Statement of Purpose
My name is Kayla Rapet and I am a graduate student at Southern Oregon University. As Part of my capstone project, I have opted to conduct research on the development of the American education system from the mid-1600s to modern-day. In my studies, I have discovered how both the purpose of education and the attitudes toward the school system has evolved; founded on principles of teaching basic literacy and the word of the church, formal schooling was once tasked with making up for the inadequacies of uniformed parents and untrustworthy immigrants. In a flash-forward to modern-day education I found an education system riddled with controversy, one where religion is not allowed, and where teachers are battling against a society wrought with mistrust. All throughout the term I have been studying through the lens of alternative education, looking for innovative ideas, and searching for insight into how our current system may change—for the better—in the future. I consider this website to be a collection of my research and work that I’ve done in my journey to answer questions that have risen along the way. This is very much a work-in-progress, and I intend to add resources as I come across them.