Parents, educators, college administrators and government officials all over the country are extremely concerned about the problems with public education. This debate has been raging for years, but is not closer to being corrected. In fact, in many states the standards may actually be getting worse.
Many theories have been put forth to try and tackle the situation. The government has instituted a set of common core curriculum standards in an effort to give every student a fair chance. However, they have no control over what actually happens in a class room and it is all too easy for a struggling student to fall through the cracks.
Many of the complaints are about the qualifications of many teachers. They may have completed their requirements but are still not educated to the level of teachers in Europe or Asia. Many teachers are themselves a product of the failing system. They have never known anything else and never think to question why so many of their students are failing.
Unrealistic curriculum expectations are also a big issue. Most teacher now have no control over what they teach in their class rooms. The state will mandate exactly what they must cover each year. In many cases this may be totally unrealistic and not account for the struggling students. Teachers are disheartened that they have to push on through a concept, knowing that half the class is not ready.
Tenure is a very hotly debated topic. On the one hand the teachers themselves defend tenure to the end. They see it as their job security in an very insecure world. Others see tenure as the root of many problems in schools today. A teacher cannot be fired except for very serious breaches of conduct. Even then it may take months in court and massive legal bills for the district. The result is that many teacher are simple on auto pilot and coasting through each school year.
Not only are parents not taking responsibility but in many cases the students themselves are not taking their role seriously. Serious students are hard to find as hard work and good grades are not respected. There is also a surprising amount of cheating going on, even at the higher grades and in college.
After studying many schools and classrooms experts have also cited the issue of too much busy work. Busy work typically consists of worksheets designed to keep the students busy, but with no real educational value. They are often over used by harried teachers who want to keep their students quiet whilst they work with small groups. In many cases it may be a word search sheet or a fill in the blanks work sheet. These have little value and are often not even connected to the subject being studied.
It will take a massive effort from everyone involved, parents, teachers and administrators to address the problems with public education. This is not a situation that can be fixed over night. It will take many years of hard work and a completely new way of thinking.
Many theories have been put forth to try and tackle the situation. The government has instituted a set of common core curriculum standards in an effort to give every student a fair chance. However, they have no control over what actually happens in a class room and it is all too easy for a struggling student to fall through the cracks.
Many of the complaints are about the qualifications of many teachers. They may have completed their requirements but are still not educated to the level of teachers in Europe or Asia. Many teachers are themselves a product of the failing system. They have never known anything else and never think to question why so many of their students are failing.
Unrealistic curriculum expectations are also a big issue. Most teacher now have no control over what they teach in their class rooms. The state will mandate exactly what they must cover each year. In many cases this may be totally unrealistic and not account for the struggling students. Teachers are disheartened that they have to push on through a concept, knowing that half the class is not ready.
Tenure is a very hotly debated topic. On the one hand the teachers themselves defend tenure to the end. They see it as their job security in an very insecure world. Others see tenure as the root of many problems in schools today. A teacher cannot be fired except for very serious breaches of conduct. Even then it may take months in court and massive legal bills for the district. The result is that many teacher are simple on auto pilot and coasting through each school year.
Not only are parents not taking responsibility but in many cases the students themselves are not taking their role seriously. Serious students are hard to find as hard work and good grades are not respected. There is also a surprising amount of cheating going on, even at the higher grades and in college.
After studying many schools and classrooms experts have also cited the issue of too much busy work. Busy work typically consists of worksheets designed to keep the students busy, but with no real educational value. They are often over used by harried teachers who want to keep their students quiet whilst they work with small groups. In many cases it may be a word search sheet or a fill in the blanks work sheet. These have little value and are often not even connected to the subject being studied.
It will take a massive effort from everyone involved, parents, teachers and administrators to address the problems with public education. This is not a situation that can be fixed over night. It will take many years of hard work and a completely new way of thinking.
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