why is it that schools are not able to facilitate the needs of all our children?

Question

for example just having adequate support staff, disabled access, etc.

Answer 1

We flat out don't have the money. My district has turned that around and I even returned to this state to be a part of it. I am lucky to have tons of staff to help meet the needs of my kids.

My biggest gripe is the parents. I have kids in the classroom for a total of 5 hours a day. That is not enough to educate a child. Children should be taught how to read long before they enter a classroom and they should practice math, reading, and science at home. It doesn't have to be bookwork. Fun stuff like science toys and such are wonderful. Many parents do step up and meet the needs of their kids. However, I hear too often parents don't have time for their kids. If that is the case, you should honestly never have children.

George W. Bush has demanded goals for our kids, then severely cut the funding to levels far below where they were before the requirement for further testing and staffing. As a result, teachers are being paid less, support staff is being cut or underfunded, and supplies are coming out of our pockets. For example, I get $60 a year for supplies. I spend over 2000 a year out of pocket to run my classroom.

Answer 2

The first look should be at the parents.

There is no reason why a child should not be taught to read at home.
There is no reason why appropriate behavior can not be taught at home.

Too many of the parents duties at being shifted to the teachers, which bogs down the learning process and the numbers of students the slower ones get left behind.

Too, our teaching methods are archaic ~ new and better models have been invented in the 70's and 80's that simply have not been embraced.

Drugging our kids with Prozac because we just want peace and quiet.

Our parents need to be less defensive and support our teachers. Hearing "my child would never do that" stops any possibility of progress.

Reduce some of the needs by getting the parents to do their part and our schools could flourish.

Answer 3

Lots of reasons. The biggest is lack of funding. Most school systems are finances by local taxes. This means that school systems in rich areas get more money than those in poor areas, when the poor schools need the money more. There's a lack of qualified teachers because they don't get paid well and get no respect - teachers have been assaulted by their students, who are not punished, for example. Many parents have abdicated their responsibilities and expect schools to teach more and more. Students with disabilities are grouped in with mainstream students, which means teachers have to spend extra time on the ones with problems and don't have enough time for the rest. Money has to go toward school nurses, security and metal detectors in addition to supplies. The system is just stretched too thin. They have to do too much with too little and they're starting to crumble.

Answer 4

the emphasism is wrong.

Education should be for the joy of education and not a task for the end result of statistics and exam results. Emphasism should not be on the child's personality and their ability to work in groups. They're individual needs are not met, because they are not treated as individuals. Curiculums do not work, individual child projects are those remembered by the child not exam papers or intense learning to take an exam. Course work works better than exams, it brings a personal element to their studies.

In short, earlier learning of the basics of education realising children have differing learing abilities and are individuals.

Kick all religion out of school and make learning more fun.

Answer 5

You cant facilitate everyone then it wouldnt be a school it would be a community centre with no teaching just catering for all needs.
Funding is a problem living in a crap area even worse
move out of your area train your child and get back to basics
crap schools breed crap children
be careful

Answer 6

My view is that schools are being pushed into inclusiveness. This is another fashion, to which schools are so prone.

It is a general truism that if you want to excel, you specialise, and schools are going the other way. It is also true that some stigma is attached to specialist schools, or at least the attendance of one, but that is a problem of ignorance in society, not of quality in learning and development.

Answer 7

A combination of short term planning, minimising spending and being obliged to plough the majority of money into services that are of benefit to the majority of people.

Answer 8

Maybe we as the parents should be more involved and not just depend on the schools to educate our children. Our kids (well at least mine are mine) are our greatest accomplishment. Let's volunteer more and teach them at home as well and get involved!

Answer 9

It mostly comes down to shortage of money which is because people do not like increases in Community Charge

Answer 10

Because we are spending money that we don't have to fight an invisible enemy in an untenable war.

But don't forget - and this is very important - according to Mr. Bush no child will be left behind.