by Robin Tidwell

Created on: August 02, 2008   Last Updated: October 06, 2008

The elements of a good education can be found not only in the subject matter, but in the learning styles which are employed, the scheduling of the classroom, extracurricular activities, and parental involvement.

Subject matter includes not only facts, such as mathematical theorems, science essentials, and grammar and punctuation, but the value received for such. In past decades, students were drilled in the basics and developed a quest for further knowledge; this was frequently gleaned from their own experiences and searching. Today's educational goals often appear to focus on bits and bytes of trivia, as opposed to a solid grounding in facts.

Teaching methods, too, have evolved; this is not necessarily a good thing. Education itself has become more an area in which to develop equality than an actual learning environment. Students do have slightly different learning methods, but with practice nearly all can be enabled to learn in one traditional environment.

Historically, there have been smart kids and dumb kids; some issues presented in the past have been researched and strides have been made in the diagnosis and treatment of these issues, such as dyslexia, but today's students are usually just classified as "bright" or "challenged". All the political correctness in the world cannot, however judiciously employed, change the fact that all students do not have equal intelligence.

Too much time is spent evaluating and deciphering individual learning styles and problems and not enough time is spent in saying: this is the way it is, learn the material, you alone are responsible and must be accountable.

Classroom scheduling is another factor in the basis of a good education. Students used to arrive at schools around 8:00 am, attend their respective classes in one classroom at elementary age and in several during high school. Today, due to budget constraints, transportation problems and costs, and pop-psychology, things have changed for the worse.

In some districts, high school students don't begin classes until 9:00 am or later; child-raising experts have told the world that teenagers need more sleep. I suppose this is a new thing? No, but today's teenagers are inundated with too many activities and choices and have a tendency to stay up till all hours. Again, why? Because today's parents seem to think that once Johnny has reached the age of, say, thirteen or so, he should be able to regulate and raise himself - their job is done. They may be afraid the child will be

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