“Is the Education System Broken?” Asks This New Honors Course At Austin Peay State University

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The Tennessee Conservative [By Adelia Kirchner] –

Assistant Professor of Education at Austin Peay State University (APSU) in Clarksville, Dr. Zack Barnes, is teaching an honors course this fall titled “Is the Education System Broken?”

The goal of this course is to challenge college students to thoroughly analyze their educational experience and critically assess how the education system functions.

Barnes believes that analyzing how exactly the education system is broken is the first step in solving a problem that impacts everyone, not just those actively participating in the system.

“As a former teacher, I think everyone should care about the education system,” said Barnes. “Caring about the education system shouldn’t just be from those who have kids in the school system but from all citizens. Some may see education as broken from a funding aspect, but others may see it as broken because they believe the education system focuses too much on testing.”

In this course, honors students are provided with an overview of current education policies and approaches regarding school vouchers, charter schools, school funding, standardized testing, the federal government’s role in education, and more. 

Barnes is also walking students through what the state legislative process looks like so they can draft their own pieces of education-focused legislation as part of the course.

“The students have such great ideas and can easily pinpoint things in the school system that they did not like or were not effective,” stated Barnes. “I wish we spent more time listening to our students because they have unique ideas on how to make our education system better.”

Clarksville Mayor Joe Pitts, a former state legislator, has even been visiting Barnes’ classes to discuss educational reform with students and to read through some of the classes’ proposed legislation.

“My students want an education system that educates the whole child,” Barnes said, “where we care about the mental health of our students and their ability to self-regulate their emotions. My students want to see more focus on preparing students for life after high school, with more chances to get out into the community and work in different fields.”

“My hope is as they leave APSU, they continue to be interested in how elected officials manage our education system,” stated Barnes.

About the Author: Adelia Kirchner is a Tennessee resident and reporter for the Tennessee Conservative. Currently the host of Subtle Rampage Podcast, she has also worked for the South Dakota State Legislature and interned for Senator Bill Hagerty’s Office in Nashville, Tennessee. You can reach Adelia at adelia@tennesseeconservativenews.com.