How do you improve public education in the US?

Question

This is a serious question. My belief is it's ultimately about attracting and retaining better teachers through increased salaries. But I'm sure there are others who will have creative responses.

Answer 1

We need to take it MUCH more seriously than we do. Education is the MOST important thing on this Earth, fix that and you will find that other problems magically fix themselves. Imagine if all the money and effort in fighting Iraq were used for that instead?

The following things MUST be done, no matter WHAT it takes. If taxes need to be raised, so be it.

1. Attract the BEST qualified teachers as you stated.

2. Lower class sizes

3. REQUIRE parents be involved in education

4. Teach all children what a TREMENDOUS responsibility it is to bring up children and what it takes.

5. Teach all children MULTIPLE fluency in 5-6 languages. If Europe can do it, we can too.

6. Keep expectations of what children must learn high. Some will need after-school counseling and increased attention. That is fine.

7. From 16-20, EVERYONE is required to perform community service away from home. They have a choice of what and where, it may be the military, the Peace Corp, local community service.

And start the rest of this when children are LITTLE, 3 and 4 years old. This is our FUTURE we are talking about. We HAVE to do better.

Answer 2

I do agree that teachers do not get paid enough for the job they do...however, I also believe that teachers are too restricted (in the wrong ways) by school boards and parent opinions. Also, the way that children are being taught is not efficient. The public school system has a way of allowing children to be underacheivers and not retain anything they learn.

I would also like to point out that we, as a society (United States at leas), don't put a lot of importance on education as we should. That kind of attitude reflects on the kind of students there are. When children's opinion of education is already low, there is little teachers can do about it. I also think we should revaluate our priorities as a society.

Answer 3

Getting teachers that can teach the material well, I'm currently in school and there is nothing worse than a class where all you do is just sit there and listen to the teacher talk. I really do not think that a increased salary will improve anything at all.

Answer 4

Being a teacher already, in one of the LOWEST paid states in the nation (Oklahoma)....I can tell you that we have already stepped a step in the WRONG direction with the No Child Left Behind Law. This states that ALL children, no matter what their mental capabilities should or will be on the same learning/passing level as their peers or it is automatically the TEACHER's fault. (yes, this includes mentally challenged students)This law and all it's unfunded mumbo jumbo that comes with it, including low pay is what is running teachers off....not keeping them....even the good ones. I agree 110% with the fact that if a child does not act like he/she wants to be in the classroom, get them out of there....but find out if there is a REASON he/she is acting that way, first....I agree 200% that schools need to stop being a babysitting service and that PARENTS need to be held MUCH more accountable for their children and most of all I agree 300% that we, as teachers, need to make learning fun.....unfortunately, more and more, because of laws and mandates, we are being told what to teach, how to teach it and given little to do it with....and what are we being told to teach....THE TEST to make sure we are doing our jobs according to No Child Left Behind.
Just my thoughts..... :-)

Answer 5

How about privately owned and managed PUBLIC schools? Wow, that would be cool. I do agree with you about holding onto the good teachers with $. Also, what about increasing the length of school days? That would also allow teachers some "overtime" pay.

Answer 6

1. Get rid of the kids who are disruptive and refuse to do the work.
2. More vocational schools - not everyone is college bound.
3. Pay teachers more so they don't have to work multiple jobs, and get rid of pay for performance programs.
4. Make parents more accountable for their children's actions.
5. Get rid of the kids who are disruptive and refuse to do the work.

Answer 7

Teach the kids how to think instead of asking them to memorize huge amount of information. It is important to ignite their curiocity so that most of the work is done by students themselves, not by teachers.

Figuratively speaking, "a student is not a container that you have to fill but a torch that you have to ignite."

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Answer 8

Make school fun. Seriously, you can keep children's attention better if you make learning fun. Make up games about math, reading (especially improving vocabulary and comprehension), science and stuff.