What do you think we should do to better the education in America?

Question

Be aware that the Teacher's Union make it extremely difficult to fire any teacher, whether good or bad.

There was also an interesting case that featured a high school teacher who molested a girl and guess what, he still has his job because of the union.

Answer 1

I think that education is as much a family thing as it is a schooling thing. There are so many parents these days who have no interest in what their kids are learning. A child needs the basics to be supplied at home before any teacher can get them interested in learning.

Answer 2

There's a difference between being the problem and having problems. Teachers unions have some problems.
But the real problem is that what is called education in America is not.
It is destructive socialization.

If a student can't make the grade, that student must be passed anyway, for social reasons. The primary focus for far too many is sports or sex, not study.

It used to be that a hs diploma meant something: that this person has what it takes to apply themselves to serious study, having persevered through 12 years with concentrated effort in order to acquire a high level of proficiency (hence the term high school) in the academic disciplines.

Employers would surely seek out such educated individuals, because they would make better employees. They had fertile minds to offer.

Not so today.

Although many employers require hs diplomas, it is less likely that that is any reasonable guarantee that their new employee can add, subtract, multiply or divide, let alone read well, spell proficiently, or even speak English understandably or fluently. Listening skills are also lacking.

Neither do they know how to get along well either with anyone in authority, or often even with their own peers.

What today's education system is lacking is the same thing that Homeschooling is commonly criticized for not being able to provide: socialization skills.

If you combine that with low academic requirements for graduation, and you find a pretty flawed system.

How can you fix it?

Give everyone 16 free years of education.

Everyone passes or fails based solely on ability to prove they're ready for the next level.

If you fail, you stay at that level until you pass.

Each subject is independent.

You have 16 free years, that's it.

If you want to drop out, you must work (anytime beginning age 16). You can return anytime you like to complete your free 16 years.

Answer 3

The Family unit needs to be integrated back into the lives of the student. When the parents started to work full time, leaving the children to be taken care of by others less suited to the job, the importance of schooling and the bond of the family is destroyed. It is not the fault of the teachers or schools, since more and more money is funneled into the system by bureaucrats. I think the system of the schools is flawless, and the USA has the highest potential for learning and progress ( since other countries are coming here to get advanced diplomas), yet most of the population does not take advantage of our incredible schools. This is not the fault of the teachers, even though I do realize there are some bad ones, but the fault of those at home. If the child is not taught the value of education, and the fun that could be had by learning, then the child will not care.

Also, children born to uneducated parents or accidental births are much more likely to abandon their education, and follow their parents footsteps. Poverty breeds poverty, and most people raised in such conditions don't realize that there is something on the other side of the fence, just waiting to be discovered by the inquisitive mind.

Good luck in trying to instill any responsibility in unfit parents, and give teachers more respect - they put up with so much, and get paid so little.

Answer 4

In todays school systems, Teachers teach a stereotypical lesson where they only stimulate the concious mind, shoving information into students minds without them completely understanding the lessons content that needs to be passed from teacher to student while the subconcious is closed. Perhaps by broadening the teachers perspective on teaching, they will find a way to keep the subconcious mind alive, causing the student to think outside of the box and make the connections between the subjects that the teachers are attempting to educate the students with. The fact that almost all education is passed through in book form doesn't help either. Every child learns after a matter of years that school is an action in which they are forced to endure. Day after day, students stare at books and doesn't leave the student yearning to hurry home to read an interesting book, does it? By forcing students to read, their perspectives on entertainment are diluted and students have few other sources of activities than video games and watching tv. In conclusion, maybe a different way of teaching and getting a lesson across is vital to the future of any society as the youth are, in the end, the future of the world.

Answer 5

In my belief there is no such thing as a bad student only bad teachers. I think these days to many teachers are teaching for all the wrong reasons. The Teachers Union is a good thing but we need to insist that there be a better evaluation done before a teacher is hired. A background check, an evaluation from the affiliation to which they graduated would be helpful as well.
i myself was mistaken as a student while taking my daughter to a tryout and was cursed by a teacher. I did report the episode and nothing was done. i think the teaching staff should be bound by the same rules the students. It is a fact that children learn from adults if we as adults are behaving in such an unacceptable manor than how are theses children suppose to behave and conduct themselves. More discipline needs to be taking place and not with the students either.

Answer 6

I think those cases are the exception. I've been to public school for (+10 years) and private school for the remainder and both places had wonderful teachers. My mom is a teacher and she has always put her students first, spending extra time (unpaid) to help students and I think many other teachers do the same.

To improve education, I think for starters we should:

1. Give teachers more positive incentives to do their job

2. Increase Parent Involvement starting at a young age (education should happen at home as well)

3. Consider other factors (economic, social): Is there a high poverty rate? A high crime rate and address these issues as best as we can. Have after-school, before-school programs. These factors also have to be addressed outside the educational system as well.

(Just today I read an article about a teacher in Hunters Point who takes her students on field trips to museums, musicals, which in some cases, are students first time outside their community.)

Answer 7

R-E-S-P-E-C-T Respect begins at home....something that should be taught by the parents to their children. Parents need to respect the teachers and make sure their children know that if they misbehave in school they will have to answer for that behavior at home. High expectations from parents and teachers for the children. The lower the expectations....the lower children will set their own expectations. High expectations from teachers to the parents and from parents to the teachers. I do not believe the sexual preferences or religious preferences of teachers has anything to do with the quality of the teaching....you will find good or bad quality in every gender, every sexual preference, every religion. If parents, students AND TEACHERS show respect for the subject and knowledge that is being taught, then the reward is "education". Parents and teachers need to communicate with each other and the children need to know their parents & teachers are communicating. There is a triangle...the parent(s), the teacher(s)...the student(s). If interest is withheld by any part of the triangle....education is limited, maybe even lost.

Answer 8

I think they should give teachers more input on corriculum choices and also bring some discipline back to schools. Today teachers are afraid to say anything to students to discipline them. I enjoyed school and always listened, partly because if I didn't I would be sent to principal's offie for punishment. There is no respect for authority now, we let the kids and the parents call the shots. Structure needs to be taught in kindergarten and on. The looseness started in the 80's and has progressed since then and we have experienced more and more disprespect all the way around. I know this sounds old fashioned but maybe some old fashioned sense could help students.

Answer 9

First education starts at home!

After that we need to find teacher's who want to teach! Teachers do not work the same hours that most jobs put in. They do not need to make the same amount of money as they do. All this union stuff is hurting our childrens education. Teachers are running out the door the minute the school bell rings is not helping our children. They should stay for thoes who need the help. It is their job to teach. I am going to college to become a secondary teacher. I do not expect to get paid the same as most American jobs because I will have more time off. But I want to teach because it is in my heart to do so. It is teachers who teach with their hearts that make a difference!

Answer 10

Wow that is a loaded question.
1) The teacher union target is crap get over yourself there is a few bad apples in every field that is life. (Last three child molestors and last two drunk drivers that killed people were fire fighters here should can all of them?)

2) Schools need to step up quit making excuses and start doing some work (It would be nice to pay the teachers that are working from 7:00am until 6:00pm everyday with students tutoring and what not)

3) Stop social promotion in the lower grades no student should be able to get to high school with a 3rd grade reading level and a 4th grade math

4) The people ahead of me talking of the home hit the nail on the head. I have called home and asked hey is sally doing homework at home because she is doing very poorly and swears she left it all there to which mom or dad will say look honestly I don't know we ain't home and that little ***** lies to us anyways....ain't it your job to do that stuff.

5) Accountability for Teachers (makes it easier to get rid of the bad) students (no homework no effort great McDonalds is hiring see ya) Parents (get involved ask questions watch road to glory there is a mom working)

6) Check out the research, Daggett, breaking ranks, Professional Learning Communities, New american High schools, Model schools it can be done

7) Another one growing right now with some success gender based schools and classrooms

Sarcastic answer........ yes let teacher kick out 5 jerks a year because that will get rid of the turds so that the rest of the kids can go further faster with less distraction. Just dream my dream that little brat that told me to kiss off because I asked her where her homework is ....gone the boy who all I see is the back ofhis head because he is flirting with the girl behind him....gone man cheap employees and someone to ask, "want fries with that?"

Last note Student beat another student with bat and hit teacher still in school because of an IEP...... Student shoots two fellow students get house arrest until he completes 200hours community service........student writes book describing beating a teacher with a night stick to death then raping the body 2 day suspension put back into classes by district and his attorney all in one district..... for every bad teacher (yes they are out there) there are probably 50 bad students.