What Would You Do To Fix The US Education System?

Question

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Answer 1

I would give out vouchers so that students could compete to go to the best schools. Schools should be run like businesses without government interference. Teachers would have to compete for the best jobs at the best schools. This works in business so why would it not work in education? This has worked very well in Europe. They stomp our kids when it comes to ACT/SAT testing. The teachers know if they do not do a good job they stand to loose their position. The reason teachers in the US disagree with this is because they are scared of the competition and Teacher Union's would loose power. In the state of New York a teacher got caught sending sexual emails to a student and was not fired. The Union saved his job.

Answer 2

Hmm.. where to start?

First: A minimum of a Master's degree should be required to teach. They should also have the very same background investigations that high ranking government law enforcement gets.

Second: Funding adjustment. Good teachers deserve good salaries. Books and equipment are more important than a new football stadium (sorry boys). Every student should be required to participate in at least one extra-cirricular activity (funded by the parent, or when that's not possible - THEN and only then should the tax dollars be utilized). I also think parents should be mandated to be involved. Perhaps make the parent SHOW UP to get the report card, and a conference? There are just TOO MANY lazy/uncaring parents.

Third: Revamp the disciplinary system. There are too many kids getting zero consequences for their actions. What the hell is out of school suspension? CRAP, that's what. It's a mini-vacation, and an excuse to screw up. Detention is also a joke.

How's that for a start?

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Answer 3

Teach kids CRITICAL THINKING skills so they can find out the truth for themselves. Don't teach them what to believe, teach them how to THINK. In the US we don't have an education system, we have an indoctrination system. Also, increase government spending so all people have access to education. My university just had the largest tuition increase in history due to budget cuts, pretty soon only rich people will be able to afford education, furthering oppression of the poor and disenfranchised. Private education is simply not that much better than public, believe me. Another brilliant idea would be to learn from countries that have excellent education systems, like Finland for example.

Answer 4

I know this is going to earn me a lot of flames but here goes: I would institute education tax credits for those who enroll (their children) in private schools. This would force the public school system to compete with the private schools.

Answer 5

First of all parents need to to teach their kids respect. Respect for themselves and their bodies, and to respect others. A very large majority of teachers feel unsafe, because the kids have no respect for authority. This is because parents would rather be their childs friend, than a parent....your kids still need parents....they need to know that the parents care. So we as parents must be parents....this means that we have to dislipine and set boundaries. Tell them that they cannot do this and that....that they cannot be disrespectful to adults. Every day life is based on rules...if the kids do no tlearn to live by those rules they will fail as adults. It is a cruel world, and when they get out there it is going to be a rude awaking for them. Many are getting fired from jobs because they have no respect, no respect for authority. Kids think it is funny to get in trouble and mama and daddy are going to get them out, when they grow up and have a boss.....that boss is not going to care what his/her parents think...your kid was disrespectful to him or another person, and so now you child has been fired. Your child is po'ed and has been wronged. No you wronged your child by not teaching him/her any different.Now once you have taught you child to respect others, and the authority over them, then comes education....but you cannot get a good education if things do not happen at home. It is not the teachers job to raise our kids, and teach them right from wrong....it is our jobs as parents. At this point parents are failing their kids, not the schools failing our kids.

Teachers cannot do it alone. They must have the support of the parents, and the parents must reinforce what it being taught. Parents must be active in their child's education...I know alot of parents are going to say...I don't have time....MAKE TIME.... your kids still need you. They need you to be there. Even if it just showing up to help with an event. going on an occasional field trip. It really means alot to your child when you do. When your child realizes that you love them enough to take a day off of work to participate in a school activity...you cannot imagine what message that sends to you child. when you are active, and your kids know that you support them and will be there....they make good and correct choices when it come to drugs and alchol. We as parents have to commit ourselves to our children, they deserve it. I will end on this.....OUR CHILDREN LEARN BY EXAMPLE. They learn how to be parents, by what they see you do, and act.

Answer 6

I wouldn't hide thigs from the students about US history, or lie to them. Our history is SHlT. This country lied, cheated and stole to get where it is today. I wouldn't enforce complete silence and order, or promote the loss of ones idividual autonomy. And the idea of hierarchy is promoted in the US educational system. It's all shlt.

Answer 7

Raise expectations, tighten testing, no ebonics or foreign languages in class, pay and train teachers better and don't make it so easy for anyone to become one.

Answer 8

Make it the top priority for government funding.

Answer 9

Abolish summer vacation.