I’m proud of my beets. First good crop I’ve had in recent memory. They make beautiful plants. My first title for this post was, “Those Are Some Mighty Fine Beets You’ve Got There, Mister.” Yes. They. Are.
But, I’m wondering how to use growing beets to help advance a discussion of education. I’m determined to write my book, “Kettering Public Education In The Year 2022,” so, the title of this post relates to a key part of the book — defining the aim and purpose of our system of public education.
I waited this year until past mid May to plant my beets.
In the billions of dollars we spend in public education, only when we have a clear understanding of what we are attempting to accomplish can we begin to evaluate what we are doing. Only if we have a clear understanding of what we are attempting to accomplish can we make improvement.
The thing about beets, I’ve noticed, is that they really want to grow, they want to be healthy and vital and if given the chance, they will reach their potential. What is needed is a good environment and an effective gardener.
If public education sought to fully develop the potential of citizens, then such an education would look radically different than the education we have today.
Every progressive community should create a plan to transform its system of public education. The premise of my book, I’m struggling to write, is that in Kettering a community comes together and outlines a long term plan of transformation for their system of public education — based upon a grassroots’ consensus vision of the aim, the purpose of public education.
