I am starting to feel like education in America should be a privilege not a right!!!?

Question

Im a high school teacher and children in America make me so upset the way they walk around acting like Im lucky theyre in school for me to teach. I have a few students from other countries who say the level of disrespect kids have for teachers here is amazing! I wish punishment in schools was stronger and that education was a privilege for children who actually work for it! Im not saying it should be something that can be bought, but something that requires some effort on the part of children.......How do you feel??

Ahh...feels so good to vent and to know people agree with me!!!

Answer 1

Since the USA is a capitalist, democratic country - education is often seen as a right. If individuals are to be responsible for their own financial welfare, they need education to compete. And in order to be good citizens who can vote intelligently, they need to acquire a decent education.

Access to public schools & loose standards enable people to feel that the US "has a level playing field."

The problem is really not whether education is defined as a privilege or a right. The problem is whether education is respected & valued. Underneath all of the government programs for better public schools and the rhetoric about US students needing to be more well prepared for a global economy, lies an apathy towards learning.

Few people are willing to put their time and money where their mouths are. A good education is not cheap but people aren't willing to pay taxes to support public schools. A good education requires discipline and standards and people are uncomfortable w/ that. Discipline is lacking in all levels of society and standards create tension or fear.

The other problem is that education involves controversy since freedom of thought and expression are key to develop critical thinking skills. But that's messy & scary.

Finally, despite the talk of family values, American families are under seige. American families face financial responsibilities in an uncertain job market, high medical insurance costs and looser or minimal extended family ties. Today's parents are lost when it comes to balancing love and discipline.

It shocks me how people at all levels of society display a sense of entitlement w/o any sense of responsibility or gratitude.

Answer 2

Teachers do not get paid enough for what they have to put up with, although not just from the students.

Since education is something that is easier to obtain by most of the people here in the States, it is something that is not respected. In other countries, where education is lacking, these people take education more seriousily and acquiring an education is of a major accomplishment and means a lot.

The social structure is unravelling due to the consumeristic culture and the 'immediate satisfaction' mentality of the masses. It gets worse as the decades goes by. In the early to mid 80's it was not nearly sa bad as it was in the late 90's and presently it is going downhill at a faster rate.

The future of America will someday rest on those generations that follows. And how it looks, we will not be a 'free' nation, or also, the America as we know it is changing, and pretty soon it will be no more.

Answer 3

I hear you, I totally agree! I feel that students have a right to an education.....until they do something to forfeit that right! I teach at an alternative/charter school and my students stand up in the middle of the classroom and curse me, and feel justified in doing so! I do feel like disrespect is a problem everywhere, in every school. I am just lucky I guess and encounter disrespect multiple times daily! They somehow feel they are on my level at the age of 13! I tell them if I were their boss, I would fire them. Naturally, it does not make a difference. I agree, it is the students that are lucky to have US! In order for something to deter these students from having such atrocious behavior, the punishment must be something that MAKES them not want to act that way. Parents often do not do their job but run to the aid of their child if you even try to punish them! Parents and students should have more accountability, and students should be forced to follow rules! Good luck, from another frustrated educator!

Answer 4

I agree with that completely! I'm a sophomore and my school district has been in the news SO MUCH recently for various reasons. And I'm in a class with so many disrespectful students ... it's crazy! They mock the teacher and cuss constantly and sing annoying rap songs and won't listen when the teacher tells them anything. That's just one class. I'm in AP classes to get away from that but I still have to deal with those people in the halls and stuff. My school is BAD. There was a rape there on Monday and one day we had about 8 fights in ONE DAY. I think that they should get rid of public schools. Make everyone PAY so then maybe they will actually try. But then again, that would only raise the poverty rate...

Answer 5

I agree fully. I'm 13 and graduating soon from eighth grade. My peers are immature and constantly taking advantage of the teachers. No one values their work but me, which is why most people have at least one or two C's or D's. I go to a private Catholic school. I see the kids acting worse and worse each year. It's sad, and it is hard being the only one that cares about and values education and teachers' efforts to help us achieve success.

Answer 6

As the spouse of a teacher, I have to completely agree. She comes home with such horror stories about the way students behave in class, how they talk to her, her fellow teachers, and EACH OTHER! Of course, it does not help when a kid gets sent home from school and the mother or father, instead of being mad at little Johnny, goes and tires to ream the admin and the teacher responsible for the dismissal instead of spanking the ever-loving crap out of HIS ***!

My wife has had incidents where students vandalize her classroom materials, steal her personal belongings, try to break the fans she bought at their request (it gets fairly hot in early fall in her classroom), you name it. It's enough to make you realize that teachers do not get paid enough to tolerate the amount of junk they put up with. What with admin, parents, government regulations, grading, planning, and career updates, anyone who tells me a teacher has a heck of a scam going on where she has three months of paid vacation a year will receive a bullet through the temple!

Answer 7

I think the right to attend school is much like the right to drive a car.
If you drive safely and make few or no mistakes then you keep your licence and continue driving. But if you are reckless and cause trouble on the roads, then you lose you licence and see what its like without one.
If you go to school, do your work, and try hard then you should be alowed to continue. But if you are disruptive, disrespectful or disregard the rules, then see what its like to live without an education.

Answer 8

the only disadvantage a person has in their lives is coming from a family with no or low-income, and unfortunately, that is a position that majority of black people have been stuck in for quite awhile. but have heart, as many white people are now being brought down to that level to compete with "The Mexicans coming across the border to take their jobs", and are living in lower quality living conditions regularly to try to "advance" (which is a fallacy really, if they would take a look at their lives). no, it is indeed possible to rise above bad economic conditions, but it requires giving up something that many people simply cannot give up: being a consumer. you see, consumerism is for the middle and lower-classes, while the upper class takes all of the money from these two, a little at a time, by selling them useless junk that just takes up space in their place of residence. likewise, it is because of people who cannot afford food, but can afford the latest album, no problem, that we have people on food stamps who still look poor. it is indeed a poor decision to live this way, and anyone who says otherwise is doomed to live out his life in a trailer park, in a trailer they do not even own... i have no hope left for humanity, so i shall stop here.

Answer 9

It all goes back to punishment being taken out of schools.
They wanted it, they got it....

Answer 10

Amen sister!!!!!!!!!!11