As the years go by, one would believe that future generations are receiving a better education than prior generations however tests results are painting a different picture. As a matter of fact, most recently a news report stated that the United States was number 26 on a global basis. Why has the United States' education system fallen by the wayside? What is the problem with our system?
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From my perspective, I see many key factors contributing to this decline; it has been obvious to me for years having raised two kids. Some of the key factors are as follows:
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1. Parents sabotage their child's educational success.
Parents have become fanatics with their little Bobby or Mary. Kids in my day fought there own battles without guns or explosives. If kids were picking on you and were calling you names, you either ignored it or just gave them back some of the same medicine or better yet, your older brother or sister stood up for you. What happened to the saying, "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me?" I received my fair share of names, e.g. Spider Legs, Johnny Long Legs, Ghost, Frenchie, and Toothpick. Did I go off the deep end, hysterically running to Mommie and Daddie so they could contact their attorney and pacify me? My parents would have said you probably deserved it. Did I pull out guns or other weapons? No! I just ignored these negative comments and went on with my business. I didn't get lost in the BS. But where do kids today get their crazy destructive ideas?
The Media, Internet, Television and Movies provide all the necessary resources and how to's. They even play up some of these situations and make them larger than life. The home of these kids lack proper censorship from lazy parenting and corporate greed making things too accessible. Heck in my day, Lucy and Ricky, Rob and Laura all had twin beds and Jeannie showed no belly button. Kids today see and hear too much junk at an impressionable age. Their lives need to be simpler and less complicated, show more quality programs that have positive messages or better yet, READ A BOOK. I get so disgusted sometimes with the garbage that is on TV that I will sometimes gravitate to a good I Love Lucy Show of yesterday years. Those shows had no swears, no weapons, no sexual innuendoes and the comedy is still funny and relevant for today. That was exceptionally great script writing. Put your foot down to what we and our children watch, see and hear. Voice your opinion.
2. Kids have too many electronic toys, no room or desire for imagination or creative thinking/brain growth or productive healthy physical activity.
In our world of electronics, kids aren't getting off their butts to do sports or play games outside. They have no physical activity or chance to develop their imagination outside a controlled environment in a physical education class or a paid sport's program. When we were kids, we were always outside playing tag, kick the can, baseball, football and hide-n-seek. When we were thirsty, we drank water and when it was dinner time, we came home and ate a home cooked meal, all of it. We were hungry from running around. We didn't load up on processed, sugar enriched junk food and we knew where our food came from. We didn't have weight problems because we were always on the move. After dinner, we helped Mom with the dishes, no dishwasher.
3. America has become a "Sue Happy" nation
If something derogatory is said to your child or the teacher or school isn't meeting your expectations, parents run to their attorney's. Many attorneys will use any reason to file a case as long as you foot the bill. Valuable resources, time and money is consumed in these frivolous cases. Has our education system improved as a result? No and as test scores point out, matters are now worse. Keep petty matters between you and the school, save your money and reduce your stress. If you are not happy, switch schools.
4. Social Services, an organization that has changed Parenting, Contributed to the rise in Crime and a rise in Disrespectfulness and Uneducated Citizens.
Disciplining your children has become a challenge with Social Services hovering in the background. If you spank your kid these days, and they report it to get even, they know how to push your buttons, social services are immediately knocking at your door and usually blow the situation out of proportion.
I tried the time out approach with my oldest son and the take things away approach. Where did that get me? Well, let's see, with the time out approach, I sent him to his room until he was sorry. What did he do? He crawled out the window and took off with friends for the day. And the take things away approach, some of my clothes disappeared into the attic and some of my good china ended up broken. My Dad used the good old-fashion belt to the butt. I received the belt on my butt only once. I was smart enough not to repeat my mistakes and mouth off to my parents. I did what they told me to do. Am I scarred or emotionally damaged from the belt? No, I had great respect for my parents and was always polite and thoughtful. I didn't cry, beg or throw temper tantrums to get my way.
Kids today have no fear, no respect for their parents, teachers or elders. They have no fear of the law. Why, because parents will hire an attorney and bail them out or kids just have an "I don't care" attitude. Why do they need to care? Teachers don't hold them accountable, parents don't hold them accountable and the hired attorneys bail them out.
I have met and know some of these social service people. They have their own personal issues. So how can they solve other people's problems? Have the problems gone away in our society?
5. Decline in Traditional Values and Methods
Kids lack supervision and guidance at home and at school. Schools have adopted a "Move the kid along" in school approach whether or not they are passing. Kids are not accountable for their actions. They are not kept after school for not completing their homework or embarrassed in front of their classmates. Why, lawsuits? When I was in grade school, we had homework every night. We wouldn't dare to attend school without it finished. If we had incomplete homework, the teacher would yell at us, then we would be sent to the principal's office, from there we would get afterschool detention and then our parents were called. You would be scared or embarrassed even to attempt not having your work completed.
Another issue is kids are all grouped together even if their learning ability is at a slower pace? Why, lawsuits? Kids need to be separated so they can receive the special attention they deserve. I remember kindergarten reading groups. We had groups 1, 2 and 3. One was for the advanced readers. I was in group 2, but that was okay. I received the necessary help which aided in my advancement in future years. Kids need to be held back and separated according to their ability. Everyone's learning ability may be at a different pace or learning may require a different teaching method. Stop pushing kids along because we're afraid it will have adverse effects on their self-esteem. I am not talking about special need kids.
6. Overworked and tired employees may result in lazy parenting.
Parents must work together to assist with today's kids. Moms can't do it all. If you are single or divorced try to enlist a relative or friend to assist you. Kids need to focus on their studies and not on the TV, computer games or internet. Don't put your young child in front of the TV with a video. Give them a book or an educational toy while you are preparing dinner. You must make a conscious effort with your children. Successful parenting is WORK.
7. Teaching has shifted from the classroom to the Parents
I have never seen so many projects and homework assignments come home with my kids that required my participation. There is no way that these projects could be completed solely by a child. I remember constructing a mission for California 4th grade history. It took the work of 3 adults to complete this assignment. Schools need to give assignments that are realistic or age appropriate. Also, these assignments should be done in the classroom with the teachers.
Family life is not like when I was growing up and my Mom didn't work. I had a demanding job that required overtime. After a busy day I was expected to make the meal, do the dishes, and walk the dog and assist with homework? I very rarely involved my parents with my school assignments; I tackled them on my own.
We had a study hall period each day that allowed us to go over any issues with a teacher and if we really had problems we went to that specific teacher after school. Don't teachers stay after school anymore? Why is so much work sent home to the working parents? Aren't teachers teaching? When my kids didn't understand their assignments, I had to read the subject and teach them. More work should be completed in the classroom. Maybe the school day should be longer. I had to work overtime without extra pay. Teachers teach for maybe 6.5 hours a day. Why not make it an 8 hour day? Time for correcting papers, I had to bring work home after working 9 hours and I didn't have the summer off. I think the teaching curriculum, class structure, teaching methods and teacher's pay should be examined for best practices. Pay should be based on credentials, performance and tenure and not solely on credentials and tenure.
8. Teacher Unions, lack of performance evaluations
If I had a dollar for every time I heard my sons say they had a lousy teacher who couldn't teach and every one knows it, I would have a nice piggybank. It is true that there are some lousy teachers. I remember having a few. In college, we would go through the class schedules and pick the classes that had great teachers. Everyone knew the good ones from the bad ones; it was a well known fact. So if there are bad teachers, why are they still teaching? Schools need performance evaluations like corporations. If a teacher is not meeting the criteria, they shouldn't be teaching. Why isn't anyone doing anything? Lawsuits!!!
I was listening to a talk radio show that said it cost at least ,000 to terminate a teacher due to union contracts and attorney fees. Who is negotiating these contracts? How did we get stuck with such absurdity? These contracts need revision so teachers are employees at will. If they are no good, they go. Good teachers should be rewarded. Keep it simple.
9. Why are other countries beating us in test scores?
Other nations stay with traditional old-fashioned methods and parents discipline their kids. You see more school uniforms. I have seen the Asian kids, kids from India and other nationalities. These children have close knit families who aren't in divorce court upsetting the family balance. Parents work together raising the kids and these kids are disciplined the old-fashion way. You don't see these kids with all the electronic devices. These children are always studying or practicing on a musical instrument. They learn discipline at an early age. They are competitive in their studies and performance. They are taught to care. Moms are stay-at- home Moms who perform the traditional chores of making the meals and tending to their children. They live with less material objects and clutter. I am sure if we ran the statistics on the traditional ways versus non-traditional ones, we would find our answer for successful academic performance. Thank You! Kathryn Alexander, http://www.herocardsinc.com
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Why Are Our School Systems Failing Our Children?
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Oct 30, 2011 23:14:26
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