Ian Rowe_ Agency vs. Equity, Which Path Forward for American Education

Introduction

  • Speaker: Jason Carroll, Director of Family Initiative, Wheatley Institute, Brigham Young University.

  • Welcome message to attendees and appreciation for participation.

  • Acknowledgements for contributions to the event, including:   - Prelude music by Zach Adamson, piano performance major.   - Marlene Sinclair, Cassidy Weaver, and other Wheatley Institute team members.   - Sarah Andrews, communications manager, and her team's marketing efforts.   - BYU community members including audio-visual and building staff.   - Wheatley student scholars for ushering help.   - Acknowledgement of Rich Osgoflor, associate academic vice president.   - Acknowledgement of Paul Edwards, director of the Wheatley Institute.

Invocation

  • Invocation offered by Dr. Ali Crandall, faculty fellow in the family initiative, asking for blessings upon the lecture and participants.

Event Information

  • Structure of the event:   - Two-part event:     1. Lecture segment.     2. Reception with refreshments in the Lower Level Conference Room of the Hinkley Center.

  • Upcoming event announcement:   - Wheatley Institute's event with journalist McKay Coppins discussing his new book "Romney, A Reckoning" on February at 11 A.M. in the Varsity Theater.   - Focus on Mitt Romney's biographical insights and political context.

Introduction of Ian Rowe

  • Ian Rowe’s credentials and background:   - Senior Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute focusing on education, family formation, and adoption.   - Founder and CEO of Vertex Partnership Academies, a network of character-based public charter high schools in The Bronx.   - Former CEO of Public Prep, a charter school network serving the South Bronx.   - Leadership roles in educational and philanthropic institutions including Teach for America and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.   - Author of "Agency: The Four Point Plan for All Children to Overcome the Victimhood Narrative and Discover Their Pathway to Power."

Key Themes from Ian Rowe's Speech

Context of American Education

  • Discussion on racial and educational disparities, exacerbated by the events surrounding George Floyd's death.

  • Importance of addressing barriers to prosperity for African Americans and youth of all races through education.

  • Personal experience as a school leader in addressing educational challenges faced by low-income black and Hispanic students in New York City.

Statistics on Educational Outcomes

  • District 12 statistics: Only 7% of public school students began ninth grade in 2015 and graduated college-ready.

  • Racial achievement gaps and the broad implications of educational policies.

  • National assessment data (NAEP 2022): Only 33% of fourth graders reach proficient reading levels, with 37% below the basic level.

Agency vs. Equity

  • Agency: Emphasizes individual opportunity and removing barriers for personal success.   - Framework focusing on character-forming institutions such as family, faith, and education.   - Encourages personal accountability and empowerment.

  • Equity: Defined as equal group outcomes, often leading to lowering standards in education to meet demographic averages.   - Critique of educational systems embracing equity that perpetuate mediocrity instead of excellence.   - Call to re-think educational standards and practices that lead to false achievement.

The Free Framework for Empowerment

  • Introduction of the FREE model which stands for:   1. Family   2. Religion   3. Education   4. Entrepreneurship

  • Each pillar's role in fostering agency and personal development.

Pillar Focus: Education

  • Importance of school choice and the legislative barriers affecting educational freedom in underprivileged areas.

  • Launch of Vertex Partnership Academies designed to cultivate virtue-centered education.

  • Curriculum focusing on fundamental skills, historical knowledge, arts education, and development of cardinal virtues.

Cardinal Virtues

  • Courage: "I reject victimhood and boldly persevere even in times of uncertainty and struggle."

  • Justice: "I uphold our common humanity and honor the inherent dignity of each individual."

  • Temperance: "I lead my life with self-discipline because I am responsible for my learning and behavior."

  • Wisdom: "I make sound judgments based on knowledge of objective universal truth."

  • Emphasis on moral and ethical development within educational practices.

Conclusion

  • Call for a societal shift towards recognizing individual agency over equity.

  • Encouragement to view America as a platform for self-renewal and betterment.

  • Final quotation from de Tocqueville emphasizing the capacity for improvement within American society.

Q&A Section

Reactions to Curriculum

  • Discussion on the curriculum's impact on students, including the codification of virtues.

  • Importance of rooted values and the positive responses from students regarding character education.

Thoughts on Supreme Court Ruling

  • Insights on the implications of eliminating race-based admissions in colleges.

  • Description of student perspectives on race and merit in academic admissions.

The Importance of Holistic Education

  • Interest in incorporating adult education services into school programming.

  • Aspiration to serve both students and their families through educational opportunities.

Agency and Altruism

  • Discussion on how agency encourages service and community engagement among students.

  • Integration of service initiatives into the school's curriculum to honor community dignity.

Conclusion of the Q&A

  • Encouragement for attendees to engage in further conversations and discussions beyond the event.