Root Cause of US Education System Failure

[Titanic Sailor]

Teachers Union Facts | Political Contribution List

wow, all of the teachers union cash went to Democrats, that's weird:

Amount Party Union
$ 186,500 DEMOCRAT Act For Texas Classroom Teachers Assoc/tcta
$ 99,365 REPUBLICAN Act For Texas Classroom Teachers Assoc/tcta
$ 12,500 DEMOCRAT Alliance Of Dallas Educators United Teachers Local 2260
$ 21,000 REPUBLICAN Alliance Of Dallas Educators United Teachers Local 2260
$ 950 DEMOCRAT Bexar County Federation Of Teachers/bcft
$ 7,000 DEMOCRAT Corpus Christi Federation Of Teachers/aft
$ 31,841 DEMOCRAT Education Austin Pac
$ 750 DEMOCRAT El Paso Federation Of Teachers
$ 4,000 DEMOCRAT El Paso Federation Of Teachers Cope
$ 500 REPUBLICAN El Paso Federation Of Teachers Cope
$ 1,206 DEMOCRAT Federation Of Teachers/aft
$ 3,850 DEMOCRAT Houston Federation Of Teachers Cope
$ 250 DEMOCRAT Houston Federation Of Teachers-cope
$ 500 DEMOCRAT La Joya Federation Of Teachers
$ 7,750 DEMOCRAT San Antonio Alliance Of Teachers & Support Personnel Pac
$ 200 DEMOCRAT San Antonio Teachers Council
$ 61,550 DEMOCRAT Texas Federation Of Teachers
$ 22,250 REPUBLICAN Texas Federation Of Teachers
$ 500 DEMOCRAT Texas Federation Of Teachers La Joya Federation Of Teachers
$ 160,320 DEMOCRAT Texas State Teachers Assoc/tsta
$ 59,400 REPUBLICAN Texas State Teachers Assoc/tsta
$ 7,500 DEMOCRAT United Teachers Pac
$ 5,000 REPUBLICAN United Teachers Pac

 

[arKangel]

So why are so many people opting for the home school choice? One good reason is that many parents feel that they know their children better than the public schools do. As a result, they have a better grasp of what methods and programs will work with their children. In other words, for a large group of Americans, selecting homeschooling is not meant to reject the public school teacher; it's meant to select the best thing for the family's children.

Violence is another reason many parents prefer the home school option. True, statistics do not show a recent increase in violence in public schools, but it's hard to ignore those few school shootings and not be scared of sending your kids to possibly face on.

[snippity snip snip]

Let's consider one other group of statistics: Those measuring homeschooler performance. According to a 1997 study, "Home Schoolers Across America," homeschoolers on average performed higher than public school students by 30 to 37 percent on all subjects.

Statistics Homeschooling Foes Don't Want You to Know


Pinko's want slaves. That is why they blabber about removing children from parental care ASAP.
Pinko's HATE happy families. Happy families do not generate loyal commie slaves.

Parents are the naturally superior teachers, simple fact.

Homeschoolers get higher test scores. Homeschoolers consistently outperform publicly schooled students on standardized tests, raising questions about the efficiency and efficacy of public education. According to nationwide homeschooling statistics, homeschoolers score in the 85th to 89th percentile in core subjects.

Homeschoolers play more. Most homeschoolers spend significantly less time doing "school work" than school kids, yet they outperform on tests. This supports theories that children need free time for optimal development. Some parents choose to homeschool the early years to give their children the advantage of adequate time to play.

Nonetheless, President Obama's education reform proposes longer school days.

Does homeschooling pose a threat to public education? - National Unschooling | Examiner.com

Pinko's don't want smart, safe, and happy kids... THEY WANT SLAVES!

 

[Bfgrn]

The majority of folks in the education system are Democrats, so, I have to blame Democrats. Didn't see that as an option.

Hey pea brain... America is the land of opportunity. There's nothing stopping conservatives from choosing a career in academia... except for that one little thing...they are dumber than a pile of dogshit.


"We have all seen these circus elephants complete with tusks, ivory in their head and thick skins, who move around the circus ring and grab the tail of the elephant ahead of them."
President John F. Kennedy

So if one group chooses academia, and another group chooses "big business or the corporate jungle" is either group really dumber than dog-shit or smarter than the other? Maybe the economic losers shouldn't be whining for higher taxes from the A-Team? Doncha think?

"Republicans care more about property, Democrats care more about people"
Ted Sorensen - President Kennedy's Special Counsel & Adviser, and primary speechwriter

There are as many 'liberals' that choose the "big business or the corporate jungle" as academia, it really boils down to priorities and beliefs. Liberals measure success in human terms, conservatives measure success in monetary terms.

The change in America over the last 30 years:

FROM:
"Labor is the United States. The men and women, who with their minds, their hearts and hands, create the wealth that is shared in this country—they are America."
President Dwight D. Eisenhower

TO:
"We're going to crush labor as a political entity"
Grover Norquist - Republican economic guru

IF you really want to know why our educations system is failing, LOOK at the country that tops the list.

Finland's education system is tops: Here's why

Highly qualified teachers and pedagogical autonomy

* In Finnish culture, teaching is one of the most important professions of society, and substantial resources are invested in teacher education.

* Teachers are trusted to do their best as true professionals of education. They are entrusted with considerable pedagogical independence in the classroom, and schools have likewise enjoyed significant autonomy in organizing their work within the national curriculum.

* All Finnish teachers complete a master’s degree, either in education or in a teaching subject. They are considered pedagogical experts.

* Additionally, the profession of classroom teacher is greatly valued and popular among post-secondary students. Only 10% of the applicants for teacher-education programs are admitted.

* Finnish teachers set high standards for students’ literacy skills and interests.

* Regarded as educational experts, Finnish teachers are relied on when it comes to student assessment, which usually draws on students’ class work, projects, teacher-made exams, and portfolios. In Finland, teacher-based assessment is all the more important because at Finnish comprehensive schools students are not assessed by national tests or examinations during the school years or upon completing school.

* Teachers are vested with considerable decision-making authority as concerns school policy and management. They have almost exclusive responsibility for the choice of textbooks and have more say than their counterparts in the OECD countries in determining course content, establishing student assessment policies, deciding which courses the school should offer, and allocating budgets within the school.

Finland: The World's Best School System
Finland, according a major international survey, has the best educational system in the world. This study, in turn, comes on the heels of several others showing that Finland has the highest rate of teen literacy in the world, the highest percent of "regular readers," and the most "creatively competitive" economy. The BBC has devoted a whole series of features to looking at why this might be true.

The Finnish education minister says that heavy investments in education are a matter of economic survival for a small, affluent high-tech-based nation. Finland spends more per elementary, middle- and high- school student than any other nation on Earth, and comes in second on spending for higher education. School lunches, health care, most class materials and university tuition are all free.

 

[AllieBaba]

the root cause of the failure of the education system in this country is that it's run by liberals.

 

[Bfgrn]

the root cause of the failure of the education system in this country is that it's run by liberals.

The 'liberals' have been out of power since the late 60's. Where we are is the end result of the failed Reagan revolution and conservatives that held power over the last 30+ years. But don't let FACTS interrupt your right wing ignorant dogma.

 

[Titanic Sailor]

hahahahaha, thanks Borg, that was pretty humorous.

 

[Titanic Sailor]

Now go ask a teacher if they know teachers that HATE the children. Hope you are sitting down when you get the answer..............

Your rude awakening approaching.

 

[Sarah G]

Just watching Meet the Press showing that the US is at the bottom of developed countries' for education. The top US 5% of students are still in the lower half of the world's kids.

Why is this? Who has ideas how to improve the US kids' performance?

Is it the teachers? The teacher's unions? The parents? The apparent lack of discipline in schools? The kids are too distracted from studies? The drug culture and societal changes in younger sexuality (i.e. the kids get sexually active younger and studying takes a back-seat to fun in the back-seat)

Could it be that politicians penalized having kids so professionals had fewer kids and only the welfare queens had large families, then did not have the skills to educate or care for their large families?

Lets take a poll....

Perhaps we should look at successful students, school districts, other countries and find out how they are succeeding. Go from there with ideas like the ones Bloomberg was discussing the other day and others who really care about the schools and are not using them as political footballs.

 

[Titanic Sailor]

Private schools, who can hire and fire at will, have the best performing students. Genes? Who knows, but the private schools are definitely training the kids for leadership in many industries.

All the information is there for improving education, and why NO Democrat will implement it, because it means reform of their Democrat teacher voter base, and big union cash for the DNC.

There are many excellent teachers, we all know that. The unions need to go, sorry, they earned it. The unions make the entire situation a political football.

 

[Bfgrn]

Private schools, who can hire and fire at will, have the best performing students. Genes? Who knows, but the private schools are definitely training the kids for leadership in many industries.

All the information is there for improving education, and why NO Democrat will implement it, because it means reform of their Democrat teacher voter base, and big union cash for the DNC.

There are many excellent teachers, we all know that. The unions need to go, sorry, they earned it. The unions make the entire situation a political football.

Those evil unions had MORE power and influence when America was number one in the world in education. Now America is near the bottom of the heap...

Don't try to cross the street without adult supervision...OK?

 

[Titanic Sailor]

Maybe because the rest of the world's education system got up to speed and blew past the stagnation of our unions?

You can throw all the insults you want Borg, and deny the truth all you want as well. It's a free country.

 

[Titanic Sailor]

In fact, while the nation was hard at work, you have to give the teachers unions credit, they did their homework to bilk the system. Now to stop them you'll likely end up in a court room staffed by Democrats unless you go to the SJC. They created laws to insulate themselves from voter actions,and guarantee protections: like not paying into Social Security like the rest of Americans. Many states did this.

You probably went to public school, and didn't know this Borg.

 

[vonbolical5]

wow

 

[Bfgrn]

Maybe because the rest of the world's education system got up to speed and blew past the stagnation of our unions?

You can throw all the insults you want Borg, and deny the truth all you want as well. It's a free country.

No, the rest of the world copied us. Teachers were once considered one of the most important professions of society in America. Now right wing assholes have tried to make teachers the scapegoats for failed Republican policies.

Education is the cheap defense of nations.
Edmund Burke

 

[Bfgrn]

In fact, while the nation was hard at work, you have to give the teachers unions credit, they did their homework to bilk the system. Now to stop them you'll likely end up in a court room staffed by Democrats unless you go to the SJC. They created laws to insulate themselves from voter actions,and guarantee protections: like not paying into Social Security like the rest of Americans. Many states did this.

You probably went to public school, and didn't know this Borg.

Yea pea brain, in many states teachers don't pay into Social Security, and they don't COLLECT Social Security either.

LOOK OUT...a big truck is coming!

 

[ScreamingEagle]

Maybe because the rest of the world's education system got up to speed and blew past the stagnation of our unions?

You can throw all the insults you want Borg, and deny the truth all you want as well. It's a free country.

No, the rest of the world copied us. Teachers were once considered one of the most important professions of society in America. Now right wing assholes have tried to make teachers the scapegoats for failed Republican policies.

Education is the cheap defense of nations.
Edmund Burke

The unions have influenced the schools for decades now.....our student performance has also steadily declined....just coincidence?....and you're right....a lot of union teachers today are not all considered to be that hot any more....but then they are the sad products of our dumbed-down liberal colleges....

Why is it so many charter schools do better for our students than union schools today....? And many with less moolah..? And if the unions care so much for the children why are they politically opposed to charter schools and school vouchers...? Why would the unions rather leave the kids to rot in the ghetto schools....?

We need to break the stranglehold of union power before any meaningful school reform can really begin..... from the local and state levels like it used to be....but that's not exactly happening today what with the Education Jobs Fund being passed and Obama wanting to control education from the federal level....

 

[Annie]

The root cause is the deterioration of the family unit in America. Children aren't able to do well in school when they have minimal family structure and a lack of at least basic behavioral skills.

Indeed, they are part of the problem. The first and most significant educators are the parents of the child. Academic success is a marrying of abilities and skills learned. First among the skills is self-discipline and knowing how to listen. Too many children haven't developed these skills by kindergarten,

Next would be respect, not sitting in fright or of corporal punishment, we are addressing basic respect or common decency. Of themselves, their peers, and authority. Again manners need to be taught at home. I'd guess that most people here over the age of 40 remember being admonished to listen to the teacher and follow the rules. It seems that many children today are making the house rules or there just aren't any.

A lot more 'educating' would be accomplished if the kids understood there are 'listening times,' 'answering times,' and 'sharing information' times.

 

[Bfgrn]

Maybe because the rest of the world's education system got up to speed and blew past the stagnation of our unions?

You can throw all the insults you want Borg, and deny the truth all you want as well. It's a free country.

No, the rest of the world copied us. Teachers were once considered one of the most important professions of society in America. Now right wing assholes have tried to make teachers the scapegoats for failed Republican policies.

Education is the cheap defense of nations.
Edmund Burke

The unions have influenced the schools for decades now.....our student performance has also steadily declined....just coincidence?....and you're right....a lot of union teachers today are not all considered to be that hot any more....but then they are the sad products of our dumbed-down liberal colleges....

Why is it so many charter schools do better for our students than union schools today....? And many with less moolah..? And if the unions care so much for the children why are they politically opposed to charter schools and school vouchers...? Why would the unions rather leave the kids to rot in the ghetto schools....?

We need to break the stranglehold of union power before any meaningful school reform can really begin..... from the local and state levels like it used to be....but that's not exactly happening today what with the Education Jobs Fund being passed and Obama wanting to control education from the federal level....

You have a firm grasp of the effect, but you CAN'T start somewhere in the middle and create cause & effect.

Let's look back to when America's public schools were the best in the world. I went to public schools in the 50's and 60's when there were 2 realities...

1) America's public education system was the best in the world
2) Unions had MORE power and influence than they do today..

There were no attacks on teachers and unions back then, THAT STARTED 2-3 decades ago.

Se let's properly rephrase your question:

The unions have LOST influence in the schools for decades now.....our student performance has also steadily declined....just coincidence?

 

[ScreamingEagle]

No, the rest of the world copied us. Teachers were once considered one of the most important professions of society in America. Now right wing assholes have tried to make teachers the scapegoats for failed Republican policies.

Education is the cheap defense of nations.
Edmund Burke

The unions have influenced the schools for decades now.....our student performance has also steadily declined....just coincidence?....and you're right....a lot of union teachers today are not all considered to be that hot any more....but then they are the sad products of our dumbed-down liberal colleges....

Why is it so many charter schools do better for our students than union schools today....? And many with less moolah..? And if the unions care so much for the children why are they politically opposed to charter schools and school vouchers...? Why would the unions rather leave the kids to rot in the ghetto schools....?

We need to break the stranglehold of union power before any meaningful school reform can really begin..... from the local and state levels like it used to be....but that's not exactly happening today what with the Education Jobs Fund being passed and Obama wanting to control education from the federal level....

You have a firm grasp of the effect, but you CAN'T start somewhere in the middle and create cause & effect.

Let's look back to when America's public schools were the best in the world. I went to public schools in the 50's and 60's when there were 2 realities...

1) America's public education system was the best in the world
2) Unions had MORE power and influence than they do today..

There were no attacks on teachers and unions back then, THAT STARTED 2-3 decades ago.

Se let's properly rephrase your question:

The unions have LOST influence in the schools for decades now.....our student performance has also steadily declined....just coincidence?

Point 1) - agree

Point 2) - disagree

How could the NEA have "lost influence" when it has grown ever larger over the years since the sixties....?
...not to mention its transformation from just a "professional" organization to also a "true labor union"...?
...not to mention recent affiliations with the powerful AFL-CIO...?

Before the 1960s, only a small portion of public school teachers were unionized.[5] But that began to change when, in 1959, Wisconsin became the first state to pass a collective bargaining law for public employees. Over the next 20 years, most other states adopted similar laws. The passage of these laws had a significant impact on NEA, which began to serve members as a labor union, in addition to serving members as a professional association. Passage of these new labor laws, along with NEA's new role as a labor union, helped NEA membership grow from 766,000 in 1961 [6] to roughly 3.2 million today.

In the 1960s, the NEA's demographics were changing. This was due the merger with ATA and the decision to become a true labor union, among other factors.[19] In 1967, the NEA elected its first Hispanic president Braulio Alonso. In 1968, NEA elected its first Black president, Elizabeth Duncan Koontz[20].

In 2006, the NEA and the AFL-CIO also announced that, for the first time, stand-alone NEA locals as well as those that had merged with the AFT would be allowed to join state and local labor federations affiliated with the AFL-CIO.[7]

National Education Association - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[JFK_USA]

Actually our schools continue to turn out some of the best students in the world. There is more to education than taking tests. There is creativity, initiative,communication skills, leadership, teamwork....all lead to a productive citizen.

American students have historically done very well when they get into the workforce

Source?

I hire them

I find that relying strictly on GPAs and test scores does not get you the best employee. Hiring a 4.0 student who has poor speaking skills or poor social skills will get you an employee incapable of excelling in the workforce.

I see that as a problem and I will explain in the post.

I see the problem in three areas: 1. Society 2. Parents 3. Education vs. Job Training.

1. Society does value an education to a degree, no pun intended. They want you to have an education, but they don't value high academic success. We all remember college class where the majority of the class got an average of 68 on a test, but the highest score was a 97 so the curve is only 3 points. People were pissed in my class, and if you found out who the kid was, he was ridiculed behind his back and we would use him to get a better grade but never to hang out socially. An education is a sacrifice and alot of these scholars are very socially awkward. You know they are smart but at the same time, they don't know how to express themselves because they spent more time on education than being social. The peers are a huge impact on a kid

Also, look at popular culture. We don't value education as much as fame. Academic scholarships are becoming harder to get and the awards are staying the same while the cost increase every year while athletes get full ride scholarships to play football. So parents gear their kids to focus on athletics and being great at that while being just average or good in academics, enough to qualify but not spectacular. I love sports but I do see a disconnect between being great scholastically and being a great sports athlete.

2. Studies have always shown that children from stable families are more successful. Obviously, people from broken homes do become successful (Barack Obama and others) but usually they aren't. When you see divorce rates in the 50%, you cheat the kid because now parents fight each other for the kids love and give the kid whatever he wants to make him happy so you still have a relationship with him/her. So much less emphasis on education is placed on the kids because they are just having fun all the time. But also families with both parents available don't put much emphasis on education. Extra-curricular activities plus parents working two jobs to keep kids in programs and food on the table. Now just get the homework done, maybe sometimes the parents give them the answers without them figuring it out just to get more time with them because it goes by so fast. The family is in an identity crisis now with unmarried and divorce parents raising kids and I am not a christian but I see a definite problem with those two aspects of child rearing.

3. According to this article: The Sheepskin Effect conservatives don't have much intrinsic value to an education. They want to have it but not to learn more, it mostly just for job training. College today has gone from enlightenment to job training. Thats it. Its a glorified career center. Kids just get a passing grade, get the degree and move on. GPA doesn't matter, but personality and social skills. So kids focus on those instead of studying harder, they get involved in clubs and put all their effort into that instead of making themselves more intelligent. Clubs are great things, but I think we focus so much on the career and just knowing enough to be successful instead of learning just to learn.

These are what I see are the problems and I doubt it will change because its so engraved in our society that we won't ever just change our philosophy on education.