一場(chǎng)新冠疫情令美國教育系統(tǒng)的不平等問題暴露無遺。這些問題表現(xiàn)在很多方面,其中包括寬帶互聯(lián)網(wǎng)使用的不平等和學(xué)校資金的巨大差異。貧困、無緣社會(huì)優(yōu)勢(shì)體系、投資的懸殊,多重因素共同作用,給美國的學(xué)齡兒童帶來了嚴(yán)重危機(jī)。
我們理應(yīng)做得更好。
經(jīng)過一年的關(guān)停整合,學(xué)校已漸漸重新開放,秋季新學(xué)期的教育會(huì)變成什么樣子,學(xué)校管理層、教師和家長都拭目以待。幸運(yùn)的是,各教育機(jī)構(gòu)都有了千載難逢的機(jī)會(huì),可以重新考慮課程設(shè)置,搭建起一個(gè)基礎(chǔ)性平臺(tái),從而減少系統(tǒng)性不平等,縮小學(xué)生間的差距。時(shí)不我待,當(dāng)從這一屆學(xué)生開始。
擺在面前的是從根本上改變現(xiàn)狀的機(jī)會(huì)。我們必須補(bǔ)足現(xiàn)有教育中缺失的一層,培養(yǎng)學(xué)生的技能,指導(dǎo)他們?yōu)楦谢盍?、更健康的生活打下基礎(chǔ)。談到教育創(chuàng)新,人們爭(zhēng)論的焦點(diǎn)在于:核心課程應(yīng)該包括哪些?目前的核心課程包括閱讀、數(shù)學(xué)和科學(xué),但個(gè)人經(jīng)濟(jì)和財(cái)務(wù)安全、心理和生理健康、可持續(xù)的生活方式和環(huán)境保護(hù)等等方面的知識(shí)呢,應(yīng)該何時(shí)傳授給學(xué)生?我們是否教會(huì)了學(xué)生為自己、為家庭創(chuàng)造財(cái)富和經(jīng)濟(jì)機(jī)會(huì)的技能?關(guān)于未來的工作和生活所需的知識(shí),比如數(shù)據(jù)科學(xué)和加密貨幣,他們了解多少?我們需要為所有學(xué)生制定一個(gè)更全面、更系統(tǒng)的培養(yǎng)方案,以確保他們能夠在成功之路上走得更遠(yuǎn),并推動(dòng)整個(gè)教育生態(tài)系統(tǒng)的改革。
這個(gè)巨大的缺口正是社會(huì)教育的短板。我們的學(xué)校和教師承擔(dān)著教育、哺育和保護(hù)孩子的艱巨任務(wù)。然而,在幫助學(xué)生迎接日新月異的未來的過程中,家長和教師往往只可以在互聯(lián)網(wǎng)上大海撈針般地摸索方向、尋找答案。為了補(bǔ)全幾十年來教育界缺失的一層,學(xué)校亟需相關(guān)資源,以擴(kuò)展目前核心課程之外的學(xué)習(xí)。
我自身的這些關(guān)鍵技能,是從實(shí)踐和錯(cuò)誤中學(xué)會(huì)的。在高中畢業(yè)時(shí),我已經(jīng)具備了一定的微積分和物理知識(shí),但對(duì)信用卡透支、申請(qǐng)和管理學(xué)生貸款、醫(yī)療保健常識(shí)一無所知。吃過苦頭的我明白這種普遍的教育缺失所造成的代價(jià)。它會(huì)在日常生活的點(diǎn)滴小事中弄得我們措手不及,會(huì)破壞我們的健康、毀壞我們的生活。更有甚者,它常常造成一代一代的惡性循環(huán)。這樣的例子,不勝枚舉。
即便在疫情襲來之前,美國各年齡段的民眾對(duì)如何建立穩(wěn)定的經(jīng)濟(jì)保障也知之甚少。目前,僅有21個(gè)州要求將修讀個(gè)人財(cái)務(wù)課程作為高中畢業(yè)的條件。與此相應(yīng),美國不同種族的家庭凈資產(chǎn)差距高達(dá)15萬美元。有了基本的個(gè)人理財(cái)知識(shí),對(duì)股票和證券有所了解,學(xué)生們就能夠進(jìn)而理解金融工具,學(xué)習(xí)如何積累財(cái)富。金融體系變幻不定、暗藏危險(xiǎn)。為何不趁年輕人還在學(xué)校時(shí)就教他們?nèi)绾伍_立賬戶、獲取學(xué)生資助、管理貸款、建立和維護(hù)信用,引導(dǎo)他們進(jìn)入所有權(quán)社會(huì)呢?
此次疫情還加劇了心理健康和醫(yī)療保健相關(guān)問題,這是目前教育缺失中的另外兩個(gè)環(huán)節(jié)。根據(jù)世界衛(wèi)生組織(World Health Organization)的數(shù)據(jù),約半數(shù)的精神健康問題始于14歲之前。如果說隔離措施給我們帶來了什么經(jīng)驗(yàn)教訓(xùn),那就是,它讓我們意識(shí)到年輕人承受的孤獨(dú)。濫用處方藥的問題在12年級(jí)的學(xué)生中非常普遍。近4600萬的美國人表示難以負(fù)擔(dān)高質(zhì)量的醫(yī)療服務(wù)。我們?yōu)楹尾辉谶@些關(guān)鍵問題上對(duì)學(xué)生開展大規(guī)模教育?
年輕人在求學(xué)期間和進(jìn)入職場(chǎng)后會(huì)遇到一連串相互關(guān)聯(lián)的危機(jī)。我們應(yīng)該立即著手重新構(gòu)架我們的教育體系,著眼于為學(xué)生設(shè)計(jì)一套行之有效的教育藍(lán)圖,以解決這些系統(tǒng)性問題,教授生活中的關(guān)鍵技能。
我曾經(jīng)是州議員,現(xiàn)在是企業(yè)家,在職業(yè)生涯中,我始終致力于研究、倡導(dǎo)和構(gòu)建可以實(shí)現(xiàn)關(guān)鍵技能教育民主化的技術(shù)解決方案。和許多人一樣,我一直期待政府在解決社會(huì)重大問題上發(fā)揮主導(dǎo)作用。但目前看來,公共部門沒有能力做到這一點(diǎn),至少不能夠單獨(dú)做到。行政班子更迭、理念轉(zhuǎn)變、優(yōu)先事宜變化,導(dǎo)致學(xué)生和他們的家庭被朝令夕改的政策和計(jì)劃弄得措手不及。這種混亂,加上教育經(jīng)費(fèi)的緊縮,只可以使得問題積重難返。
然而,還有一條可行之道:讓教育民主化、重視美國企業(yè)界的作用。為了確保上述關(guān)鍵技能能夠納入全國各地的核心課程,私營部門必須拿出自身的豐厚資源,這既包括金錢,也包括其他支持。簡而言之,我們需要更多的私有資金來解決課堂上的問題。
值得慶幸的是,邀請(qǐng)企業(yè)投資K-12教育的模式切實(shí)可行。十三年來,EverFi公司與Beyond Meat、MassMutual Foundation、萬事達(dá)卡(Mastercard)、Truist、瑞銀集團(tuán)(UBS)等數(shù)百家企業(yè)合作,將數(shù)字化技能教育的規(guī)劃引入課堂。通過成功開發(fā)可擴(kuò)展的教育軟件,并密切關(guān)注知識(shí)獲取,EverFi與學(xué)區(qū)、學(xué)校、教師建立起深入合作。目前,已經(jīng)有超過4600萬名學(xué)生修讀了至少一門相關(guān)缺失環(huán)節(jié)的課程。
學(xué)習(xí)結(jié)果令人鼓舞,值得著重宣揚(yáng),對(duì)學(xué)生們的長期穩(wěn)定和成功起到了關(guān)鍵作用。近期,我們對(duì)參加金融知識(shí)課程培訓(xùn)的學(xué)生進(jìn)行了一項(xiàng)調(diào)查,結(jié)果顯示,學(xué)生們?cè)诖祟I(lǐng)域的知識(shí)增長多達(dá)22%。這個(gè)數(shù)據(jù)很有說服力,因?yàn)樗c學(xué)生的年齡、性別、年級(jí)或社會(huì)經(jīng)濟(jì)地位無關(guān)。既然如此,我們?yōu)槭裁床蛔屓珖恳幻袑W(xué)生都從這種教育中受益呢?畢竟,對(duì)學(xué)校而言,這是免費(fèi)的,完全由私營企業(yè)資助。
EverFi認(rèn)為,讓學(xué)生從年幼時(shí)就接觸這些知識(shí),可以推動(dòng)整個(gè)系統(tǒng)的變革。為了證明這個(gè)理論,我們收集建立了一個(gè)龐大的數(shù)據(jù)庫,匯集了數(shù)百萬參加相關(guān)課程學(xué)習(xí)的學(xué)生資料。我們將首次分享這些數(shù)據(jù),以激勵(lì)人們重新審視關(guān)鍵技能教育對(duì)學(xué)生的長遠(yuǎn)益處。這些數(shù)據(jù)還將涉及我們從全美各地的學(xué)生、教育工作者和學(xué)區(qū)收集到的關(guān)于教育缺失層面的見解,展現(xiàn)補(bǔ)充教育的社會(huì)優(yōu)勢(shì)。
盡管處在苦痛艱難、挑戰(zhàn)重重的歷史時(shí)刻,為教育重繪藍(lán)圖的新合作仍然令我歡欣鼓舞。從現(xiàn)在起,我們有能力補(bǔ)上關(guān)鍵生活技能這一教育短板,從而打破惡性循環(huán)。(財(cái)富中文網(wǎng))
湯姆?戴維森是EverFi公司的創(chuàng)始人及首席執(zhí)行官。
譯者:胡萌琦
一場(chǎng)新冠疫情令美國教育系統(tǒng)的不平等問題暴露無遺。這些問題表現(xiàn)在很多方面,其中包括寬帶互聯(lián)網(wǎng)使用的不平等和學(xué)校資金的巨大差異。貧困、無緣社會(huì)優(yōu)勢(shì)體系、投資的懸殊,多重因素共同作用,給美國的學(xué)齡兒童帶來了嚴(yán)重危機(jī)。
我們理應(yīng)做得更好。
經(jīng)過一年的關(guān)停整合,學(xué)校已漸漸重新開放,秋季新學(xué)期的教育會(huì)變成什么樣子,學(xué)校管理層、教師和家長都拭目以待。幸運(yùn)的是,各教育機(jī)構(gòu)都有了千載難逢的機(jī)會(huì),可以重新考慮課程設(shè)置,搭建起一個(gè)基礎(chǔ)性平臺(tái),從而減少系統(tǒng)性不平等,縮小學(xué)生間的差距。時(shí)不我待,當(dāng)從這一屆學(xué)生開始。
擺在面前的是從根本上改變現(xiàn)狀的機(jī)會(huì)。我們必須補(bǔ)足現(xiàn)有教育中缺失的一層,培養(yǎng)學(xué)生的技能,指導(dǎo)他們?yōu)楦谢盍?、更健康的生活打下基礎(chǔ)。談到教育創(chuàng)新,人們爭(zhēng)論的焦點(diǎn)在于:核心課程應(yīng)該包括哪些?目前的核心課程包括閱讀、數(shù)學(xué)和科學(xué),但個(gè)人經(jīng)濟(jì)和財(cái)務(wù)安全、心理和生理健康、可持續(xù)的生活方式和環(huán)境保護(hù)等等方面的知識(shí)呢,應(yīng)該何時(shí)傳授給學(xué)生?我們是否教會(huì)了學(xué)生為自己、為家庭創(chuàng)造財(cái)富和經(jīng)濟(jì)機(jī)會(huì)的技能?關(guān)于未來的工作和生活所需的知識(shí),比如數(shù)據(jù)科學(xué)和加密貨幣,他們了解多少?我們需要為所有學(xué)生制定一個(gè)更全面、更系統(tǒng)的培養(yǎng)方案,以確保他們能夠在成功之路上走得更遠(yuǎn),并推動(dòng)整個(gè)教育生態(tài)系統(tǒng)的改革。
這個(gè)巨大的缺口正是社會(huì)教育的短板。我們的學(xué)校和教師承擔(dān)著教育、哺育和保護(hù)孩子的艱巨任務(wù)。然而,在幫助學(xué)生迎接日新月異的未來的過程中,家長和教師往往只可以在互聯(lián)網(wǎng)上大海撈針般地摸索方向、尋找答案。為了補(bǔ)全幾十年來教育界缺失的一層,學(xué)校亟需相關(guān)資源,以擴(kuò)展目前核心課程之外的學(xué)習(xí)。
我自身的這些關(guān)鍵技能,是從實(shí)踐和錯(cuò)誤中學(xué)會(huì)的。在高中畢業(yè)時(shí),我已經(jīng)具備了一定的微積分和物理知識(shí),但對(duì)信用卡透支、申請(qǐng)和管理學(xué)生貸款、醫(yī)療保健常識(shí)一無所知。吃過苦頭的我明白這種普遍的教育缺失所造成的代價(jià)。它會(huì)在日常生活的點(diǎn)滴小事中弄得我們措手不及,會(huì)破壞我們的健康、毀壞我們的生活。更有甚者,它常常造成一代一代的惡性循環(huán)。這樣的例子,不勝枚舉。
即便在疫情襲來之前,美國各年齡段的民眾對(duì)如何建立穩(wěn)定的經(jīng)濟(jì)保障也知之甚少。目前,僅有21個(gè)州要求將修讀個(gè)人財(cái)務(wù)課程作為高中畢業(yè)的條件。與此相應(yīng),美國不同種族的家庭凈資產(chǎn)差距高達(dá)15萬美元。有了基本的個(gè)人理財(cái)知識(shí),對(duì)股票和證券有所了解,學(xué)生們就能夠進(jìn)而理解金融工具,學(xué)習(xí)如何積累財(cái)富。金融體系變幻不定、暗藏危險(xiǎn)。為何不趁年輕人還在學(xué)校時(shí)就教他們?nèi)绾伍_立賬戶、獲取學(xué)生資助、管理貸款、建立和維護(hù)信用,引導(dǎo)他們進(jìn)入所有權(quán)社會(huì)呢?
此次疫情還加劇了心理健康和醫(yī)療保健相關(guān)問題,這是目前教育缺失中的另外兩個(gè)環(huán)節(jié)。根據(jù)世界衛(wèi)生組織(World Health Organization)的數(shù)據(jù),約半數(shù)的精神健康問題始于14歲之前。如果說隔離措施給我們帶來了什么經(jīng)驗(yàn)教訓(xùn),那就是,它讓我們意識(shí)到年輕人承受的孤獨(dú)。濫用處方藥的問題在12年級(jí)的學(xué)生中非常普遍。近4600萬的美國人表示難以負(fù)擔(dān)高質(zhì)量的醫(yī)療服務(wù)。我們?yōu)楹尾辉谶@些關(guān)鍵問題上對(duì)學(xué)生開展大規(guī)模教育?
年輕人在求學(xué)期間和進(jìn)入職場(chǎng)后會(huì)遇到一連串相互關(guān)聯(lián)的危機(jī)。我們應(yīng)該立即著手重新構(gòu)架我們的教育體系,著眼于為學(xué)生設(shè)計(jì)一套行之有效的教育藍(lán)圖,以解決這些系統(tǒng)性問題,教授生活中的關(guān)鍵技能。
我曾經(jīng)是州議員,現(xiàn)在是企業(yè)家,在職業(yè)生涯中,我始終致力于研究、倡導(dǎo)和構(gòu)建可以實(shí)現(xiàn)關(guān)鍵技能教育民主化的技術(shù)解決方案。和許多人一樣,我一直期待政府在解決社會(huì)重大問題上發(fā)揮主導(dǎo)作用。但目前看來,公共部門沒有能力做到這一點(diǎn),至少不能夠單獨(dú)做到。行政班子更迭、理念轉(zhuǎn)變、優(yōu)先事宜變化,導(dǎo)致學(xué)生和他們的家庭被朝令夕改的政策和計(jì)劃弄得措手不及。這種混亂,加上教育經(jīng)費(fèi)的緊縮,只可以使得問題積重難返。
然而,還有一條可行之道:讓教育民主化、重視美國企業(yè)界的作用。為了確保上述關(guān)鍵技能能夠納入全國各地的核心課程,私營部門必須拿出自身的豐厚資源,這既包括金錢,也包括其他支持。簡而言之,我們需要更多的私有資金來解決課堂上的問題。
值得慶幸的是,邀請(qǐng)企業(yè)投資K-12教育的模式切實(shí)可行。十三年來,EverFi公司與Beyond Meat、MassMutual Foundation、萬事達(dá)卡(Mastercard)、Truist、瑞銀集團(tuán)(UBS)等數(shù)百家企業(yè)合作,將數(shù)字化技能教育的規(guī)劃引入課堂。通過成功開發(fā)可擴(kuò)展的教育軟件,并密切關(guān)注知識(shí)獲取,EverFi與學(xué)區(qū)、學(xué)校、教師建立起深入合作。目前,已經(jīng)有超過4600萬名學(xué)生修讀了至少一門相關(guān)缺失環(huán)節(jié)的課程。
學(xué)習(xí)結(jié)果令人鼓舞,值得著重宣揚(yáng),對(duì)學(xué)生們的長期穩(wěn)定和成功起到了關(guān)鍵作用。近期,我們對(duì)參加金融知識(shí)課程培訓(xùn)的學(xué)生進(jìn)行了一項(xiàng)調(diào)查,結(jié)果顯示,學(xué)生們?cè)诖祟I(lǐng)域的知識(shí)增長多達(dá)22%。這個(gè)數(shù)據(jù)很有說服力,因?yàn)樗c學(xué)生的年齡、性別、年級(jí)或社會(huì)經(jīng)濟(jì)地位無關(guān)。既然如此,我們?yōu)槭裁床蛔屓珖恳幻袑W(xué)生都從這種教育中受益呢?畢竟,對(duì)學(xué)校而言,這是免費(fèi)的,完全由私營企業(yè)資助。
EverFi認(rèn)為,讓學(xué)生從年幼時(shí)就接觸這些知識(shí),可以推動(dòng)整個(gè)系統(tǒng)的變革。為了證明這個(gè)理論,我們收集建立了一個(gè)龐大的數(shù)據(jù)庫,匯集了數(shù)百萬參加相關(guān)課程學(xué)習(xí)的學(xué)生資料。我們將首次分享這些數(shù)據(jù),以激勵(lì)人們重新審視關(guān)鍵技能教育對(duì)學(xué)生的長遠(yuǎn)益處。這些數(shù)據(jù)還將涉及我們從全美各地的學(xué)生、教育工作者和學(xué)區(qū)收集到的關(guān)于教育缺失層面的見解,展現(xiàn)補(bǔ)充教育的社會(huì)優(yōu)勢(shì)。
盡管處在苦痛艱難、挑戰(zhàn)重重的歷史時(shí)刻,為教育重繪藍(lán)圖的新合作仍然令我歡欣鼓舞。從現(xiàn)在起,我們有能力補(bǔ)上關(guān)鍵生活技能這一教育短板,從而打破惡性循環(huán)。(財(cái)富中文網(wǎng))
湯姆?戴維森是EverFi公司的創(chuàng)始人及首席執(zhí)行官。
譯者:胡萌琦
The pandemic has cast a bright light on the inequities in America’s education system. These have manifested in many ways, including the lack of equal access to broadband and vast disparities in school funding. Poverty levels, lack of access to the systems that provide societal advantages, and woefully disparate investments have created a symphony of crises for children in American schools.
We are better than this.
As schools are reopening—following a year that gutted many to the core—administrators, teachers, and parents are contemplating what education will look like in the fall. There is some good news. School districts have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to rethink their curriculum and focus on building a foundation that begins to close the gap on systemic inequities. It can begin with this generation of students.
There is an infrastructure opportunity here. We must build the missing layer of education—the instruction that prepares students with the skills to build more vibrant and healthy lives. Central to the debate over education innovation is the question: What should be included in the core curriculum? Currently, it is a combination of subjects like reading, math, and science, but when do we teach students about the building blocks of personal economic and financial security, mental health and wellness, sustainable lifestyles and environmental protection, to name a few? Have we given them the tools to build wealth and economic opportunities for themselves and their families? How are they being prepared for the jobs and skills of the future like data science and understanding cryptocurrency? We need a more comprehensive, structured road map for all students to ensure long-term success and drive ecosystems of change.
This gaping hole is society’s missing learning layer. Our schools and teachers are doing the Herculean work of educating children, feeding children, and advocating for children. However, in order to fully prepare students for an ever-changing future, parents and teachers are left to left to harvest the far corners of the Internet for guidance and answers. To build this missing layer of education—one that’s been absent for decades—schools will need the resources to extend learning beyond the current core curriculum.
I learned lessons on critical skills through trial and error. I graduated from high school with a semi-thorough understanding of calculus and physics, but no appreciation for the implications of credit card debt, accessing and managing student loans, or understanding the health system. I learned, by mistake, the costs built into this widespread illiteracy. It hits us in our pockets and knocks us down by undermining our health. And it often becomes a cycle handed down from generation to generation. This is not a unique story.
Even before the pandemic, Americans of all ages were living without the critical knowledge to build a stable financial future. Today, only 21 states require personal finance coursework as a condition for graduating from high school. Match this with the fact that there is a $150,000-plus racial wealth gap in household net worth in this country. With a foundational understanding of personal finance, including stocks and securities, students can start to understand financial tools and learn how to build wealth. The financial system can be dynamic and perilous. Why not teach young people, as part of their school day, how to open accounts, access student aid, manage loans, navigate their credit, and access the on-ramp to the ownership society?
The pandemic has also exacerbated issues related to mental wellness and health care, two additional crises that reside within the missing learning layer. According to the World Health Organization, half of all mental health conditions start by 14 years of age. If quarantine has taught us anything, it’s that loneliness weighs on our young people. Prescription drugs taken nonmedically are among the drugs most commonly used by 12th-graders. And, nearly 46 million Americans say they would struggle to afford quality health care. Why not educate students on these critically important issues at scale?
There is a system of interconnected crises facing our youth when they are in school and as they enter the workforce. Now is the time to reimagine our system of education and put more focus on reaching students with a proven educational road map to tackle these systemic issues and teach life’s most critical skills.
As a former state legislator turned entrepreneur, I have spent my career researching, advocating, and building technology solutions for the democratization of critical-skills education. Like many I have expected that the government will lead the charge in solving society’s biggest problems. But it’s no longer the case that the public sector can do this, at least not alone. Governments change, philosophies change, political priorities change, and this results in a whiplashing of students and families with inconsistent policies and programs that are funded one year and gone the next. This churn, combined with tightening education budgets, only contributes to the list of growing problem sets and the lack of meaningful ways to combat these issues.
However, there is a way to address this: by democratizing education and recognizing the vital role of Corporate America. To ensure these critical skills are part of the core curriculum across the country, the private sector must step up with its vast resources, both financial and nonfinancial. Simply put, we need more private funding to tackle these issues in the classroom.
The good news: This model of inviting corporations to invest in K–12 education works. For more than 13 years, EverFi has worked with corporations and organizations— including Beyond Meat, MassMutual Foundation, Mastercard, Truist, and UBS, among hundreds of others—to deliver the road map of digital critical-skills education into the classroom. EverFi has succeeded in these efforts through the development of a scalable educational software solution and close collaboration with school districts, schools, and teachers, along with a maniacal focus on tracking knowledge gain. The result: To date, more than 46 million learners have received at least one course related to the missing learning layer.
The learning outcomes are impressive and worthy of significant discourse, as they play a critical role in a student’s long-term stability and success. According to a recent study of middle school students who took one of our financial literacy courses, students reported a gain of as much as 22% in knowledge on that subject. This data is powerful because the gain is consistent across the board, despite any differences in age, gender, school year, or socioeconomic status of the student. So why not ensure that every single middle school student in the country benefits from this education? After all, it is available to schools at no cost and is funded by the private sector.
EverFi has collected an impressive repository of student learning data to prove our thesis of impact—that reaching students at a young age can drive ecosystems of change. We have aggregated data from the millions of learners who have taken our educational courses, and for the first time, we will be sharing this data to inspire a fresh look at how education on critical skills can benefit students in the long game. This data will also showcase insights we have gathered from students, educators, and school districts nationwide on the societal advantages provided by education on the missing learning layer. EverFi has partnered with Fortune to offer readers an exclusive view of this data through a 10-part “report card” titled The State of Education in America, a series of reported stories that will launch on Fortune.com this fall.
Although this moment in our history will be marked by painful and challenging times, I am inspired by new collaborations that will reimagine education. We can build this missing learning layer of critical life skills and break this cycle, starting today.
Tom Davidson is the founder and CEO of EverFi.