Goals or Unrealistic Expectations?

Goals 2000: The Educate America Act in 1994

I believe that goal setting is essential to achievement and progress, and that goals should be set high to encourage excellence. This is particularly important in education where the futures of our children are concerned. However, goals must be realistic and attainable in order to be effective, or negative consequences will flow from good intentions. Setting unrealistic goals leads to inevitable failure, which when repeated with frequency results in disillusionment, diminished self-efficacy and esteem.

After researching the Educate America Act of 1994, I have concluded that many, if not all, of the goals specified were unrealistic and that the act resembles a “wish list” more than it does a legitimate and attainable statement of goals. For example, goal number one states, “All children in America will start school ready to learn.” By use of the superlative “All,” the writers of the goal have established a self-fulfilling prophecy of failure. Concepts such as 100%, total quality, and the like are rhetorical devices that originated in business, industry and advertising, and politics. Other goals in the act that are based on superlatives are goals: three; four; five; and six. Goal number two is slightly less exuberant, demanding a graduation rate of only ninety percent. It is still unrealistic however, because of the multitude of socio-economic economic issues besides education that are related to the problem and not addressed in the act. Goal number seven appears to be the most realistic on the surface; teachers everywhere should be able to access programs of improvement of their professional skills. Having access does not imply utilization. Nevertheless, the goal is realistic in nature because its attainment is at least possible.

In conclusion, I would say that it is no wonder that the act fell far short of meeting its goals by the year 2000, because they were unrealistic and unattainable in the first place. Initiatives based on nationalistic principals seldom achieve their goals.