gloom. Nothing matters anyway, so why care about the education system?

This idea of “not caring” is particularly exaggerated by the younger generations. At the same time, there has been a slight uptick in political awareness among Generation Z. Yet, most of them still haven’t the slightest idea of some of the major problems plaguing society and, subsequently, our nation.

So, for that very reason, I find it necessary to state the case for why you should care about the state of education in America.

Firstly, all of the students who go through an education system will one day grow up and be active members of society. Do you want everyone you interact with on a daily basis to be simple-minded, dull, inarticulate, emotionally unstable, slow, uninterested, or otherwise foolish?

I would assume not.

This is a result of the education system they grew up in.

Now, not all public schools are created equal, and neither are all of the students who attend them. For instance, A young man who went to public school in Massachusetts and lived with both of his parents will be much different than a young man who grew up in the Mississippi public school system and who only lived with his mother, who had to work two jobs to support them—all this to say, many factors play in a public education, least of these being the students family (or lack thereof).

There are factors that we can adjust to give these students better schooling. Curriculum.

Length of school day.

Length of School year.

More (better) school options.

Accountability (this is the big one).

At this rate, our system is set to produce a majority of zombies who can’t even add 2+2 (it’s 4).

Finally, it is our job to look out for younger generations. Just because we had a crumby time doesn’t mean they should also.

I’m not suggesting everyone should now become a public school teacher; what I am suggesting is that you, yourself, be educated on the matter of education.

What are students learning?

What are they not learning?

How are they expected to act in school?

Are they held accountable?

You might be surprised when you find out the answers.