A stand-out idea prompted by this week’s material is how education policy isn’t just about schools—it’s about shaping society. One new thought is how governments use education as a tool to produce specific types of citizens—economically productive, morally aligned, and socially integrated. This raises questions: Are students being educated for themselves, or for the state?

Update:

In President Joe Biden’s 2023 State of the Union Address, he stated:

“Let’s give public school teachers a raise. Let’s provide access to pre-school for every 3- and 4-year-old. And let’s offer every American a path to a good career whether they go to college or not.” 

Biden’s remarks frame education as an economic and moral imperative. The focus on early education and equitable access highlights education as a social equalizer, while the nod to non-college paths recognizes the need to diversify the skills pipeline beyond traditional academia. However, while these statements sound promising, they lack specific implementation mechanisms. For example, how will states be incentivized to fund teacher pay raises, or how will vocational training be scaled equitably?

There is substance in terms of vision, but the rhetoric could benefit from clearer policy pathways.

🔹Source:
Biden, J. R. (2023). State of the Union Address. Full Text via White House