Why can't our children get a great education in public schools?

Question

I am a retired teacher and I am convinced that children can get a quality education in the public schools by following the suggestions I am going to make. (1) eat a sensible diet and get enough rest; (2) come to school prepared with their homework assignments done to the best of their ability: (3) pay attention when instruction is being given, ask questions when they need clarification; (4) put their cell phones, palm pilots, games, etc. away and give the same attention to their school work as they do to them. At least equal time. (5) Get involved in school activities - sports, drama, music. (6) stay away from alcohol and other drugs. There is plenty in life to get high on without the use of drugs; (7) respect their teachers even if they don't happen to like them. These men and women have given a significant portion of their lives to be prepared to teach. Give them the respect they deserve.

Answer 1

I completely agree. Unfortunately, such a school doesn't exist in our district...I wish it did. Our high school, which is considered one of the best in the state simply because it takes State in football 3 years out of 5, also has a 20-30% dropout rate - annually. I've been told by kids who have graduated from neighboring districts that it's actually considered cool to drop out from there. But because of the football program, it gets funding for huge stadiums and workout facilities...just plain twisted.

If we had a school like you've described that my son could attend, I would really look into sending him. As it is, the only school available to us, that can meet his needs and has the type of environment that you described, is a 30-45 minute drive one way and costs upward of $14K per year. Unfortunately, that's out of our reach.

So, we homeschool. He eats a sensible diet and gets enough rest; he is prepared each day with his work done from the day before (because our school day doesn't end till he's done, and it's done well); he pays attention and asks when he has a question; if he so much as tries to go on anything electronic without permission it's gone for a week; he is heavily involved in baseball, scouts, community theatre, co op classes, and church programs; he stays away from alchohol and drugs, and tells others to do the same; and he wouldn't dare disrespect his teachers, whether it's me or another instructor.

I really wish our schools did look like this - but honestly, they're not going to until two things happen: 1) parents wake up and realize that the schools are not there to be completely responsible for raising your child. You are responsible for your child - every aspect of raising your child - the school is a supplement to that. 2) the government needs to keep their meathooks out of the schools and let the teachers do their jobs. Also, the unions need to back off a bit and allow schools to get rid of the few teachers that really shouldn't be teaching.

If parents and teachers, with the blessing of the government, are allowed and encouraged to work together, we'll see a great increase in the levels of achievement in our schools. Together, parents and teachers can raise and educate our kids to actually do their best, learn, and achieve.

Answer 2

I totally agree. I believe anyone can be well educated in a public school, they just have to focus.. it is kind of hard becasue I attend a public school (I'm 15) and the teachers are always trying shut some kids up or someone's distracting someone... But I say with a LOT of honesty that I DO learn.

Answer 3

It isn't public schools that are problems. Yes, some public schools are misserable failures, but then again, so are some private schools. Kids, in general, need to realize that a education isn't just something that they have to do. It is an oppurtunity to learn. Private schools can have the same kind of undisiplined kids that public school has. It is up to the parents to raise them to do better.

Answer 4

Even if children did do all the things you suggest, they will still not learn anything because the education system in USA is corrupt. It is all run by the gov't now, officials who don't know a thing about education.
As for NCLB, the schools have to make all kids do testing once a year, to see how good the SCHOOL is doing. But they tell the kids it's to see how good THEY are doing, and that they will fail if they don't pass this test.
Lots of kids are scared to death and stressed because the school does all kinds of things to intimidate them. Pressure them to pass the test. All the kids in my family are this way and tell me the things that go on in their schools. Horrible !!
The ONLY things teachers teach now is what is going to be on these NCLB tests. They push this info in the kids like they are robots. The teachers do not TEACH, they make the kids MEMORIZE what is going to be on these tests.
The future leaders of tomorrow are going to run this country with robot like mentality and will not have learned a thing.
In schools now, no more hands on. No more activities. No more field trips. Just sit and the books and test, test, test.
And what's worse, most parents don't even know what's going on.
Nowadays, there are a lot of bad teachers.
For more info, go to www.schwablearning.org and sign up for free to post on their parent to parent message board.

Answer 5

You are quite right. It is possible. Indeed, it would encourage the teachers tremendously.

However, the media and the expectations of peers make the choice to do what you suggest very hard to make. It would take a dedicated and unrelenting teenager to apply your formula to their high school years.

For this reason, I choose to educate my youngsters (17 and 15) at a different type of school. The kids attend Tuesday and Thursday at the educational facility, and do the 'homework' set on the other days.

Answer 6

I couldn't agree with you more. I spent 25 years teaching at an "at risk" school where virtually every student was on free lunch. Over the years, there were great improvements in student success as the families commited to the school and the children became more and more involved with their learning.

As one writer once said, "A teacher come to school every morning ready to teach. Does your child come ready to learn?" Wiser words than those, I've never read.

It's like baseball. We can throw, but they have to be ready and willing to catch.

Answer 7

You may be right, but my daughter goes to private school because 90% of the kids in public schools are not following any of your suggestions and it affects her learning.

Answer 8

That will only happen when mom and dad step up and make education a priority at home. There is only so much you can do in the classroom.