How can we improve education?

Question

How how much would it improve if parents got involved?

Answer 1

If parents got involved it would make more difference than any other change. When I went to school, I knew my parents expected me to behave in school, pay attention, do my work to the best of my ability and treat everyone with respect.

Now, parents actually tell their children they don't need to follow the school rules, they don't owe anyone respect, nothing will happen if they don't do their work or the parent will "take care of the problem", if the teacher makes them unhappy, they'll get them fired.

To the writers who believe the answer is vouchers, you need to think the whole thing through. Do you really believe that the private and parochial schools will keep some of the students that the public school has to keep? Where I teach, we have students transfer back to the public school all the time because they were asked to leave the non-public schools. How many private schools will accept the stealing, fighting, disprutive behavior, incomplete or non-existent work that the public schools have to accept.

Our district has the highest number of charter schools in the state. Charter schools are private schools (exempt from many rules) paid for with public funds. They have been in existance for more than 5 years. Their scores on the state achievement test are worse than those of the public schools.

If you can't support public education as it is, maybe you should join it and show the rest of us what we are doing wrong.

Answer 2

Yes, parents need to be involved in all aspects of their children's lives. One of the best ways that they can help with a child's education is to demand that the student makes good grades. I am a teacher and so many times I have heard parents say that they can't make their child learn. This is not true. Parents can make sure that their children are at home and that they are studying an appropriate amount of time. They can give the appropriate discipline when a child is failing in school. They can find out what their children are doing in school and what they need to do in order to make good grades. When I have worked hard to make interesting lesson plans and spent my days trying to help students and some parent tries to claim that I am not doing my job because his/her child is making bad grades, it takes all my restraint not to tell that parents that he/she is the one not doing the job. Especially when I know that the student in question never has homework, stays up all night on the internet ( and not on academic sites), misbehaves in class, and makes stupid and/or disrespecful remarks to me. One of the biggest problems I see with students is apathy. They don't seem to care whether they learn anything or not. The saddest part of all this is that I teach advanced students and every year I have seen them get less and less interested in getting a real education. They and their want easy A's, the grade is more important than the content. Parents have got to realize that they are the parents and that they are the adults. They have got to get hold of their children and demand that they behave and do well in school. That is what is going to save education in this country.

Answer 3

It would improve sooo much. Trust me, kids need guidance to do successfully in school. I'm in high school and most of my friends get good grades because their parents are on their butts all the time to get their homework done. If a parent just tells there kid to do their hw immediately after school before they do other activities then their kids will be less likely to succumb to procrastination and laziness. I know this is true because as soon as my parents stopped getting more involved, my grades started slipping and I could feel myself becoming lazy. I also see that my parents will be on top of my brother and his grades will be decent but as soon as they hold off his grades go back down to D's and F's. However, I'm not saying that parents should put COMPLETE pressure on their children. I don't think it's right if a parent gets mad because their kids don't get straight A's. It's not healthy.

Answer 4

it would improve tremendously if we got the parents involved but the problem is the parents don't care alot of the times themselves. My ex thinks my son should be able to quit school and drive truck when he's sixteen if he wants to.

Of course as long as I'm breathing thats not going to happen because I do care and am involved. It makes a difference.

Answer 5

Parental involvement is THE key. One of the best ways we can improve it is vouchers - introduce some COMPETITION into the school systems - then you'll really see some improvement. But it will never happen because the teachers unions are petrified that they will be exposed for their ineptitude.

Answer 6

education starts at home. so initially it all starts with the parents. they need to be responsible and provide their family with a decent home and relationship. next is, effective teachers. those that can walk an extra mile and consider students human beings and not specimen. natural teachers so they say. they dont really try that much, they are just born that way. parents and teachers should go hand in hand for the best of the students.

Answer 7

Education would make a strong turn to the GOOD, if academic competition returned. Not for passing tests, but achievements.

No child left behind means, compete for mediocrity. This does not even fit the human spirit. Real competition is a natural human quality.

Answer 8

I agree with most of the answers here. Thinking outside of the box I would like to see our TV media become more of an advocate of education. I would have sit com plots have at least one subplot based on something of educational value, perhaps a piece of poetry that has lasting value, the plot of Romeo and Juliet that the sit com family is exposed to and marvels at. Sort of a mix of things important along with the mindless trivia that is the main story line. Maybe the sigh "to be or not to be" would make sense to even the least educated of our youth after they saw it and its explanation, on a favorite TV program.

Answer 9

It will improve dramatically, however, because of how our society is set up, both parents have to work two jobs in order to have a decent lifestyle, which is the trouble with our society.

Answer 10

Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back. Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one elementary truth, the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then Providence moves too. All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one's favor all manner of unforeseen incidents and meetings and material assistance, which no man could have dreamed would have come his way. Whatever you can do, or dream you can do, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it. Begin it now.