In education, change isn’t easy

Bringing positive change to our state’s education system is no easy task.

Too often, “That’s the way we’ve always done it” is seen as justification for continuing down the same path. Too few officials take the time for reflection and re-evaluation of current practices even after the original justification for the ways things are done is decades old.

Oklahoma’s education system was originally designed so that every child would be within walking distance of a school; today, we have cars and more people live in urban areas.

The Oklahoma City school district is now pushing for a seven-hour instructional school day that is no easy sell. As Superintendent Karl Springer noted, “It took us about 100 years to go from six hours to six hours and 20 minutes.”

Oklahoma has changed since 1907; our education system should, too.

Thank you for joining our conversation on ScissorTales. We encourage your discussion but ask that you stay within the bounds of our commenting and posting policy.