I was raised in the public school system. Dad was a teacher, assistant principal and then THE Principal. I guess it had it's perks. He could call teachers if I had homework questions. He did the "in-stadium" announcing of the football games, so from an early age, I was hitting all of the local high school football games and running wild. He ran the score board for some of the high school basketball games, so I got to see a lot of those. And there was a time he officiated some of those basketball games. He had great teachers at his school. He worked hard to make sure that he had the best he could get. For dad, nothing was more important than the kids and their ability to get the best education he could help provide.
I had the opportunity to attend his school, but I elected not to. Really, who wants their dad to be their Principal? Looking back on it, it would have been great. But, my friends didn't go to his school. It would require leaving home earlier and getting home later. But I really don't regret make the decision to stay with "East Ward", which had become Annie Sims Elementary. And I had great teachers there. Maybe Mr. Dwain Fortenberry was my favorite teacher. He taught math. And...that was about the last year I did well in math. He always had on a short sleeve shirt and a tie, and he made math something I could understand.
I think I had great experiences in school. I didn't know anything about private schools. And certainly nothing about home schooling. And while I have friends who are teachers. I have friends whose parents are teachers. I have relatives who are teachers. And I know that there are amazing public school teachers in this world, but I gotta say...Public School sucks.
This is my opinion, agree or disagree, it's how I see it. Let's start with blaming parents. In today's world, there are too many parents that believe that the school is responsible for raising their child. Or children. Mind you, they want to keep taxes low, but expectations high. Teachers and our school systems have become glorified baby sitters. Teach them about life. Give them their medication. Make sure that the kids become responsible adults. Yet, they can't teach morals. Ethics. Religion. Personal attitude. Personal lifestyle. Yep, let's take away the teacher's rights, but expect them to produce model citizens. And discipline. Forget about it. Oh, and even though we don't pay enough in taxes that our teachers, the folks we entrust with our most valuable investment, can actually receive a decent living, we expect them to work miracles and produce students that can make high marks on standardized tests. And let the teachers know that if they kids don't do well, well, maybe you will join the ranks of the under-counted unemployed. So yes, we expect all of this while, uh, expecting public school teachers to teach our children to pass a test. Not get an education.
And let's revisit two words here. Standardized testing. Teachers hate them. Students hate them. Parents hate them. And they measure...what? Not all kids test well. Not all kids care enough to answer the tests properly. For some, it's a speed exercise in coloring circles. Yet, the results rank our kids and rate our teachers.
Curriculum. It used to be an extension of our communities. But now important parts of history are being left out of history books. Sometimes fabricated. Music and arts are being dropped due to expense and budget. And then there is Common Core. Common Core is...well, let's just say that Common Core is such a poison that it can stop a political career if a politician supports it.
Class size. I remember when I got to college and sat in my first "auditorium" classroom. Yeah, no point in taking roll, since class would be over before it was finished. Classroom sizes in public schools have exploded. 25 kids is a big class, 30 students is too many, and when you hit 40 or 40+? Pull the plug on life support because the kids aren't getting an education, they are getting counted for attendance.
Bad teachers. They are out there. Not everyone can teach. And some teach for the wrong reason. Having the summer off from work is not the reason to teach, unless maybe it's to be home with your own kids. But overall, if that's your reason for teaching, move along.
And finally. Government overreach. I have no problem with my kids learning about morals or ethics from someone else. It is my job to teach them these things, but reinforcement is always good. But today...what are our kids learning? I don't care if my kids learn a bit about Darwinism, But I don't want them indoctrinated with the belief that any other idea is wrong. And while I don't have an issue with my kids learning a little about religion, it's my job to introduce them to religion. I believe that there are too many areas where the government is stepping in and it doesn't belong. Sex education belongs at home. And we all know the firestorm that was started last week when the Obama Administration came out and said that kids who "identify" as the opposite sex are to be allowed to use the restroom and locker room of the sex they identify with. Hey. I know there are a lot of kids who are confused and frustrated and concerned about feelings they have about themselves. But with this...I got issues.
And there are alternatives. Private schools. Home schooling. Viable options. But our government has got to step up some of their archaic laws in certain areas. If I pay to send my child to private school or home school, then a viable voucher program should be available to assist. I pay school tax. I should be able to apply that to the choice I choose for my child. And so should you.
Schools in America. It's a volatile topic. But it's one that needs broad review. Parents need to speak up. Get involved. Raising our children is our job. Not the city or county's job. Or the state's job. I don't have the answers. But I have some of the questions. And I'm sure that you do, too. Our child now attends a private school. And sits in a class of about 20. Not 40, where she would have been in public school. I used to think that private school was for the "upper class". No longer.
Tell me. What do you think?
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