Do we need public schools?

Yes.

Public schools are in place to serve the needs of the public. With time, these needs have undoubtedly changed, but they certainly still exist. Education is a powerful tool, and with it, we can shape future generations of citizens into participants of our government.

What we do not need, however, is a system of public education that caters to politicians and those in power. Sadly, this is exactly what has become of our public school system today. Rather than focusing on what is important – that students become well-rounded, independent thinkers who can make informed, intelligent decisions and actively participate in and contribute to society – the focus of public schools has become meeting a quota or achieving a bare minimum. Rather than expecting students to think courageously or creatively, we expect them to memorize and not question. Rather than making the schools’ priority to give students a good education, the priority has become to pass standardized tests, and the concept of truly understanding does not seem to fit within a curriculum that leaves no child behind.

Yes, we need public schools. Every child deserves equal access to an equal education, but public schools also need us. They need us to make changes and ensure that everyone truly is exposed to the same information and opportunities. The future of public school students, of our future law makers, voters, politicians, and citizens, depends on the education they receive there. When we let their education become marred by politics and bureaucracy, we fail to give them what our country deserves in its people.