Education Reform: A Prescription for the Doctor

No acronym had the same resonance as AEA in the tempestuous run-up to yesterday's GOP run-off for the gubernatorial nomination. By election day, it would be impossible for most voters to avoid the somber pictures of AEA leaders Paul Hubbert and Joe Reed plastered in television ads, specters meant to haunt Dr. Robert Bentley's bid for the GOP nomination. Well, as I recommended, Dr. Bentley has won, and it is time for the GOP to start putting its house together again in order to make a strong showing in November.

I suppose I ought to begin with the positive. All the scuffling over AEA has placed education at its rightful place at the top of Alabama's political discourse. For all the debates over gambling and facilities like Greene Track, education is the real means of economic development and advancement. Better-educated people are able to earn more, participate in more diverse job offerings, and increase the overall quality of life in this state. Unfortunately, Alabama has long lagged behind in education like many other states in the Deep South. Perhaps with this new-found focus on education, the time has come for that to change. With some innovative thinking, it is more possible than people think. The economy is struggling, and even though some communities are willing to go to gambling and other 'get rich quick' schemes, a strong case can be made that investing in education now will pay far more lasting dividends in our state than gambling casinos.

Education must also now be important to Dr. Bentley, as he has to demonstrate to skeptics in his own party that he can be trusted on education. In order to do this, he should take the lead in unveiling new and innovative ideas on education. To help the GOP's nominee, I have come up with ten ideas of my own. I think Dr. Bentley should give my blog a shot on education reform. Despite my relative youth, I do have the unique experience of having gone through K-12 public schools in Alabama my entire life. Having completed this experience far more recently than many of our public officials, I tend to think I have at least a fresher perspective on many of the problems in our schools and conservative reforms which can fix them. It's worth noting that these reforms aren't necessarily controversial. These ideas can change Alabama schools and strengthen our state's conservative values without unleashing the total war against AEA which has led almost invariably to gridlock in the past. Here are my 10 Prescriptions for Alabama Schools:

(1) Create an ACTION program to provide funding for extracurricular activities in rural schools.

One of Gov. Riley's most successful education reforms has been the creation of the ACCESS distance learning program which allows top students in rural schools to take advanced-level coursework not available in their own school. Although enabling students to take these courses is a step in the right direction, Alabama should provide more grants and training for teachers to start debate, quiz bowl, environmental team, science olympiad, and other academic competitive programs in rural schools. As I can attest from my days in high school debate, these programs are invaluable in teaching research, study, and competition skills needed to both get into college and to do well when in college. ACTION would be a logical extension to ACCESS, encouraging the development of dozens of more innovative programs like the Speakfirst program which brought speech and debate to a number of inner-city students in the Birmingham area. This program would serve a conservative purpose by empowering students to think and reason on their own, instead of giving them handouts later in life.

(2) Increase the number of university partnerships with secondary and primary schools.

When I went to college at Georgetown, I was amazed by how many students described their high school experiences. Many were able to take university classes in university settings or at least participate in special university programs. Although these exist in Alabama, they can be far wider in their reach, including more class offerings for students and more innovative lab days and shadowing days for students. Universities throughout the state, such as West Alabama in Livingston, Troy in Southeast Alabama, Jacksonville State University in East Alabama, and other community colleges could be especially helpful in reaching out to students in rural areas. Existing programs at Alabama and Auburn should be given broader reach to give students exposure to higher learning from a young age.

(3) Create a Community-Based Learning Program for students.

As conservatives, we have a vested interest in retaining strong communities, because strong communities build strong values. Conservative sociologist Robert Nisbet once marveled at small Southern towns which provided what we today call 'social welfare' to people through churches or other organizations without needing the government. Today, communities still have much to teach young students. Students can learn science through local streams and ecologies. They can learn civics through attending town council meetings, and they can learn from others in their communities. A number of Alabama leaders have been pushing for more community-based learning programs for a number of years, and in a tight economy, these opportunities would give students 'field trips' which are a mere walking distance from the classroom. This program would play a crucial role in teaching students to be creative learners and also beginning to develop a connection to the community which could entice more top students to choose to remain in Alabama as professionals and leaders.

(4) Re-emphasize Civics as an integral part of the curriculum.

No issue is more important to the future of our Republic than a strong foundation in civic literacy. Students need to be able to read newspapers and interpret media biases accurately. They need to understand the wisdom of America's Founding documents and the importance of the governing process. Despite this necessity, Alabama students traditionally perform worst on the social studies portion of the Alabama High School Graduation Exam. That must change by emphasizing civic literacy throughout the curriculum and at elevating grade levels so that students are equipped with the skills to become good citizens.

(5) Introduce more Southern literature and themes with an Alabama focus.

As a Southern conservative, few things sadden me more than the lack of focus on local history and culture. While at Georgetown, I encountered many peers from New England or the Pacific Coast far more fluent in great Southern authors like Faulkner than I. The same could be said of their local state histories. Students should be exposed to the distinctive and interesting, albeit tenuous, histories of Alabama and the South. Not only could this aid in student retention, but it also helps students make sense of the world around them and use that world to understand even broader concepts.

(6) Develop new mentoring/community interaction opportunities.

Although no community leader could replace a teacher, community leaders and active professionals should be brought more actively into the school setting to integrate students into the community. Since students will one day be entering the work force, they should get experience early in interacting with adults. By providing students shadowing opportunities or elective options with non-profit agencies, science labs, and other options, students have more opportunities. Alabama should take the lead in allowing top high school students to earn elective credit through such community interactive projects.

(7) Introduce the study of financial literacy and planning.

As conservatives, we should care very deeply that future students are educated in the basics of financial literacy. Not only will this help them one day with more stable families, it will teach them the importance of hard work combined with sound budgeting. Last year, I had the opportunity to hear the Shelby County Board of Education consider adopting more programs to encourage financial awareness among students. This would be a smart program to adopt statewide.

(8) Prioritize Gifted Education.

As stated previously on this blog, gifted education is of paramount importance for our state's future, and it should be a top priority for our next governor.

(9) Promote Cross-curricular learning with the inclusion of art and literature.

One of the biggest problems in education today is that many students find what they study in school 'irrelevant.' Math seems never to connect to history, and history never connects to science. Alabama should take the lead in connecting the curriculum while also adding more art and music appreciation into subjects such as history and literature. William F. Buckley was one of the greatest conservative figures of the 20th century, and he always exuded a strong appreciation for the fine arts. Russell Kirk had views on art which reinforced the 'permanent things,' and many great conservatives were truly 'men of letters' who appreciated art, literature, and the humanities. Alabama students deserve at least to be exposed to these ideas while also seeing how these areas of study link to the broader curriculum.

(10) Institute a High School Service Project Requirement for Graduation.

Finally, there is no greater conservative principle than community service. It is the most basic example of the individual finding a need and addressing it without the presence of the state. In preparation for this duty of citizenship, Alabama high school seniors should be required to design, complete, and present a service project as a requirement for graduation. Far more useful than other federal proposals, this would require students to start actively thinking about needs in their communities. Many systems like Shelby County have already developed programs to get students thinking about and performing community service. This program would take it to another level by encouraging students to be more creative and more innovative.

As Dr. Bentley can see, there are plenty of creative ideas out there on education. He just needs to know where to look, and who to trust. To that end, I hope at least he can trust me because these basic ideas could move Alabama and its people forward. If we do not use the contention and discord of the recent primary to begin a productive open and honest discussion on education reform which begins with bringing people together, we'll always be forced to look to the bottom of the list to find 'Alabama' when it comes to education.