What is wrong with American schools ?

Question

Is it the teachers who don't want to teach because of low salaries ? Students who don't want to learn ? Parents who don't take responsibility for their children ?

What's the real problem in American public schools ?

I believe that the idea of a "free" public education is hurting America. Schools should be competitive with each other. If one school is mediocre, parents should have a right to send their kids to a different school. Competition equals accountability. What's your solution.

Answer 1

Have you ever noticed that students in private schools seem to do better than public school? Have you noticed too that the parents tend to be much more involved in their children's educations since they usually have to promise to attend parent teacher meetings?

I find it interesting that parents who pay extra money for a private education are not willing to do the same sorts of parent involved activities when they already pay taxes for their children's education. Perhaps if public schools could force parents to sign agreements to be involved with their children's education as done in private schools and students could be forced to adhere to rules which they also sign in private schools there would be more achievement in public schools.

Answer 2

Hard to say. Some schools have no problems at all.

Urban schools have a lot of problems with the metlting pot issues and the gang issues

Some of it is leading a horse to water and then he won't drink.

Some of it is ineffective teaching. Rote isn't the only way.

Many kids in high school computer courses know far more than their teachers ever will.

There are many experimental programs underway and some show increased results.

Segregated male/female schools, for example, show a marked increase in test scores.

Schools with uniforms show better skill levels. But nothing to write home about.

I think one of the WORST things that really bogged down the system is bilingual education. Something the should never have happened.

If anything was to go bilingual I would say it should be the student body. The white and black students should be sharpening their Spanish skills in the class room helping the immigrants. It would teach them both to be better, by making those with Spanish 2 under their belts REALLY learn Spanish on an intimate level.

But we copped out on that opportunity!

Answer 3

I think there are several problems, including the ones you mentioned above.

Culturally, though, there seems a complete lack of pride in a person's own work. A person is taught to get away with doing as little work as possible for their acheivements. There is no strive. There is no effort. The parent does not care for the child. The teacher does not care for anything but tenure. The child is confused and thinks it wants to be Justin Timberlake when it grows up. There is no pride. Those that learn for the sake of learning are ridiculed. They have settled into a mindset of loving mediocrity and it affects everyone.

The elite go to private schools. They have their pride. They will still be the elite, whether the middle class collapses or not.

Answer 4

I don't know. I go to a decent American public school.
You know, college preparatory. The teachers teach
and the students are "dedicated" in their studies.
The teachers are actually paid pretty decent and
put forth the effort to be fine educators.
Literally students skip class just so they can study or do
homework for a more important class. In the morning
you can walk the halls and see half the student body
busy with schoolwork. Granted, they're procrastinators
but it gets done. There's no harmful violence.

But then again, I pass by other American high schools
and see students going to school without any books
and have like 15 minutes of homework. Attend schools
that reek of violence and pregnant teenagers. Filled
with students that don't even want to be in school and
would rather be dropouts.

That's life though. Eh.

Answer 5

1. Lack of accountability (from the top-to the bottom)
2. To much legislation
3. Lack of parental/community responsibility
4. Unmotivated students who think they deserve an education or diploma
5. Some educators are in it for the money(they chose a wrong profession)
6. Lack of adequate spending and financial accountability

Answer 6

Here's an idea! I have seen many ways that people make a buck off of teaching. They sell with their smiley glad hand ways, this technique and that technique. Lets go to 10 hour days, lets block schedule, lets go year round. All of which seem to fail in one way or another.

Here's the Radical Idea!!! Pick one school and pay all the teachers a starting salary of $75,000 and increase the pay commensurate with experience. Let's try that for two years and see if the experiment works. Start with my school

Answer 7

It is the parents that do not motivate and monitor their kids. If you look at statistics kids are spending more time in front of the computer/television then ever before.
Also parents are working more, so their is less attention to the kids everyday activities.
Less kids are involved in after school programs which is also caused by lack of parental motivation and federal/state funding.

Answer 8

One thing parents dont put the time in to their kids any more, and their of to many teachers that are afarid of there students! and not eough parents to back them! Some of the good fashion ways should return, then I thing you would see a change , for the good!

Answer 9

kids dont value education. They take it for granted. They treat school like a chore, not like a prevliage.

Answer 10

The question is, What's the real problem with America?.