Synthesis Two

In the future, the role of schooling will essentially be the same, yet it will be adapted to better suit the changing times. I foresee three major changes which will change the role of schooling. It will have an effect on the daily life of students. The three most important changes will be preparation in the use of technologies, more career oriented education, and more of a focus on math and the sciences to become more competitive in a global economy.

Technology, whether we like it or not, plays much greater role in the world than it did just five years ago. The world around all of us is changing and we must adapt. Changes will begin by investing in our future. This means that students even at the elementary level will be introduced and instructed in the use and theory behind new age technologies. This way, students will know how to use it and understand its role and importance from a global perspective. There will be experts or teams of professionals available in every school building to focus on keeping teachers up to date on the newest technologies to use in their classes. They will also be there to make sure that it is used correctly, safely, and responsibly.

Many students leave the public school system and find themselves lost. They have no idea what they want to do for a career. I see the number of students with this problem shrinking by the year 2025. I believe that students will receive instruction and skills which will be put to more of a use in actual practical situations. Students will work on projects where they will do more than simply turn in a paper or create a poster board. Students will be challenged to make differences in their communities. There are programs, though relatively uncommon at this point, that have students develop skills while they learn. For example, students will embark on an excursion to a river and will work with national park officials to measure water toxicity levels and report back to their teachers. In doing so, they learn and apply in a real life setting. This can be used in a number of different ways. In history class, an entire grade of history students could work with a local history department in their community to research different topics in the history of their community. They could conduct oral interviews of people who lived during a different time period. They could compile this research along with the history center of their community and once again learn and apply.

In 2011, “President Barack Obama announced a $250 million public-private

initiative designed to improve national math and science education. Specifically,

 the money will be used to promote five new partnerships intended to help train over

10,000 new math and science teachers over the next five years. It will also be used to

support the professional development of more than 100,000 current math, science,

technology and engineering teachers” (cnn.com). This is a very important program. It

effects students, parents and teachers.

This system shows the direction our country is headed in the future. In order to compete against other rising nations, the U.S. is going to shift to a focus on math and science. Funding for history and English is going to drop. The U.S. is investing in students to create and innovate in the future. There is not enough money to be made through reading great books and investigating the past. This program is hopeful but also troubling. As a student of history, we have seen repeatedly the population’s unique ability to forget about the past and look past obvious signs of trouble. I think to be able to think historically is a very important tool which should not be ignored. To be able to view a document with a grain of salt is at its most basic principle an extremely important skill to have. I think math and science will help the U.S. to stay on top as a world power. That is obviously one of the goals of the government, though we should not ignore what has happened in the past. History, literature, and the arts are perhaps some of our most valuable natural resource which we should investigate and protect with steadfast determination. There is no doubt in my mind that there will be others like me who are “backwards” and look towards the past instead of only to the very near future in order to make a few bucks. History, the arts, English and physical education will be programs that will have to be funded by the private sector in the year 2025 if we keep down the same path.
There will also be new and unique ways for teachers to engage all students. Teachers will be able to communicate with students through online interactions. Students who are particularly shy will have a venue for them to communicate with their teachers. The entire process will make it much easier for students to express their feelings and ideas. Teachers will also have a great way to give feedback on things that they may have missed during the day at school. Online interactions will extend the school day. Things that teachers may have missed, be it a homework assignment they forgot to hand out or a message they forgot to relay will be something of the past. They will be able to communicate quickly to all students what they may have missed or to more clearly explain something to help students understand what is expected.
Teachers will be able to engage students who have trouble with the English language in a more effective matter. Students could take notes or assignments from the day and find them on the computer when they get home. They can slow down the reading process or even find help online translating a few words or concepts that they may have missed. This will greatly help students who are slowed down by the language barrier. I know as a student studying Spanish in college, I had trouble keeping up in class at times. If I would miss the subject of the sentence or direction simply because I could not understand one word, I would have to look it up in a book. A much quicker internet search can help these students greatly and will lower the achievement gap.
Technologies will help students better understand history. When students all read the same textbook, they will create the same dull projects based on dry readings. The days of taking turns reading through the chapter in class are over. Students will be able to explore information in their own unique way and will be able to create by looking at many different stories from the past. Due to the immense amount of information which will be available at the push of a button, students can truly explore history. This is quite exciting. They can now hear, see and feel history in ways never though possible. Students will be able to make a more personal connection to the subject and it can only help the learning process by fortifying history with things you can see and touch. Exciting times are in store for history class in the year 2025!