Thursday 14 November 2013

How To Address The Problems With Public Education

By Bonnie Contreras


In recent years there has been much discussion and dialogue about the problems with public education. Many people all over the country are expressing alarm about the crisis in the nations educational establishment. Unfortunately there is no one easy answer to this problem. It has grown for many years and is now considered by many to be totally out of control.

It is practically impossible to assign just one reason to explain the problem. It is huge and very complex. There are factors from society in general, from the home and also from within the schools themselves. It has become all too easy to fall back on the standard answers of large class sizes and over stressed teachers. Yet there are many more forces at work.

Many of the complaints are about the qualifications of many teachers. They may have completed their requirements but are still not educated to the level of teachers in Europe or Asia. Many teachers are themselves a product of the failing system. They have never known anything else and never think to question why so many of their students are failing.

In fact the argument can just as easily be made that because of the excellent working conditions experienced by many teacher the profession is actually attracting the wrong people. Historically teaching was seen as a vocation. People went into the profession because they really cared and wanted to make a difference. Now many people become teachers because of the long summer vacation and tenure.

Many experts think that one of the biggest problems facing schools today is the lack of parental involvement. Many families are extremely busy. Both parents may be working full time jobs and there is little time left for supervising school work. Some parents just feel that it is the schools job to educate their child, even in cases where the child has a learning disability and needs extra help.

For many people the cult of the individual is seen as a major factor in the failure of many students today. They have a huge sense of entitlement. Parents work hard to buy them anything and everything they want. The child never learns the value of hard work and does not realize that this quality is essential to success later in life. The children coast through school expecting good grades weather they work hard or not. Just showing up and putting in minimal effort is seen as enough.

Some experts have also put forward the case that separation of church and state is having a serious effect on students. In order to fully understand the development of Western society and culture, the student must be taught about religion. Religion has had a huge and profound impact on the history of the world. Trying to teach about the development of modern society without mentioning religion is impossible. The result has been that many students have little understanding of the complexities of their own country or that of others.

When all the problems with public education are examined it may seem completely over whelming. For changes to be made educators need to begin in their class rooms. Engaging parents and showing them they are also a big part of their child's success is a crucial first step.




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