What is the best way to save our failing public school system?

Answer 1

The most important is to rethink what goes on in school. Currently, there are huge lists of hundreds of thousands of item that students are expected to "learn" (which usually is understood as a mindless thing -- parrot words, or repeat a series of steps).

Most of these are details, not important things in themselves.

Instead, we need the curriculum we're trying to teach consist of the most significant things -- the biggest bang for the buck things, the basic ideas and most useful concepts, distinctions, lines of reasoning, and what I call "gotcha's" in every field.

(That last is about the things that kids come into school thinking that aren't so, for example, that light things fall slower than heavy things. We all develop informal theories of physics, psychology, probability, and other subjects, that are just flat-out wrong. Currently, we act as though simply telling students they're wrong is "teaching" but it doesn't work.)

Students should be continually applying these big ideas and abilities over and over in a wide variety of contexts where those tools actually help them understand, explain, or accomplish things.

(That's how they get the details, not by "covering" the details as though they were valuable per se, but by working with the basic concepts and tools in lots of contexts.)

Also, students should frequently take something they've worked on and publish it -- create publishable product (including writing and graphical representation -- whatever they need) to communicate what they did and what they learned.

(The publishing can be on the web, or in newsletters home, or in other forms.)

The purpose of education SHOULD be intellectual empowerment. That is achieved only when students do hard intellectual work.

Our current approach of trying to feed them meaningless bits doesn't engage their minds.

(The other thing I'd do is fix funding, so it was no longer true that rich kids go to schools with everything, and everyone else goes to impoverished schools.)

Answer 2

Where do we start? Schools need more money, better textbooks, dedicated teachers (like me!). Real discipline has to get back inito the school. Kids need to know that there are consequences to any of their actions, including failing a grade/subject instead of just being pushed ahead. Parents need to get involved with their kids at home, teaching them discipline and setting boundaries and not expect the school to do it. Everyone - and I mean everyone - in any kid's life has to act and support what is done at school. Education has to regain its value, and school shouldn't be a place for marking time, for teachers as well as students.

Kids are spoiled beyond belief. Parents give in to easily and don't say NO, but a meaningful NO, often enough. It's so hard to discipline a kid at school when s/he doesn't see it at home. It becomes little more than a joke without parental support.

I am so sick of hearing "my kid is so special". EVERY kid is special and they deserve the best they can get at home, at school, in society. We've become far too lax, and, literally, anything goes because few know any boundaries; there are no limits and everyone is owed something by someone else.

Forget "pushing the envelope". We've pushed it too far already, and it is bound to rip one day.

Answer 3

I believe that control of the school should be returned to the community. You cannot effectively legislate a general set of rules for schools that are so different from one another. A school in inner-city Houston does not have the same needs as a school in a small rural town.

I also think that schools should be given back the power to enforce rules without the threat of litigation.

Finally, parents must support decisions and rules of the school and realize that those guidelines are for the good of the students.

Answer 4

We need an educational reform. And it is at fault of many people that we need one. First of all, let's get our money out of Iraq and out of "protecting the border" and into the schools. Second of all, parents need to take some responsibility-teach your kids the value of education, don't be screwing around w/your own life to make the kids have a stable life. Also, we need to give kids an attitude check. They are there for the social part. They want to see their friends, go to the basketball games, etc. We need to get smaller class sizes so that the focus is learning....not impressing the hot girl across the room. Teachers are too lineant (however you spell it) need to have high expectations and accept nothing less.....no tardies, no late homework, no "playing dumb" in today's society...set by hollywood...looks are what matter and if you are smart it's like being ugly or something

Answer 5

Have a better attitude towards the public schools. School is what you make of it. People can come out the the worst school in the country with straight A's. I understand parents care for there children's schooling, however if you have a negative attitude towards your child's school, they will too.

Answer 6

First, foremost, and absolute ... we must get rid of the teachers union!

Secondly cut teaching staff and incorporate Internet learning sites. Provide all students with "take home" economical lap top computers programmed for only academic learning site
reception. After all, they can't watch TV, play games, or chat via their textbooks now, right? Provide "at need" students with financial aid (based on evaluation of parental income) for Internet service into the home (still cheaper than a teachers salary).

De-emphasize the position athletic programs have in schools today. No after school "away" games. Limit miles traveled for "away" games. Assess the cost of uniforms to the parents (again financial aid for needy students).

Reduce the salaries (now obscenely high) of all school administrators (after reducing the number of administrative positions).

This is just a start, you take it from here. Good luck!

Answer 7

do away with private schools and make everyone attend public schools....that would change the entire situation in about 10 minutes.