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[ view Scott's site here ]
 Our nation’s schools are in trouble. I’m sure that isn’t news to anyone who’s reading this. I’m a product of the public school system and, while the system wasn’t perfect back then, it served me and my family well. In the decades since my graduation, however, things have steadily become much worse. The problems are now so deeply ingrained, the outcomes are now so appalling, and the costs so astronomical that we, as a society, can no longer afford to accept the status quo. I’m fortunate to be able to send my three children to private schools, but I understand this isn’t an option for many families. The public education system in our country is failing us and we need to take action. This is precisely what motivated me to write my book, Outrageous Learning: An Education Manifesto, which was recently published by the Washington Policy Center.
Immediately after publishing the book earlier this year, I began receiving invitations from community groups asking me to speak to their membership and now, several months later, those appearances are becoming more frequent. When I share my ideas at these events, my short-term objective is to shine a spotlight on the problems facing our public schools and engage the audience in discussion about solutions. I want everyone to be as outraged as I am.
I’ve tried my best to make sense of our existing system, but much of it defies explanation and logic. For example, why do our graduation rates continue to be extremely low when we’re spending more money per student than ever before? Why do we have 295 different school districts in Washington State – each with their own bureaucracies and some serving fewer than 10 students? If our school districts are in the business of education, why do they employ more non-teachers than teachers? And why do principals control less than 5% of the budgets for their schools? These are among the questions I’m urging people to consider. When we pause to reflect on how much our system has deteriorated, rational people will understand that we need comprehensive, systemic reforms. And I believe those reforms are possible.
As I mentioned earlier, my short-term goal is to ignite discussion in smaller forums and I’ve met many intelligent, passionate people who are willing to step up and think creatively about solutions during these forums, which leads me to my long-term goal. I’m hoping to elevate the issue on the public agenda and make sure it remains there after I walk away from the podium. I often refer to my dream of the Million Mom March and how such a groundswell would compel our elected officials and other community leaders to act. Imagine it. It obviously won’t happen overnight, but I believe it is possible.
In my opinion, the consequences of doing nothing are dire. I wholeheartedly believe that the future of our country is entirely dependent upon the quality of our public education. If our children aren’t adequately educated, our businesses will no longer have access to the skilled workforce they need to remain competitive and ultimately our democracy will be compromised if the electorate isn’t able to choose qualified leaders. There are many other countries that are much better at educating their citizens than we are and, if we don’t make sweeping changes very soon, there is a good chance we’ll be surpassed by any number of them. I believe the problem is serious, the danger is imminent, and that fundamental reform of our public education system is necessary.
I want Outrageous Learning to become a useful tool in the movement to reform our public education system. The journey will be a long and challenging one, but I’m confident we can navigate the terrain together. The choice is yours. We hope you’ll speak up and join us.
Check back for "Part II: Solutions" next week.
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