What is wrong with the American school system?

Question

what are your thoughts to why there are so many problems in the school system?

Answer 1

Thanks for asking this very prudent question. I will start small, and get a little bigger, but I will, in the interest of time, try to keep it all as brief as I can.

First of all, the typical American School is much more interested in sports than academics. They will spend many thousands of dollars on football stadiums and equipment, and forego technology. The fact is that 99% of these kids will never get a full scholorship at a major college, and 99% of the onjes that do will not go pro. Therefore, it is logical to assume that it is wasting valuable time. More money should be spent on getting kids prepared to enter college. The average student enters college on a remedial level, at best. Students should graduate school wioth enough technical, mathematical and scientific knowledge to go to work immediately in at least moderately advanced positions. College should be for those who are to be doctors, lawyers, Nuclear engineers, etc., istead of barely being smart enough to flip burgers. (I have 7th graders at the school where I work that read on a 3rd grade level... what's up with that?)

Next, there is significant underfunding of public schools by the government. The government would sooner spend billions of dollars on war, than spend a dime on the education that would overt it completely. There, too, is a reason for this. If the government is able to keep the general population uneducated, then they can pick and choose who will hold the important posts in the government. Kind of like the genetic pool for the rich.


Edit: also, people who blame teachers for all of the above.

Answer 2

Just a few comments: Those who say that the school system is underfunded are apparently unaware that the US spends the most money per student in the whole world, above 12 thousand dollars per student per year, on average. Other nations spend much less and do a much better job. So I don't think money is the problem. I think a very important factor in the failure of the education system in the US is in the attitude both of the students and their parents. Too many students are simply too lazy, not interested in anything except in having a good time and too immature to realize the importance of their education for their future. Too many parents also are a part of the problem since they do not want to get involved in their children's education. Many teachers also contribute to the problem by stressing rote memory rather than critical thinking. Even some psychologists are not helping anything by insisting that recognizing excellence in some students is detrimental to the other students because it hurts their self esteem.

Answer 3

First let me remind all of those who say we don't have enough money that America is the wealthiest nation in the world. Our economy consists of 12.7 trillion dollars which is twelve thousand billion dollars. Where I come from only rich, preppy schools have air-conditioning but here it is a must have. The problem that I see with American School System is the way kids are taught that everything is easy since they start school. Everything has to have little drawings and be easy to understand. In my town you don't see any teenagers doing actual research on anything, it is just the homework reviewing what they already taught them in school so the students forget what they learned after every "chapter test." I believe they should make school fun but involve them more in what they learn. More research, more group work, etc..

Answer 4

I think that the problem with the school system is that parents don't want to take responsibility in raising their children. They expect the teachers to do the raising for them. I've heard of parents suing teachers and schools because their children have failing grades. The kids usually fail because they miss too many days of school and because they don't learn. I know a person that when asked by his boy to help with homework, he tells him, "I'll help you later." Of course, he doesn't and the poor kid doesn't do his homework, and thus fails. I try to help when I can, but I need to draw the line somewhere too, after all he's not my kid. There are also some teachers that don't give a damn about any of the students and are just there to collect a pay check. I think a thorough elimination of lazy teachers and an education in parenting for lazy parents could help out the school system a bit.

Answer 5

As a former public school teacher of 35 years I feel qualified to answer this. Education starts at home with discipline, respect and love. Here in America our children come to school hearing negative things about teachers and the school. If a child is unruly it's because the teacher doesn't motivate him. In Europe children go to school to learn not to be entertained! They spend less time in the class with teacher. The parents are required to work with the child at home with the teacher's guidance. They do not question the teacher's recommendations She/He is the professional. That's what they were trained for. A European child wouldn't dream of disrespecting a teacher. Teachers today in America are pawns of a system that really does not care about education but merely about corporate America. They woo book companies, and equipment manufacturers and cater too much to ignorant parents. Parents should be forced to go to school before their child attends. Children should not start school until they are really ready-7 or 8. Parents should work with their child every single day of the year including summers. A child should not be kept in school if he can not maintain self discipline . Disruptive students hinder the education of others. The teacher should not have to be a Law Enforcement officer.Lets make public education better by improving it and educating the parents.Taking monies away from it does not improve it.

Answer 6

The problems in the school system have many roots. They begin in the home where both parents are working and don't have the time to nurture their child. They are not read to, taught the importance of education, or how to behave. Hook that up with poor teacher education, too much government interference, horrible school administrations, kids who think that education ought to be entertainment, parents who think their child can do no wrong, and what you have is people who can cannot read, write or do basic math. I find it very disturbing.

Answer 7

I'll tell you exactly what is wrong with the school system. We allowed our law makers to take God and prayer out of school. If you think I am wrong, invite God back into our school and watch what happens. I stake my life on the fact that you will see a 360 degree turn in the whole system.

Answer 8

it incredibly is extremely the thrilling predicament. Conservatives do no longer want to repair the coaching gadget and that they in fact sense that faculties should not be paid for by making use of tax funds, yet, while babies flunk out, they have a tendency to assist republicans (the babies do, purely like their mum and dad did). additionally.. Conservatives (or as a chum calls them, fundy fooktards) are all approximately relatives values and have faith that oldsters are people who could instruct their babies, no longer the state or interior sight government, yet, while their babies Do pass to college they are all up in palms with reference to the coaching the babies are receiving. (evolution and non-abstinence intercourse coaching). What I propose you do, is, ask the college education counselor the place you could receive loose or low fee tutoring interior the themes you're combating (yet another provider provided by making use of us liberal bleeding hearts) by way of fact, without an coaching you will conflict throughout your comprehensive life. sturdy success with college.

Answer 9

Not enough money, horrible children with no home raising or respect, burned out teachers who have to meet certain goals that the children cannot meet.

There are too many things to list here....

Answer 10

Mostly because we're poor and theres no money to supply anything. If we were getting more money we'd have a nicer school and a better education.