Our children are our future. Education is at the heart at developing their skills and abilities and yet year after year we hear about the degrading state of our educational system. Our nation has spent trillions of dollars on failed programs that research and experts had promised would work. Achievement gaps persist, performance declines are accelerating and so it is of paramount importance that we explore novel ideas and solutions. You might not agree with many or any of the ideas below, and we certainly are not endorsing policies – our hope is just to create a space where bright, dedicated folks from the community can share their ideas – so that we can all come together and better understand each others experiences, concerns and how we might move forward together to build a brighter future.

Ashley Peterson

I thought this was such a fitting question in the discussion panel since we have the opportunity to host a college for a field trip. I don’t know if I would necessarily change the education system but I think as people grow and change at different points in their life I would add to it. I appreciate the many educational institutes that have already opened up online learning possibilities. It made it much easier for me to return to classwork when I could take courses at my own pace from my home after all my prior responsibilities. An example of that is when I enrolled with the accredited QC Design School to pursue Interior Decorating. Read more>>

Jayla Ray

The one thing I would change about the education system is the conversation around the journey to success directly related to education, especially higher education, and the aftermath of what to expect from the “real world” they are preparing you for. During my final year of high school, the conversation around attending college felt as though you had no other choice but to go. If you didn’t attend, you’d amount to nothing. If you did, but somewhere along the way mistakes were made, college professors or the university itself would take opportunities away, which leads to you amounting to nothing as well. Read more>>

Mal B

I feel like the education system often focuses so much on things like test scores and achievement statistics that the real learning often gets neglected. Many times students are told that these test scores and grades are what determines their entire future which cause a lot of stress and anxiety. Students are under the pressure to get certain scores and grades to get into certain colleges and universities often times without even knowing what they want to do as a career. I believe that the education system fails students when they do not teach them about or endorse options such as community college, trade school, or gap years. The education system fails students when they push that the only way to succeed is to have a 4 year degree. Read more>>

Henrietta Hadley

I would recommend schools create a curriculum that includes life skills & career exploration options along with academics. Students need coping skills and mental health wellness programs while learning to navigate their emotions and self awareness!! Our school systems are required to assist in our students lives way than before due to the lack of family support at home or in the community. Read more>>

Lindsey Aston

The education system, in my opinion, has so many gaps that need to be filled. Especially once students reach high school age, I believe more practical & basic life skills need to be taught. How to write a check, how to budget, how to balance a check book, staples in grocery shopping, and other basic survival necessities. It sounds funny but even something as simple as how to properly clean your home, basic car maintenance or even how to create an amazing resume needs to be taught. Read more>>

Rebecca Carthens

Currently I work in Cumberland County Schools as a school social worker. I have been a school social worker for about 3 years now. The school that I work at is a Title 1 school in which poverty is very high in the area. The area is predominantly African American. Everyday I see students who struggle with different issues such as homelessness, hunger, and even financial problems. As a social worker, I have to help these families/students face the barriers so they can come to school to focus so they can receive their education. Read more>>

Sean Ringer

The first thing I would change is implementing more vocational trade resources. They use to be a big thing back then now they’re nonexistent. I went to Jones Technical Institute to acquire my associates degree and while in high school the only class I can think of that was a trade was wood shop. There’s more than wood shop and mechanics though such as plumbers and electricians are just as essential. I believe the education system is failing students in this aspect because college isn’t for everyone and working a trade is an honest living Read more>>

Jeffrey Hunter

When I was 17, my mother and I had our “talk” about lucrative majors and going to college. It was my first consequential adult choice towards a career (the second was agreeing to pay for tuition). I ended up attending the University of Kansas for my first semester, intending to graduate as a Biology Major, even though my heart was with writing and the arts, because, as a recent acquaintance of mine said: “we treat university like a job creation machine.” The education system had me on a conveyor belt, following the program, to suddenly acting fully autonomous. No brakes in between. Read more>>