I was perusing the internet and encountered a variety of websites that offered specialized products that allow customers to enter in their personal characteristics to net suggestions on buying products that are individualized just for the customer. Consumers can purchase food items, makeup, tailored clothing, movies, books and magazines, bath and body products, pet food or hair products that are all tailored for the unique needs of the customer.
The automotive industry offers the same type of personalized selection opportunities to build the specific motor vehicle of the customer’s choosing. Adaptations can be made to vehicle trim to increase or decrease head or legroom, include the addition of assistive technology or automation that can make it easier to operate, enter or exit a vehicle.
It makes sense that businesses would provide customers opportunities to personalize their products to meet the diverse needs of the customers they serve. Can you imagine going to a restaurant where they sold only one kind of meat, vegetable or side dish? Certainly, that eatery would perfectly meet the needs of a segment of the population, but a large contingent of customers would be ill-served at such an establishment.
It seems that industry has embraced the need to offer the opportunity to personalize their products to meet the unique needs of each of their customers. Women everywhere can tell you that beauty products that work flawlessly for them, may not work at all for a friend who appears to have the same skin care needs. The internal physiological nuances within both users renders each user’s products ineffective on the other. It seems that many industries have embraced the need to provide individualized services to their customers. Why hasn’t public education incorporated this concept?
One of the most important service providers in all communities is our public schools. Our nation’s schools serve a socially, academically, racially, ethnically and otherwise diverse population. The needs of learners vary widely with some students thriving in our public schools with no problems. However, for many other students, this is not the case. Many students are floundering in the public school classroom where the one-size-fits-all approach to education has persisted unsuccessfully for decades.
When will public education take a cue from other industry and begin to integrate education opportunities that effectively meet the needs of a contemporary body of learners? Education statistics clearly reveal the decades old, one-size-fits-all approach to education does not work for all learners, about 60- 70 percent of learners to be exact. Currently, the best minds in education don’t seem to think that variety and alternatives in our schools are necessary priorities as we grapple with dismal academic performances of our 4th, 8th and 12th grade students in reading, math and science. I guess we will continue on the path to failure with flawless skin, tailored clothing and a lovely car that suits us perfectly from which we can watch our children continue to struggle.
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