Why School Matters: Education, Skills, and Society

Introduction: Education in America

Education has become a very contentious and polarizing issue throughout the United States. The subject of schooling, and the dynamic changes occurring in the industry, have resulted in antagonistic and vigorous debate. Arguments have taken many forms, ranging from teacher pay and benefits to proper student assessment. Others have questioned the American education model and proposed a more comprehensive, interconnected approach to learning. Even governments have entered the discourse, due in part to high student loan debt balances, rising tuition costs, and a perceived lack of relevance in school curricula. Each argument has both strengths and weaknesses, complicating any eventual solution to the education challenges facing society. Thankfully, according to recent research, a disproportionate number of American citizens favor increasing education spending, adopting new programs, and ultimately raising the educational standards of the country (Driver, 2018). Under this backdrop, the search for solutions looks promising.

Why School Has Become Essential

Why should school be considered such an important issue? Why has education become so paramount to economic success? A confluence of largely economic forces has coalesced to make the overall labor market far more competitive. Historically, during the industrial revolution, college and university study was often reserved for wealthier white males. Many minorities and women were excluded from colleges and universities as the country was still grappling with sexism and racism — issues that, to be fair, persist today, albeit to a lesser extent. Prior to the industrial revolution, roughly seven out of ten workers were employed in agriculture, a field that required little formal schooling. As the industrial revolution began to unfold, educational requirements remained relatively low, as most workers did not need specialized knowledge to operate machinery. Innovations such as the assembly line, railroad construction, and industrial trades did not demand a large body of specialized knowledge. As a result, a typical male would begin working at eighteen and was often the sole provider for his household. Women during this period also generally had limited formal education, as many occupied domestic roles in the home.

We can contrast these educational requirements with those of the technology revolution to understand why school has become so important. Technology has become the dominant force in economic activity today. The emergence of the internet has brought with it a wide range of economic changes. Education and the ability to learn are now readily available to all those who have internet access. This has reduced information asymmetry between countries, as nearly everyone now has access to similar information. Armed with this information and product knowledge, industries have been able to develop much more rapidly. This period has been marked by extreme innovation from all parts of the world. A rising middle class in both China and India has made the labor market more competitive. As labor markets grow more competitive, prospective candidates must be able to differentiate themselves from others (Hargreaves, 2012). This is precisely why school is so important: it provides a skill set that allows employees to distinguish themselves from peers in the labor market. That differentiation can result in higher wages, greater wealth, and an overall more productive lifestyle. When done properly, education also insulates employees from layoffs when the inevitable market downturn occurs (Guinier, 2015).

Globalization and the emergence of technology also require individuals to possess a unique and specific set of skills. Unlike the modest educational needs of the industrial revolution era, the technology age demands a highly specialized set of both hard and soft skills. On the hard-skill side, proficiency in computer science, mathematics, and engineering are critical inputs within the technological revolution. Likewise, soft skills such as curiosity, problem solving, collaboration, and leadership are highly sought after in the professional marketplace. School is important because it exposes students to these in-demand competencies that will form the foundation of economic prosperity in the future (Goldstein, 2014).

School, Society, and Racial Equity

School is important because it provides skills that enable society to grow and flourish. It is also a critical element that can help mitigate many of the negative influences present in society today. Issues of racial violence and oppression — still painfully visible in contemporary headlines — stem from many years of systemic racial inequality, but education can help fill the large racial void still prominent in society. Simply learning about other cultures can help individuals come together in solidarity to address many of these issues constructively. However, due to a serious lack of education and critical thinking, many people are relegated to retreating into social media silos, unable to understand the perspectives of others. Developing a basic foundation of learning about other people, considering different viewpoints, and making well-informed judgments based on available facts are all elements of critical thinking. School is important because it allows individuals to practice and strengthen these skills, to the benefit of not only themselves but of society as a whole. A better-educated citizenry would not completely eradicate racism, but it would go a long way toward mitigating it.

Conclusion: The Promise of Better Education

Each argument about education has both its strengths and weaknesses, complicating any eventual solution to the challenges facing American schools. However, from a historical perspective, from the lived experiences of individuals, and from the insights of seasoned educators, it is clear that school remains one of the most powerful tools available for promoting personal prosperity and social progress. A disproportionate number of American citizens already favor increasing education spending, adopting new programs, and raising the country's educational standards (Driver, 2018). Whether through STEAM curricula, improved financial literacy instruction, or a renewed commitment to critical thinking, the path forward — though not without obstacles — looks promising.

References

Driver, J. (2018). The schoolhouse gate: Public education, the Supreme Court, and the battle for the American mind. Pantheon.

Goldstein, D. (2014). The teacher wars: A history of America's most embattled profession. Doubleday.

Green, E. (2014). Building a better teacher: How teaching works (and how to teach it to everyone). W. W. Norton & Company.

Guinier, L. (2015). The tyranny of the meritocracy: Democratizing higher education in America. Beacon Press.

Hargreaves, A., & Fullan, M. (2012). Professional capital: Transforming teaching in every school. Teachers College Press.

Hinton, E. (2016). From the war on poverty to the war on crime: The making of mass incarceration in America. Harvard University Press.

Picower, B. (2021). Reading, writing, and racism: Disrupting whiteness in teacher education and in the classroom. Beacon Press.

Ravitch, D. (2016). The death and life of the great American school system: How testing and choice are undermining education. Basic Books.