Ed Reform

In an ideal society, educational reform would lead to the flawless implementation of policies designed for perfecting the education of American children. Students would attend classes daily, reaping the benefits of a well-oiled machine constructed for the production of highly functioning citizens, without the influence of external forces such as distractions from home, chronic health problems, and environment. In reality, society is imperfect and the life of one child can greatly differ from the life of another. Educational reform should not only focus on how schooling can affect the life of a child outside of the classroom, but should include the possible influence a child's life on his/her schooling. "A Nation at Risk" and "Tinkering Toward Utopia" describe problems within the educational system and give recommendations for reform strategies, however, the arguments embedded in these articles neglect to take into account the unique experiences of children and how they can impact the effectiveness of education.

Effectively educating all of America's children is seen as a cure for society's ailments. Equipping students with tools necessary for life after schooling can lead to a prosperous nation, free of the burdens of poverty, discrimination, and despair. This perceived power of education contributes to a widespread interest in educational reform and methods of improving education both locally and nationally, but personal experiences that can contribute to poor performances in school are generally left out of the equation. Although schools are not designed for reconciling the personal problems of students, they are forced to deal with them by default. Improving schools through providing adequate funding, quality teachers, and a standardized curriculum is useless if students are unmotivated, suffering from problems at home, or are not attending classes regularly. "A Nation at Risk" pleas for a united effort in sustaining American dominance in the global market by improving education through suggested recommendations acquired from the examination of various sources of information. While critical problems within the educational system are outlined and suggested remedies are included, it lacks methods of addressing the personal problems of students that may impede the reception of a quality education.

In "A Nation at Risk," the academic achievement of students in the United States is assessed and compared to that of other countries. Disparities in educational attainment are attributed to the school system. If schools are going to be held accountable for ensuring "a high level of shared education [that] is essential to a free, democratic society and to the fostering of a common culture," then it is important that suggestions for school reform include ways of managing personal problems of students so that each student has the opportunity to maximize