Chester Finn’s Stance on K-12 Education

Finn observes that the quality of education has long been identified with the instructor. With fewer educators available to fill the present market, the question of quality becomes an additional hurdle. As a result, with unanimity in support for resolving the issue of improving student performance in class, educational think tanks have a difficult choice in restructuring systems to higher standards in order to improve student performance. Finn categorizes schools depending on their financial ability to pay for quality teachers. The three types of schools most frequently mentioned in Finn’s arguments are charter schools, private schools, and public schools. Charter schools, also alternatively funded education centers, exist on the funding of the government, though it remains privately managed (Finn, et al. 70).

The public schools operate solely under the jurisdiction of the federal government. However, private schools remain regulated by individuals or board or governors, and often rely on alternative sources of funding and never from the government. Consequently, the ability of an institution to procure the best teachers lies in the weight of their coffers, thereby influencing the performance of the pupils (Kanstoroom and Finn 5).

Rogoff and Individualism

Individualism is a feature of post-modernity in the western and westernized nations. The regard of one’s self over that of others is prominent in such societies about daily endeavors. Additionally, with the existence culture reinforces the idea of people through the never-ending way of life. The role of cultural practices and traditions, Rogoff notes, remains the sole reason behind the severe implications of individualism in a community (Rogoff 25).

Rogoff highlights that some of the exemplification of individualistic inclinations remain confined to child rearing patterns. The application of the techniques favoring the individual development of the child seeks to cultivate virtues of self-reliance and independence. Whereas collectivist ideologies on the same strive to promote interdependence, the two stances on education remain culturally motivated. The two common ways that individualism is practiced in early education is through solitary sleeping and assisted feeding compared to spoon feeding.

Works Cited

Finn, Chester E, et al. Charter Schools in Action: Renewing Public Education. Princeton UP, 2001.

Kanstoroom, Marci E, and Chester E. J. E. Finn. Better Teachers, Better Schools. The Thomas B. Fordham Foundation, 1999.

Rogoff, Barbara. “Commentary.” Human Development, vol. 36, no. 1, 1993, pp. 24-26.