By: A. H. Pinley
What is the solution for the crumbling education system? We all can say “School was far better when I was going to school than now.”, but kids are learning about bigger things these days at a younger age. So why is the United States not number one when it comes to education? Many would blame the Bush/Kennedy Bill “No Child Left Behind”, but I think it’s more than that.
For many sitting on a education board, or working within the DOE (Department of Education), or those politicians that believe throwing money at something, like if they’re trying to buy love, will make the situation (education) better have missed the boat. Where did teaching a child good principle and a grade A education become secondary? Like many of the corrosive things that plaque our society today, for many the 60’s would come to mind, but I would have to say it goes farther back than that.
In the 1920’s Americans were introduced to a group going by the name of American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). A force for good? You be the judge.
Over the years leading America out of the twenties, our classrooms have remained the trial balloons for secular thought. Our sons and daughters (students) will be better served if the teacher were to only teach evolution. Then and only then will our classrooms be filled with the brightest and the smartest.
Our students (sons and daughters) will be better people in general if we take prayer out of schools, because of the “Separation of Church and State” argument.
We’ll start promoting more of a non-exceptional America by encouraging those teachers that wish to participate by not reciting the “Pledge of Allegiance”. For starters, because it mentions “Under God” and the thought of pledging allegiance to any country that would spend more on national defense than on education is not a great country in my book or worthy of me instructing my students to recite such a thing. “Not my thinking at all.”
So, like the typical Liberal American thought pattern is to blame Bush 43 for the failings of the classroom. Blame Bush and only Bush for all that is wrong in the world and in the falling behind in education. Bush and the late Ted Kennedy had great intentions with their “No Child Left Behind” legislation. I think it’s safe to say, as adults we want to see our future(children) receive the best education possible, but a good education doesn’t always come with more money.
I believe the solution is three fold. The student has a minor responsibility both in the classroom and when they get home. They need to do the work and stay on top of it, but the main responsibility falls on the shoulders of that of the educator and the legal guardian(parent).
Schools should receive funding for their programs by a results based standard, not equally distributed as to not hurt anyones feelings. Compete for the tax payers dollar. I believe our kids can receive a good education if the object of money was not the sole focus of the teachers union. Money was the issue in the Chicago Teachers strike earlier this month and who was hurt by the two week display of civil discourse? The students. The ones that need to be in the classroom. The ones that need a good education to get ahead in life.
Money is not the solution. Good teachers and parents work with their kids and the teachers are the solution. Give teachers back their classrooms where they can maintain control and rid the classroom of any disruptions without being threatened to lose their jobs or dragged into court only to be sued. Allow teachers to discipline, within reason, as corrective not to shame. If the teachers classroom doesn’t meet or surpass the standard then the educator needs to be put on notice.
If the school is failing, then the principal needs to be put on notice to either produce a better product or look for another job. But the parents don’t get off that easy. The parents have an equal responsibility in their child’s success. The parents play a very vital role in their child’s formidable education years. Our children are the leaders of tomorrow.
Teachers need to act like teachers. Think back to why they wanted to become educators in the first place. It wasn’t for the money, it was for the children. Knowledge is power and you wanted to be the one that would help them(the student) realize that. I’m a firm believer in the public education system, but I also support the idea of a school voucher program that would create a competitive atmosphere for the tax dollar. Results based and our freedom to choose where our child gets his or her education. Education is an investment, not only with money, but with quality time.
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