Guest MINDSETTER™ Sen. DiPalma: We Can Learn From 19th-Century Education Reform (“Committee of Ten”)
Monday, April 03, 2017
The year was 1892. Benjamin Harrison was President of the United States and Herbert Ladd was the Governor of Rhode Island.
In 1892, the “Committee of Ten,” led by Charles Eliot, the president of Harvard University, was established by the National Education Association to evaluate the existing form and structure of education and provide recommendations for the future.
The following year, in 1893, the Committee issued its report recommending that every public school student receive “… eight years of elementary education and four years of secondary education … “
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTUntil that point, public education across the country started at grade 1 and ended at grade 9 – yes, grade 9. This was the education we provided to the vast majority of American students. Only the elite – only families of means who were able to afford secondary education for their children – received more. Secondary education was the exception and not the norm.
Prior to 1893, nine grades of education was deemed necessary and sufficient. The Committee found that nine grades of education was still necessary, but it was no longer sufficient to address the labor demands and emerging economies of that era.
Education in 2017
Fast forward to 2017. As we’ve known for some time now, the economies of today and tomorrow require a workforce with post-secondary education. Since the economic recovery, which began in January 2010, approximately 11.6 million jobs have been created, and of those, greater than 11.5 million, yes 11.5 million, required a post-secondary education/degree. Such staggering figures force us to conclude that a high school education remains necessary, but it is no longer sufficient to meet the demands of today’s labor market.
For many years, we’ve told our students that they need to continue their education beyond high school, but we haven’t taken action to provide every student with the opportunity to do it. So, just like secondary education was at the end of the 19th century, postsecondary education is only available to the children of families with means.
It is my belief that we need to take the next, bold step and make free, K-14 education available to all Rhode Islanders. The Rhode Island’s Promise initiative put forward by Governor Raimondo seeks to address some of the challenges that prevent RI students from securing the needed education level demanded by RI employers. These challenges include high student loan debt and the need to work multiple jobs while going to school, amongst others. The Rhode Island’s Promise Scholarship is designed to help our students limit/overcome these sometimes, insurmountable hurdles.
As a member of the Senate Committee on Finance, I look forward to hearing and actively listening to the expected testimony, and having a robust dialogue on the proposal. I am eager to begin working with my colleagues to ensure the resulting proposal enables Rhode Island students to achieve the necessary and sufficient education they deserve.
As was done subsequent to the Committee of Ten, taking bold action to shape our country’s future, we must take action to ensure that all our students have access to an education that is both necessary and sufficient. This informed, bold proposal calls us to make the right investment so that our students are successful and Rhode Island is successful. The time to act is now!
Louis P. DiPalma is the Democratic state senator representing District 12, Little Compton, Middletown, Newport and Tiverton. He serves as the 1st Vice Chair of the Committee on Finance and a member of the Senate Education Committee.
Related Slideshow: The Power List - Health and Education, 2016
Related Articles
- This Less Perfect Union: Guest MINDSETTER™ Jim Wright
- The Banality of Trump: Guest MINDSETTER™ Geoff Schoos
- Guest MINDSETTER™ Yarn: Hitting the Ground Running
- Guest MINDSETTER™ Van Leesten: Governor’s Proposal Will Unleash Opportunity for All
- Guest MINDSETTER™ Ford: No More Reefer Madness - Legalize Marijuana
- A Love Letter to the Right: Guest MINDSETTER™ Steve Forleo
- Dear President Trump, Build the Algonquin Pipeline: Guest MINDSETTER™ Morgan
- Guest MINDSETTER™ Seyler: Critical Spending Requires Critical Thinking at CCRI
- Guest MINDSETTER™ Sen. Sheehan: Raimondo’s Free Tuition Proposal Makes RI an Educational Leader
- In Defense of Sean Todd: Guest MINDSETTER™ Jim Wright
- Guest MINDSETTER™ Barden: My School Choice Story
- Guest MINDSETTER™ Magee: RI’s Strong Defense & Undersea Technology Cluster
- Guest MINDSETTER™ Taub: I Call Upon Mayor Elorza to Create the Prov Jewish Council
- Guest MINDSETTER™ Sen. Ciccone: Elorza is Wrong to Close Plainfield Street Ramp on 6-10 Connector
- Guest MINDSETTER™ Casimiro: Food Pantry Demonstrates Power of Community
- Guest MINDSETTER™ Stewart: James Baldwin & Neo-Nazis in Prov on Same Weekend
- Guest MINDSETTER™ Rep. Nunes: Retool RI’s TDI Program
- Guest MINDSETTER™ Kenney: Why is Pare Still Working
- Guest MINDSETTER™ Morse: Dying to Help
- Guest MINDSETTER™ Stewart: Why I Oppose Raimondo’s Free College Scheme
- Guest MINDSETTER™ Stokes: Black History Matters in Rhode Island
- Despite Rhetoric, School Leaders Stand with Undocumented Community Members, Guest MINDSETTERS™
- Guest MINDSETTER™ Sen. DiPalma: We Must Not Become the ‘Party of No’
- Guest MINDSETTER™ Stewart: Patrick Kennedy Should Learn from Family History
- Guest MINDSETTER™ Rep. Hull: Time for Providence to Reestablish Residency