Alternative Education Methods

I read this from Fred Reed, promised myself I would blog on it and promptly forgot it until Vox Day reminded me with his column.

Fred found out that Kaplan is preparing High School Students for college using comic books. He's upset because he believes that the whole thing is set up to let universities milk the public of money. He may be right, but it's beside the point. This is NOT just a gimmick to get bodies for universities - it's a need met by the free market as only the free market can.

The government couldn't have legislated attempting comic book learning for our children - no one would have bought it, they would have seen it for the dumbing down of the schools that it is and they would have rebelled for the sake of our children. However, on a voluntary basis, from a company with proven successes and a reputation to uphold, it can fly. Obviously it's not for everyone, but that's where the free market thrives - it IS for someone and Kaplan can profit by helping them. Other companies will profit by marketing other people and those who fail to do this successfully will go away.

MY problem with teaching from comics is that, if it IS somewhat successful, it becomes ripe for abuse by government schools. It's entirely possible that in the future - the near future - Public schools will teach from comic books. It makes sense from their perspective - it appeals to the lowest common denominator (ala 'No Child Left Behind') it is trendy and it can be marketed as the "latest" in teaching methods. Of course, it further alienates the gifted, but when the goal is to have everyone advance at the same speed, that is not even a consideration.

Fred's solution - test the kids and if they pass, they can be left alone - has merits, but it misses the mark. It still presumes an objective measure for success that the government can determine. MUCH more realistic, workable and effective would be to let the parents decide the directions their children's educations should take - whether they choose homeschooling, some form of professional mentoring, apprenticeship, or some mass form of education - and then let them choose how to assess their results and adjust accordingly.

You would be AMAZED how much difference this level of tailoring for a child's education would make for the child AND for education in this country in general.

This plan even allows for public education - after all, it's conceivable that some parents want their children to work for the DMV or some other government entity.