[quote=AN]CAR, if I understand you correctly, the status quo is just fine. Correct? Do you think there’s no need for change?
As for Michelle Rhee, like her or not, agree with her or not, I don’t care. At least she’s trying to implement change. If you think it’s wrong solution, what’s your solution (this is assuming you think there is a problem)?[/quote]
There is no “status quo” in education, AN. Things are constantly changing from year to year. As of right now, students have more choices and options than they have ever had. If their parents don’t like it, they are free to enroll their kids in private schools (as you do), or homeschool them (as we do). Everyone is different, so there is no singular “right way” to teach, nor is there a simple prescription for what ails our education system; if there were, we would have seen it by now.
But since you’ve asked for my opinion on a solution, I think that we need to put a greater emphasis on parenting and the parents’ responsibility to set the tone for their child’s education. I would also add that students who do not want to learn or who are emotionally unstable (violent, severe behavioral problems, etc.) should be culled from the general student population and sent to schools where parents are literally forced to physically get involved with their child’s learning environment (sitting in class, if need be), and where the schools legally have more leeway to deal with these students. If the parents don’t like it, I think parents should be legally mandated to teach their children at home. Behavioral problems are one of the leading causes of classroom/learning disruptions and teacher burnout.
We also need to be able to extend the school day for students who are not willing/able to learn (even for students who DO want to learn…I just like extended days, as ending the school day at 2:30 p.m. is ridiculous on so many levels, IMO).
Just doing those two things would go a long way toward improving education in our country, IMO.
