THE GREAT SCAM. Opinion Section by David Cerdá

The standard of education (nothing but a pretext)

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David Cerdá

There is a loud chorus determined to deny the evidence: the standard of education we provide to young people, particularly in state schools, has been declining at an alarming rate for years. The most tragic aspect of this “move along” mantra is that it is chanted in the name of progressivism by the same individuals who decry “fake news, disinformation, and ignorance from the far right”.

“The educational standard is a sham”; those who are complicit in the wreckage (whom we shall not name to avoid giving them undue attention) go all out. Simultaneous translation: “Move along, there’s nothing to see here. We’re manufacturing subjects and precarious workers, so don’t disturb the process”.

Let me first clarify that the myth of a golden age in education is nonsense that no reasonably serious person has ever asserted. Criticising the current state of education does not imply nostalgia for Francoist national-Catholic schooling, as some foolishly suggest—those who, out of self-interest, corporatism, or mediocrity, seek to deter such comparisons. The point here is to state something as reasonable as this: that the standard of education is either improving or deteriorating; it would be a remarkable coincidence for it to remain stagnant. And to address this seriously means not looking at the extremes of the Gaussian bell curve but rather its bulge—because, as Ortega y Gasset observed, the character of a nation is determined by its average citizen.

The school enrolment rate has risen almost continuously. Granted; that is a significant advancement. But what does that have to do with the widely acknowledged reality—in universities and workplaces—that the average skill level of recent graduates has significantly declined over the past 15 years? As Juan Jesús Donaire, Dean of Sciences at the UAB, put it: “We’re now receiving students who can’t even add fractions, something unimaginable ten years ago”.

What do we mean by “standard” or “preparedness”? It’s simple: the ability to function effectively on a personal, civic, and professional level. The state of the first is reflected in the alarming mental health statistics, which, unsurprisingly, the “move along” crowd either ignores or blames entirely on the nasty businessman—a simplistic argument if ever there was one. As for the second, take a look at what we vote for and put up with in Parliament—no matter what they do to us or how much they lie—the polarisation and the cesspool of fake news. And if you want to gauge whether employers find what they need—not just in technical skills but in problem-solving and professionalism—just ask them. For clarity, this isn’t about business owners; there are thousands of people hiring who don’t know whether to slit their wrists or let them grow.

Is this some kind of Armageddon? Not at all. The fallacy of exaggeration is well-worn, so anyone intending to use it should discard it and instead view this cry as, first, a sign of civic concern that should resonate with more people, and second, an expression of ambition in the best sense of the word. Because what we cannot accept is that education—the foundation of democracy—is regressing. These eyes, which will one day rest beneath the earth, have seen an education scholar boasting about students’ appalling spelling under the excuse that “at least they’re reading”. What those who compare today’s education to the “dark ages” really exude—trotting out anecdotes about strict teachers with rulers well into the 21^st century—is mediocrity and condescension. At this stage, one would settle for mediocrities who, in their attempts to argue, stop citing García Alas and Argüelles (1922!) or recycling that false quote attributed to Socrates. Let’s be clear: it’s precisely because older generations have always criticised younger ones that we must investigate whether education is advancing or declining. And for the past ten or twenty years, ours has been declining, little by little.

People are not stupid. Despite not being wealthy, some are willing to sacrifice a fortune for private education. If you think they’re all affluent, do your homework: there are families cutting back on essentials to afford it. That, in itself, should serve as a warning sign. Why, in a society with stagnant wealth over the past century, would parents invest in something the state system should provide at no extra cost? Presumably, the education deniers see these parents as elitists or fools. The only explanation for such an attitude is that the deniers are detached from reality, comfortably entrenched in their bubble.

Speaking of ulterior motives: follow the money of those who peddle these ideas. “Follow the money,” as the journalists in Pakula’s All the President’s Men would say—ah, those were the days, when journalists served truth and nothing else. Do we really think people lie for free?

“The most prepared generation in history”: what a shameless claim.

Source: educational EVIDENCE

Rights: Creative Commons