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OK, I cannot stand it any longer. Our schools are horrible.

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darkhorse12

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Joined: Sep, 2004

Posts: 10739

Posted: Feb. 23, 2013 - 3:12 PM ET #26

Quote Originally Posted by Getty3:

There are so many possible reasons of which most play a role to some degree. I have talked to many teachers over the years raising 2 boys, and they all point to one thing in particular : A lack of educational and emotional support within their own family(if a family even exists). The grounds to a bad education are laid at a very early age before teachers have much of a chance to make a difference.

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idle_havoc

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Joined: Nov, 2011

Posts: 4511

Posted: Feb. 23, 2013 - 3:21 PM ET #27

Quote Originally Posted by Getty3:

There are so many possible reasons of which most play a role to some degree. I have talked to many teachers over the years raising 2 boys, and they all point to one thing in particular : A lack of educational and emotional support within their own family(if a family even exists). The grounds to a bad education are laid at a very early age before teachers have much of a chance to make a difference.

Gotta go pee!

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slikstiks99

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Joined: Sep, 2006

Posts: 6676

Posted: Feb. 23, 2013 - 3:28 PM ET #28

It's a cultural problem that has been building for decades.

Many parents should not be allowed to have children. Some parents tell their kids that "oh you'll never use this in the real-world etc..."

It is learning how to learn that is more important than the subject matter itself. So many kids do ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. I repeat. ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. They don't care and the parents don't care, simple as that. I'm not even talking about kids in tough situations. This situation is paralleled by the childhood obesity epidemic. The two issues are no coincidence. Our society has eroded away and will be left in the dust if there is not dramatic change.

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bill702

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Joined: Jan, 2009

Posts: 2235

Posted: Feb. 23, 2013 - 4:51 PM ET #29

Quote Originally Posted by Crashdavis565:

Why?

This is the great question. Of course, I am not sure. In fact, I like most of us have really no idea. If I knew, I would get on the mountain tops and scream the answer. I do like some of the ideas though and I do some room for improvement.

1) I hated Bush's no child left behind act. I am NOT AN EXPERT on education but to teach to the lowest level in the class and not the middle to highest, seems to waste the best minds.

2) My kids (6 and 8) are taught to write , write , write, there is no grading or grammar. They are simply applauded (feverishly) for putting pen to paper.

3) Technology. I volunteer at my kids school and we were playing a math game the other day. When the problems got harder, the kids just turned to their calculators. They did not do the perspiration to work it out in their heads ( until prodded by me to give it some thought) . My point is this, I feel for the teachers who are teaching math and spelling. These subjects are becoming obsolete with technology. Furthermore, who would you rather have working for you, a kid who can do IT and find information or one who really knows math and spelling. The lean today is to the former for sure.

4) Parents no doubt. I agree with the ADD, LMNOP post above.. Kids are not at fault, they have conditions that prevent them from learning. These are granted by parents who have the means to buy them. It does not matter what learning disability you have, IN LIFE AFTER YOU LEAVE YOUR HELICOPTER PARENTS, there will be no do overs.

5) I have read some science based studies that show exercise promotes mental growth. Kids today, are technology plugged in , wasting their minds on video games and computers. They are not participating and playing in the streets and at school, like we do. I think this distracts from their learning.

6) Decrease school time and larger classes. My kids get so many teacher days, MLK days and snow days it makes me puke. They are home more than they are in school The days they go to school, they are trapped in larger classes with 28-32 kids, unreal.

7) Cursive- Good point. Why do away with cursive because it is hard. Also, what is replacing it? The bar is being lowered and lowered, near the basement now.

That is the stuff off the top of my head.

I agree with everything except 3 and 7. Math is in no way becoming obsolete with technology it just simply can't be. Now I will admit the fundamentals are being lost on a majority of the children, but math is more setting up the problem and not simply adding 3+4 and using a calculator for it. The calculator is simply a tool to speed the process up and yes it should be taught to be used as if you plan to go into any mathematical based profession it will be used extensively.

For 7, cursive isn't any harder than writing normal letters. If anything, it's easier it's just that you learn the normal letters first. Everything flows and is much easier/faster to finish.I would compare this to a language difference. You learn english first which would make learning Russian harder as you age and have the experience of learning english behind you. It's obsolete and really not needed anymore. We can make children learn Latin if we wish, but it doesn't do them any good.