A very interesting article on how to fix public education from an economic standpoint

Emergent Order

 

Neat article, but it focuses pretty much on teachers. While they are a part of the issue (and I'm speaking as one of them) I think by far the greatest issue is the lack of parental involvement in education and the overall decrease in the importance of education in American society. We've gotta fix the family first, and then fixing schools should be a breeze.

-Matt

 

Interesting article.

 

I agree with this, but practically there is almost no chance of fixing the family. We might be able to change issues related to teachers.

 

With all due respect, why is there no chance of fixing the family?

 

It's not something a government can do. We can encourage things, but there is no guarantee that an individual will act responsibly. In a free state, we cannot coerce individuals to behave responsibly.

 

I think what you are saying is only a family can fix a family, this is true. Many of the problems we face today (schools for example) are a result of the destruction of the 1 income family in this country.

Abner

 

There's no way to fix the family, period. Like it or not, each family has the legal protection to be as f*ed up as they want. (which, fwiw, is a good thing)

 

Agreed on the whole fixing the family thing, a lot of famililes don't want no fixin'.

You educators need to find another approach and quit making excuses. Fix the problem, not the blame. It's like saying you can fix the energy and environment problem by having people teleport to work instead of driving. Focus on things you can change instead of pie in the sky wishful thinking.

Some families do better than others. Those from families doing the right thing grow up to have their own families that do the right thing. Those from families who do not care about education grow up to have families of their own that do not care about education. Jumping from one strata to the other happens only in very small amounts. You know the key ingredient in going from someone who does not care about education to someone who does? Choice. Not movements, not government mandated programs, not Sesame Street, but choice.

Outliers need not apply in analysis of the whole.

 

But I LIKE excuses! :arms:

Seriously, though. Most teachers can tell you how to fix education. For starters, we need to get the Federal Government out and let states, through the local school boards, do what needs to be done. There's no cookie cutter approach, and that's what the Fed has been trying to do. Of course, short of raising an army and taking on Washington, the only true change I can make right now as we get ready to head to school in a few weeks, is to keep on making myself a better teacher. So far I'd say I'm pretty effective. I have the highest scores in our department, the least discipline problems, and parents actually like talking to me. I guess I just need to keep that stuff up, right? :banana:

In fact, that's one of the reasons I'm looking into getting my admin endorsement. We need leaders, not paper pushers, to bring forth real change that's actually positive. So, please refer to my other thread in the Education Forum and offer some suggestions of programs!

-Matt

 

My son has a learning disability, having a hard time learning to read and write. Without giving you a long story, I'll condense to a medium story. The first school we were at they did a lot of testing, IQ and such. We had a meeting with the teachers, administrators, psychologist and some others. The teacher at this school essentially blamed my wifes pregnancy (it was a little difficult but not overwhelming) as a reason we neglected to teach our son to read and write. For my college educated wife, who quit a very lucrative sales career to raise her children, this was a slap in the face. Again, placing blame and not fixing the problem.

We moved across the country to a new school. Brought the testing results to the new school (we moved half-way through the school year). In a short time we had a plan, a dedicated specialist to work one-on-one for 30 minutes a day with Noah. This women was incredible, I mean it seemed to me like she actually loved Noah-he's a pretty easy kid to like. Noah's 1st grade teacher was incredible too. Noah learned over a years worth of sight words, could read a decent level and his writing improved by leaps and bounds within just 5 months time. My wife and I did our usual; Sitting down to help with homework every night and reading to Noah. Same as before. The difference? A teacher.

Teacher at school one: Blame the parents. Teacher at school two: Fix the problem, work with the kid and actually TEACH!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The constant between both schools? The love, work, support and teaching by my wife and I towards Noah.

I do not like when teachers blame the parents (although there are certainly situation where it is warranted, I believe most teachers use it as a crutch). I've seen the remarkable impact a teacher can have on a kid. Seen it with my own eyes.

Either teachers have an impact or they do not. Again, fix the problem not the blame.

Thank you Matt, for being a good teacher and caring about other people's kids like you do. It's not a job for everyone.