2007-03-18 12:49:32 · 6 answers · asked by Mikey C 5 in Education & Reference ➔ Standards & Testing
First of all, let me begin by saying that I love computers. I've had a personal computer in my home since 1990. I'm a retired high school teacher whose students had school issued laptops beginning in 9th grade, and that was great.
With that out of the way, I think the first thing that I would do to improve education is to remove all student computers from elementary classrooms. It has been proven and reported for the past 15 years or so that the actions involved in handwriting are necessary for developing normal reading comprehension skills. I think that we need to go back to handwriting drills, copying from texts, etc. in order for all those little brain synapses to connect while they're still connectable. We would develop better readers and, as a result, better all-around students.
The second thing I would do would be to insist that principals and teachers provide consistent and firm discipline to bring back order to our schools. If parents choose not to support school rules, then they can take their children elsewhere.
The third thing that needs to be done, in my opinion, is to start tracking students' achievement when they reach middle school with the purpose of encouraging them to make educational and vocational choices that are appropriate to their achievement and interests in school. By ninth grade, all students would have chosen a path-- vocational or academic-- that will help them achieve optimal success in the adult world. No child would be left behind, but they wouldn't all be passing the same tests.
Finally, if politicians want to improve education, they should ask the people in the trenches--teachers, principals, and parents for help instead of creating legislation like "No Child Left Behind."
2007-03-18 14:59:33 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
The Federal Department of Education should be scrapped.
Education should be returned to the control of authorities on the State and local levels.
Ideally, the entire education industry would be privatized.
2007-03-18 19:54:01 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I completely agree with what rhumba said, I just wanted to add that we need to put more emphasis on critical thinking and comprehension, as opposed to regurgitation of facts and making pretty pictures. We do need to put emphasis on critical reading and science.
Also, it doesn't make any sense to me that you have to graduate high school if you haven't mastered reading and math skills. If you have the skills of an 8th grader, you stay in 8th grade, no matter how old you are.
2007-03-18 23:50:54 · answer #3 · answered by jimbell 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
We should have higher expectations from students. Sometimes teachers have low expectations and students see that there's no respect. More disicipline as well. For some, having a fun way to study things will have kids respond.
2007-03-18 20:03:40 · answer #4 · answered by Nobody Knows 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
we should have children go to school year round and get three weeks vacation in each season. the timing will be the same but education will be more spread out and less crammed!
2007-03-18 19:52:37 · answer #5 · answered by Melt_me_away 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
We should scrap the laws about minors working, and integrate work with education.
2007-03-18 19:58:52 · answer #6 · answered by saddlesore 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋