The Truth About Education in America
I have received a number of comments on this and one request to use it for a report. Since there is such a response I have moved the article to the top of the list once more for you viewing. You do not have to agree with me on this, nor do you have to go ballistic. All I ask is that you think about what we think is education today and compare that with how education was 15, 20, 40 years ago.
If you are a parent, student, or some other form of know-it-all complaining about schools and education, you are idiots. I will now list the facts:
1. Schools are NOT daycare centers! Schools are institutions of learning wherein children and young adults engage in mental and social development. Teachers are NOT babysitters. You as a parent do not place a child in school to have him/her watched; you place them there to learn. Much of a child’s behavior stems from the PARENT. A caring parent who teaches the child from day one will have a much better behaved kid than the IDIOT parent who ignores the child and does not get involved in the child’s activities. IDIOT PARENTS = IDIOT KIDS!
2. It is the PARENTS responsibility to see that the child learns. Ultimately the parent is the one who knows if the child is developing at the rate they wish. A teacher can only help progress a child and try to motivate the child to learn. If a parent is not involved in the child’s learning, the child will not learn a thing. The parent is necessary in the motivation of learning.
3. Children must be held back a grade to ensure that they will perform within the expectations of society. If a child cannot read or write at the designated level, it reflects on the parents’ ability to properly motivate the child. Quit the bullshit of being socially demeaning. A stupid child is that, a stupid child, which reflects stupid parents. Of course, there are children with learning disabilities. These children must be given a little extra help. This may require additional time after school or with tutors. Parents must be involved. There is no way a child cannot learn; they are little sponges between birth and 6 years of age. (Some even to age 12!)
4. Parents must stop crying, “Foul!” I hate the parent that says, “My Johnnie would never do a thing like that.” That is bullshit. You would be surprised at how smart children are. You will be surprised at what “habits” a child picks up from their parents, teachers, and other adults they are exposed to. If a parent were involved in a child’s life, then they would really know if their Johnnie would do something “unexpected”. Peer pressure is an amazing force. Your Johnnie can hang out with Timmy. Timmy could be a neglected child and has learned some bad habits, yet may know how to hide these from his parents. So, if your Johnnie comes home and “slips” and does something quite surprising to you, then you might want to ask him where he learned it. Beware, children will tell “white lies”. I was a child once, and I knew better than to tell the complete truth knowing the consequences. Children will take these situations into adulthood.
The list goes on. These are the most common and most ignored issues. Parents are partly to blame for the poor education system today. That and the ability to sue the school when something happens that the parent doesn’t like. This brings me to the next point: The other side.
If you just think that all the troubles stem from the parents, and much are, then you are short sighted. The schools also have some shortcomings that must be addressed. I will list a few here.
1. There is a lack of discipline within schools. It starts at the top with teachers and administrators. Teachers are late to class. Teachers are not always prepared. You wonder why the children run late and seem to not be prepared? They learn it from the classroom experience as well as their parents! The following was relayed to me: A school had an assembly to award students for their achievements. (Another area of big discussion.) This parent observed that teachers were arriving late to the assembly. What does that tell children: It’s all right to be late! The assembly started almost a half hour late.
2. Teachers dress like slobs. Another discipline problem. Teachers will show to class wearing sweat pants and t-shirts. When I went to school, teachers dressed professionally. There are ways to dress comfortably and still look professional. You don’t need a suit and tie, but you don’t need to be wearing shorts and a Hawaiian shirt either. Image means a lot to a child. Children pick up on visual cues. Again, they are sponges. Give them a positive image and they will learn that it is a good thing. Show them slop and negatives and they will think those are good and appropriate things.
3. Teach children that learning is fun and necessary. Don’t be boring about it. Again, children are sponges and they will learn if you give them a chance. Children are smarter than you might expect. As they mature teach them to think for themselves. Cultivate them and teach them where and why a viewpoint is right or wrong. Teach them that they will continue to learn the rest of their lives. I still learn new things. I like it. Why can’t a child learn that their whole life is full of new learning experiences?
4. Here’s one that doesn’t attack teachers and administrators, but also is shared with parents: Children must be shown some discipline in school. If a child does something wrong, there must be some form of discipline. Playing craps in class is not right. A teacher should be allowed to confront this child, now most likely a teenager, and put a stop to this. I’ve heard stories about teachers being injured by students (broken necks) and nothing, I repeat, NOTHING happened to the student! The parents did not do anything nor did the school. The only change was the kid was moved into another class. Children like that need to be disciplined. If a child does not want to learn, then the parents must be notified and the parents must be involved in ways to help the child.
We can go on for many pages. Both parents and schools have problems. Somehow these two factions must learn to cooperate. Parents are ultimately responsible for their children. There is no question about it. If one school does not seem to fit the bill, a parent must be able to place the child into a different school. If this freedom was available to parents, then schools might become more competitive. Schools would start asking, “Why are all the parents taking their children to uptown school? What are we doing that they do not like?” Schools should have some motto to a commitment to excellence. Some goal. Parents likewise must teach their children discipline and respect. Maybe someday we will see a cooperation form. Until then, schools will run scared of the lawsuits and parents will continue to neglect their children.
BE
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