How do you propose we improve America's public school system?

Question

Scott...I know you cannot force someone to learn but you could make kids more excited about learning with newer technologies, computers etc.

Answer 1

rebuild schools and the surronding neighborhoods,

dont need to spend more money, just better use "of" the money

Answer 2

Coordinated School Health

School of the 21st Century

Both are outstanding programs and can be ran at the same time in a school. Schools that have ran these program have on average achieved a less than 5% drop out record, become more self sufficient and have a better staff/child ratio. They focus on creating a healthy environment and making it easier for children to learn rather than changing what they are taught every 3 years. Another great thing.. Schools that have ran this program have shown a drop in crime in their communities as well.. which makes sense... if kids are in school they aren't out causing mischief are they?

Schools in these programs don't have the highest test scores because all the children are still there.. even those on the bottom.. and they are all learning... these schools are able to move the entire curve up however... so their bottom end is scoring higher than others.

I can't do these program justice in a small post like this... they have full day seminars that can barely do them justice... So please, look into them yourself and have someone come out and talk to your administrators about these program.


School of the 21st Century is a program developed by Duke University and Coordinated School Health was developed by a Superintendent who has his Doctorate in education.

Answer 3

America's public school system won't necessarily improve with new items such as computers and other tech instruments. You could have all the tech gadgets you wanted but learn absolutely nothing.

Children who are poor and starving in Africa have higher scores on standardized tests in comparison to our American children who have everything they ever needed to further their education.

I'm not trying to be harsh, but it is true. Many many presidents of current and past countries have come to America to graduate from OUR colleges. You would be amazed to learn that some terrorists have actually come to the States and gotten degrees in science.

I guess the point is you can pretty much graduate with high scores using only a pen and paper with a few torn books. You have to be willing to learn. There are many lazy kids in America with or without computers.

Improvement cannot happen unless our American children learn the meaning of need. Once they realize they are carrying a pearl in their hands, it will be too late and the pearl will have set itself on a high ledge above a raging sea. Only then will application occur at its fullest and most vigorous.

The system needs a new pair of eyes.

Answer 4

1. Improve vocational education, and make it clear that it's a valid alternative path, rather than the path for kids who are too dumb for college preparatory programs. Far too many kids who don't like school, but do like working with their hands are wasting their time doing Mickey Mouse degrees in college when they could instead be earning good livings doing something useful like working as plumbers and carpenters.

2. Pay different salaries to different types of teachers. It's really easy to find someone who wants to be a gym teacher, an English teacher, or an elementary school teacher. It's really hard to find math, science, foreign language and special ed teachers. Special ed teachers get burned out quickly, while people with good skills in foreign language, and especially in math and science, can find much higher paying, lower stress jobs. We should also consider reduced work loads for math and science teachers, but at the same salaries as other teachers.

3. Present teachers as heroes in society. The other big problem with getting good people to teach is that it's widely perceived as not being a good career, worthy of the brightest people in society. I had a student do a master's degree thesis with me, and he did a terrific job. He became a teacher. When I tell my colleagues in my university about him, often they say it is a shame that someone with the potential to be a good researcher became a teacher, instead of saying how great it must be for his students to have a bright person who wants to teach.

4. Adopt systems which put the most students in the best schools. San Francisco has had great success with a system where parents rank choices for the schools their children will attend, and money follows the students. Larger amounts of money follow students who will be harder to educate, which leads to some schools developing a niche of being really good for students with learning disabilities. Other schools focus on math and science, or languages, or other areas. Schools that continuously get few parents wanting to send their children there have the principals replaced. It's improved the system across the boards, without costing more money.

Answer 5

De-liberalize the learning process. School is about learning and preparing students for their future, it's not about making sure they have a warm fuzzy feeling.

If students don't make the grade.. fail them. We've taken away the sting of failure, and that's a mistake.

Further, we need to cut back on the fluff and focus on the important subjects.. especially math and science.

But MOST importantly.. parents need to get off their asses and take interest in their kids. That is the #1 problem we're facing.

Answer 6

This usa will under no circumstances have intense velocity rail gadget this is to opened up and can could end in each congress guy district.yet BHO nonetheless spent sixteen billion to attempt no longer even on the brink of what it would take.

Answer 7

by funding them as if we cared about our kids.....double teachers salaries to attract some the best and the brightest to education, recreate schools so we don't have a one size fits all system, then do whatever it takes to insure that every kid does the best they can.....hold the school accountable more than the kids. Make school fun and interesting, not a drag and boring. teach subjects that are useful to kids in their futures.....ie: math beyond the basics for a kid who just struggles all the time is pointless, frustrating, and demoralizing. Make school ALL about the kids, not about the Administrators career.

Answer 8

I think it starts with paying teachers more....

right now... there's little incentive for people choosing a career to choose teaching... when most other degree jobs earn more...

so what do you get? the people who can't cut it in the other majors.... which turn out to be... the lowest of the bunch...

sure... there are a few that just "have a passion for teaching"... but how many is that? 20 percent of all the teachers? 1 in 5?

to be competitive... you have to compete for the best talent out there... right now... auto mechanics make more... America is deciding which is more important...

Answer 9

Talk to educators, we have a really good idea of what is working and not working. Focus on holistic assessment rather than test based assesment, combined with equalizing funding for schools instead of having it based on income tax.

Also, teacher turnover is incredibily high. We need to offer teachers incentives like housing, bonuses, etc. to keep them going in a position that isn't always the most economcally viable.

Answer 10

Stop letting tax money go to unneeded things, start paying teachers more, and raise standards. Seems like the bar is being lowered each generation. I took algebra in 7th grade. My daughter took is taking it right now - in the 10th.

Answer 11

By taking education out of the government's hands and letting the private sector do a better job. To start, vouchers.