How Do We Fix It?

[ScienceRocks]

Let's just say a system that punishes the punks, assholes and lazy. Demands a student to become something!

 

[blastoff]

The vast vast vast majority of "problems" with our educational system start with students whose parents or whomever have not instilled in them the importance of education, that it requires dedication and hard work to achieve it, and that they are expected and required to put in the time and effort to achieve it.

 

[Spare_change]

The vast vast vast majority of "problems" with our educational system start with students whose parents or whomever have not instilled in them the importance of education, that it requires dedication and hard work to achieve it, and that they are expected and required to put in the time and effort to achieve it.

I absolutely agree ... the problem starts with the parents.

But, given that our education system is handed these children, we can't just write them off. How do we bring them into the fold?

I think everybody knows WHY we have the education problem we have ... we just don't know what to DO about it. We have turned these kids over to our educators - told them 'here's what you're working with' - these are no longer the monolithic agricultural based, God fearing, teacher fearing, respectful, white kids of the past generations. So, we can't - and shouldn't - expect the old paradigm to work.

So, how do we fix it?

 

[2aguy]

To fix the problem....go to a voucher system...each child has so much money they can spend at a school..they register at the school...the school gets that money....problem...for the most part...is fixed....no new money is needed....if teachers unions get in the way of educating your child....send them to a non union school with your voucher...if your kid is being bullied in a school and has a hard time learning...take your voucher to a school that will stop it....

Problem for the most part solved....our Colleges are some of the best in the world....college age students can take federal money to any college they want...except Hillsdale, who won't accept federal money...let's try the federal model....

 

[Spare_change]

To fix the problem....go to a voucher system...each child has so much money they can spend at a school..they register at the school...the school gets that money....problem...for the most part...is fixed....no new money is needed....if teachers unions get in the way of educating your child....send them to a non union school with your voucher...if your kid is being bullied in a school and has a hard time learning...take your voucher to a school that will stop it....

Problem for the most part solved....our Colleges are some of the best in the world....college age students can take federal money to any college they want...except Hillsdale, who won't accept federal money...let's try the federal model....

Voucher approach forces schools to perform ... or close. The next step is privatization/profitization of all schools. You approve of that?

 

[2aguy]

The problem with education now is that it is a government monopoly that only the rich can escape...vouchers solve that problem....that is also why obama and the democrats oppose vouchers...an educated minority population won't vote for democrats in the same numbers....they won't want all of their money taken in taxes....

 

[2aguy]

The next step is privatization/profitization of all schools. You approve of that?

Sure, I guess...I think vouchers solve that....if kids can go to any school because they are in control of the money...then you and I could open a school, hire our own teachers and then advertise for students...if we get results...we get more voucher money...we would have an incentive to fix problems in our school...because the students would be free to leave whenever they wanted...so if we screwed up...they would leave...now...the democrats stand in the public school house door and won't let the kids escape...

 

[Unkotare]

....our Colleges are some of the best in the world.......

Not "some of the best," by far the best.

 

[2aguy]

that just shows us how to fix the problem....school vouchers....

 

[Unkotare]

that just shows us how to fix the problem....school vouchers....

Not entirely.

 

[2aguy]

Not entirely.

True...but the problems based on money can be fixed with vouchers....it will also help fix bad teachers in the classroom, and poor test scores....it won't fix bad parents....sadly, I don't think anyone can....

 

[Unkotare]

the problems based on money can be fixed with vouchers....it will also help fix bad teachers in the classroom, and poor test scores........

Again, not entirely.

 

[HereWeGoAgain]

We need to get away from that "Little Johnny can grow up to be anything he wants to be" crap.
Lets face it,some kids aren't cut out for college and would be better served learning a trade when it's discovered that little Johnny wont be going to Med school.
Make sure they understand the three Rs early on so they can function in society,but when they dont show a propensity for academics try and direct them to something that fits their abilities.

 

[regent]

Still trying to find the period of America's golden age of education, anyone have an idea of when and why?

 

[boilermaker55]

Ever been to a school board meeting?
Ever been to your local school to talk to any administrator or teacher?

1. End tenor,,,,Teacher doesn't get the job done = fired.
2. Pay the remaining successful teachers more!
3. Get rid of the cultural fabian crap. No, johny isn't gong to be a girl. Jezzz. And no, Jose doesn't need to hate people for anything.
4. Focus on teaching useful skills and focus on the facts.
4.1 Math, science, history, writing, reading, and useful skills. That means NO learning about BUTT SEX!!!
5. Kid is a trouble maker punish the little bastard! Don't care what color he/she is. We're all equal? Bring back the paddle for the little bastard!
6. Talk to the parents about what they need to do to help to advance their child's education!

 

[regent]

We have fifty state governments in charge of education, and in those fifty states we have thousands of school districts each with one or more schools. Every one if those schools and school districts is a potential lab to see what works best. Do we even have an inkling of best, or how it is achieved? Perhaps the problem is democracy. Politicians spend millions getting elected to office and for them to get involved in schools may be a losing proposition. It is easier and more profitable for politicians vote-wise to point out how badly schools are doing than try to improve them. To try to change schools in any meaningful way is a form of political insanity, so schools go on.

 

[initforme]

Surely if you take the disruptive, low performing kids and put them in a a school your beloved test scores will go down. I say if a disruptive kid gets voucher money then the voucher school HAS to educate the student and under NO circumstances can refuse to educate the child no matter how low their test scores are. And if the kid is a major disruption and test low the school is fully to blame. Sound good? That's what some of you idiots think.

 

[regent]

I think it was sometime in the Forties that school implemented a "keep em in school" philosophy, the reason, juvenile delinquency was becoming a problem. With the new approach schools implemented social promotion, made most things easier and graduated most that stayed in school. How many students today fail to graduate if they attend regularly, obey the rules and make a semblance of doing the work? Does the keep em in school policy payoff for society? Which is the better dropping students willing but unable to do the work or keeping em under supervision?