The Impact of Progressive Education on Students' Ability to Read and Do Math: A Shift Away from What Worked

“The shift to teaching children how to work in a globalized economy has led to a loss of focus on developing the foundational skills that enable success in ANY profession.” - Mama Bear

Introduction:

In the last few decades, education systems around the world have shifted toward progressive education, a philosophy that emphasizes experiential learning, critical thinking, and preparing students for an ever-changing global economy. While these are important goals, the approach has had unintended consequences for students' foundational skills, especially in reading and math.

What has happened to the traditional methods that worked so well for previous generations? Why are we seeing students fall behind academically, despite the push for a more “modern” educational system? In this post, we’ll dive into how the focus on workforce training and global connectivity, driven by influences like the World Economic Forum (WEF) and big data, has reshaped education in a way that is confusing students and diminishing their ability to perform basic skills like reading and math. Furthermore, we will examine how the traditional methods of education, which were championed by the Founding Fathers, were essential to preserving our liberty and constitutional republic—and how losing sight of that vision may be eroding our foundational principles.

The Shift from Traditional to Progressive Education

Progressive education, which began in the early 20th century with the ideas of educators like John Dewey, champions hands-on learning and active participation. It focuses on developing critical thinking and problem-solving skills, rather than simply memorizing facts. On the surface, this approach seems ideal in preparing students for a “rapidly evolving world”.

However, the shift toward prioritizing abstract skills over concrete knowledge has created gaps in essential areas like reading and math. For example, in 2021, only 35% of fourth graders in the U.S. were reading at or above the “proficient” level, according to the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP). The same assessment showed that only 41% of eighth graders were proficient in math. These dismal statistics highlight a significant problem: the more progressive approach to education is not translating into the strong foundation in reading and math that students need to succeed.

The Focus on Workforce Training

One of the key criticisms of progressive education is its emphasis on preparing students for the workforce, often at the expense of developing strong academic skills. As a result, many students leave school with advanced technical skills but lack basic literacy and numeracy. In fact, a study by the OECD found that 21% of adults in the U.S. are considered functionally illiterate, meaning they cannot perform tasks like reading instructions or interpreting graphs. This is not just a theoretical concern but a real-life issue that shows how the focus on preparing kids for the workforce, rather than ensuring mastery of foundational subjects, has been a costly mistake.

The Influence of Big Data and Global Connectivity

Today, education is no longer just about individual growth but about “global connectivity” and preparing students for a data-driven world. The World Economic Forum (WEF), which often drives global agendas, has been a strong advocate for transforming education to fit the demands of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. According to a 2020 report from the WEF, future jobs will demand skills in critical thinking, creativity, and collaboration skills that can be developed through progressive methods like project-based learning and group discussions.

While these skills may seem important to some, the shift to teaching children how to work in a globalized economy has led to a loss of focus on developing the foundational skills that enable success in any profession. The emphasis on adapting schools to this vision focusing on technology, AI, and automation has resulted in less classroom time spent on basic subjects like reading and math. As technology and data continue to influence educational goals, these foundational subjects get pushed aside in favor of preparing students for a future that might not require solid academic grounding but rather an ability to work with machines and manage data.

How We’ve Steered Away from What Worked

It’s hard not to look at the data and see how we’ve strayed from the successful methods of the past. Traditional education used to prioritize direct instruction and mastery of the basics, especially in reading and math. In contrast, progressive education often values the process of learning over the content itself, which, while valuable in some areas, leaves students without the solid base they need to perform well on standardized assessments or in everyday tasks. For instance, while project-based learning and collaboration might teach valuable skills, they do not replace the need for mastery in reading and math.

The Founding Fathers recognized that a well-educated citizenry was essential to preserving liberty and the constitutional republic. Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, and others stressed the importance of an educated population capable of critical thinking and self-governance, something we no longer focus on. They understood that in order to safeguard our freedoms, citizens needed a strong foundation in reading, reasoning, and moral judgment. Jefferson said it best, "If a nation expects to be ignorant and free, in a state of civilization, it expects what never was and never will be."

A Call for Change: Returning to the Basics

It’s time to rethink the focus of our education system. While preparing students for their future is important, we must not sacrifice foundational skills or forget our roots in the process. Students should be literate and numerate first and foremost, with the ability to reason critically and solve problems, skills that will serve them no matter what career path they choose.

Evidence has shown that students who have a strong foundation in reading and math perform better in later years, not just in academics but also in the workforce. For instance, students who are proficient in reading by the third grade are four times more likely to graduate high school on time. This statistic alone should be enough to convince us that we need to refocus our efforts on reading and math.

In addition to the academic skills that students need to learn, we should also consider a balance between preparing them for the future and grounding them in the essentials. Progressive education doesn’t need to be abandoned entirely, (yet) but it must be paired with a return to teaching the core academic skills that are fundamental to success in any field.

Conclusion: Rebuilding a Strong Foundation

As we move forward, we need to rediscover the importance of reading, writing, and math in our schools. These are the building blocks for critical thinking, creativity, and future success. By returning to a more balanced approach, we can ensure that students are not only prepared for the future but also equipped with the foundational knowledge they need to succeed, no matter what comes next.

If we continue down the path of focusing solely on workforce training and “global connectivity”, we risk producing generations of students who may be prepared for the workforce but are ill-prepared to solve basic problems or navigate everyday life without the academic skills that have long been the bedrock of personal and professional success. The shift toward progressive education, while well-intended, needs to be carefully examined and adjusted to put academic fundamentals back at the heart of the curriculum.

As we’ve seen, the Founding Fathers believed that an educated population was crucial for preserving liberty, and it is now more important than ever to heed their warnings. Vigilance is the price of liberty, and it begins in the classroom. If we lose sight of the foundation they set for us, we risk losing the very freedoms that make our republic unique.

References:

• National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP). (2021). "The Nation’s Report Card." U.S. Department of Education.

• OECD. (2020). "The Future of Education and Skills 2030."

• World Economic Forum. (2020). "The Future of Jobs Report."

• Thomas Jefferson, Notes on the State of Virginia, 1781.

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