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Shannon Evans

Corey Werner

English 101

5 October 2009

Public Education vs. Progressive Education

The different approaches for educating children and young adults can lead to some

overwhelming decisions for parents. Throughout history there has been a trial and error approach

to what works and what doesn’t in teaching future generations. Different countries and cultures

have many variations in their teaching styles. Most settle on educating their students with the

basic subjects that will increase their odds of becoming successful adults. In America, the

evolution of progressive schools has caused some controversy on what children should be

focusing on in the classroom. Public schools tend to focus on elemental skills such as reading,

math, science, and writing, whereas progressive schools take a more creative path. Although

these schools allow creative outlets for adolescents to express themselves, they do not learn the

basic skills that are needed for education to be built off of. In order for students to advance their

knowledge they must be able to relate to other students in their primary skill levels. Competition

is natural and ongoing. In order to accomplish goals, one must almost always face some sort of

rivalry. Progressive education does not prepare its students for the real world. The prospect of

having to fight for something they want will be a vague concept to them. They may have

creativity, and confidence, but they will not hold the skills that they need to excel with these

qualities.
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To explain the flaws of a progressive education, one must first have to have an

understanding of what it is. In a progressive school, students learn with a more hands on

approach. The curriculum isn’t as strict, and there are no written grades. Students are judged by

personality traits, and how hard they are trying. Examples of subjects would be, dancing, arts and

crafts, cooking, and sewing. These may seem like practical and more interesting things to learn,

in lieu of multiplication, and the revolutionary war, but there are pitfalls. This would be the

perfect education for a stay at home mother, but if these students actually plan on running for the

same jobs as other people in the 21st century, they are going to need to know the basics that only

a traditional education can give.

In Francesca Delbanco’s memoir “The Progressive Basics”, she talks about a situation

where her mom comes into her room and asks her for help with long division, her reaction

showed her insecurity with math. She thinks “I, of course, had never heard of division, much less

long division, and what followed was an ugly scene exposing my arithmetical

inadequacies”(Delbanco 3). Delbanco was eight when this happened, if she would have gone a

little longer before entering public schools she may have had a really difficult time adjusting. She

would with no doubt have to go back, and learn a lot of the stuff students her age already knew.

This could cause not only learning problems, but emotional ones as well. Feelings of inadequacy

can often cause people to become less confident, and develop more social problems. This is

proven by Francesca Delbanco’s own accounts of misbehavior, at a progressive school she

visited. Freedom of speech is one thing, but blatantly criticizing someone before one knows the

whole story is another. The children in this particular school were rude, condescending, and
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Judgmental. If these students are looking to transition into the world outside of progressive

education with ease, these characteristics certainly won’t work in their favor.

Public education systems establish rules and guidelines first, and foremost. Any form of

rebellion is not tolerated, and usually punished. This helps students realize they are there to learn,

before everything else. Socializing and creativity are always second to learning. In Malcolm X’s

“Learning to Read” he emphasizes the importance that reading has in gaining knowledge. One

could always read about the activities in progressive schools, and do them in their leisure time,

but chances are if a progressive student read about the teachings of a public school they would

have a more difficult time learning the practices on their own time. They wouldn’t have the

discipline, or skills to learn it themselves.

There is an impressive point made in Michael Moore’s “Idiot Nation.” In the passage,

Julia Walker, Executive director of the American Association of School Librarians, reasons that

“The ability to conduct research is probably the most essential skill students can have. The

knowledge student’s acquire in school is not going to serve them throughout their lifetimes. It

will be their ability to navigate information that will matter” (Moore 10). Thus further proving

the theory that the ability to learn something individually is a very important process. This

process is thoroughly reiterated throughout the years in public education. In progressive

education it is barely touched upon, or completely nonexistent. They may learn activities, and

coordination exercises easier, but when it comes to retaining and clarifying information they will

have a tougher challenge. Public school students gain practice with their many research

assignments. Progressive students will have to teach themselves this skill. Learning this skill is a
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Very important component of the transition from our adolescent education into adulthood.

Michael Moore is contradictory in what he believes would be the best form of education. He

doesn’t support America’s public education system yet, he does defend the importance of

knowing basic information. He defends progressivism when he talks about how personal

expression, and questioning authority is needed, but his main point of the passage is learning

needs to be developed through reading, writing and traditional elements (history, math, science).

Although Delbanco did have an edge over other students when she transferred to

public school, if she would have stayed in a public school through high school she would have

struggled on things like standardized tests, and other skills needed for admission to college.

Assuming that some progressive school students would like to attend very good colleges, there

may be statistics almost impossible for them to attain with their educational background.

Delbanco went to Harvard, to be admitted into Harvard it is extremely difficult. Harvard is seen

as the nation’s most prestigious Ivy League school. An average student who attends Harvard has

a 1494 out 0f 1600 on the SAT. That is only 106 points away from a perfect score. Students in

American public high schools prepare for these tests consecutively for about 6 years. Material is

scattered and can be taught anywhere from 3rd-11th grade. Students that attend progressive high

schools will not learn the critical reading, and math they would need to attain this score.

Delbanco had a smooth transition into public school because she had learned hands-on practice

developing with many different subjects. Therefore making it particularly easier for her to adapt,

pick up new skills, and learn different material. At her age this was a balanced education, but

when the time comes for standardized testing, and book reports instead of posters Progressive

high school students could be at a loss.

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The thoughts of Francesca Delbanco, Malcolm X, Julia Walker, and Michael Moore have

proved to be helpful in establishing that public education is more practical and successful in the

21st century than progressive education. Grades, guidelines, books, and research are imperative

parts of traditional learning. Progressive education encourages children to pursue their dreams,

no matter what, but how can they if they do not have the skills they need to get them there?

Some people are just not suited to sew, cook, or make things out of wood. If a child was not

suited for any of these things, and spent all of its early education at a progressive school, it may

never grasp the concepts it missed in those formative years. Students will have boundless

opportunities to be more creative later on in their lives, but structure has to be established first. A

conventional, and universal system of education, would help everyone have a fair shot in

accomplishing their goals.