Obama and McCain miss the mark on education

If merit pay is based on improvement, which student will grow more:one in class daily, reading independently, and completing homework, or one working/babysitting siblings, dealing with absent/addicted parents, and doing no homework? The teacher pouring out her heart working with the most unmotivated, discouraged students gets punished while the honors teacher working with highly motivated kids from good homes gets a bonus? You can't always measure a teacher's impact with a, b, c, or d. As others posted on this forum, look at society before placing ALL the blame on teachers.

11 yr public schl tchr @ 10:49 PM PDT, Aug 2, 2008

1.lack of administrative support for disciplinary problems, 2. poverty problems, 3. bureaucracy, 4. spoiled, violent kids with a sense of entitlement, 5. hopelessness, 6. not seeing value in education, 7. 'dumbed down' American culture's worship of money and celebrities.8. infighting

12 year ghetto vet @ 8:18 AM PDT, Aug 2, 2008

An aspect of American secondary education that reduces its appeal to students is the limitations imposed on what is taught in the classroom. Science, for example, is replete with profound and provocative facts, topics, and concepts, but the science teacher has to walk a fine line when presenting and examining elements of the scientific worldview, such as Darwin’s theory of evolution. Unless, American high schools grow up intellectually, I don’t have much hope for America’s secondary education system. America must break out of its anti-intellectualism shell if it expects its children to.

Frank Kyle @ 2:21 AM PDT, Aug 2, 2008

bureaucracy, lack of back-up discipline by administrators, poverty, poor diet, hopelessness, not seeing value in education, 'dumbed down' American culture's worship of money and celebrities...everything that got worse when Repubs were in office.

12 year ghetto vet @ 11:35 PM PDT, Aug 1, 2008

Kate Applebee is right. I am an English teacher at middle and high schools - 9 years, at inner city, low income campuses. There are many factors involved in the decline of our public school system but the most elusive remains parent participation. Many studies show conclusively how scores and grades rise when parents are visible from on campus. It doesn't have to be all parents, just the presence of some parents makes the difference. However, not one study has offered suggestions to successfully entice parents to become involved with their children's schools. Maybe that's what Mr. Obama and Mr. McCain should be talking about.

Susana Montano @ 8:59 PM PDT, Aug 1, 2008

As a fellow teacher I can certainly identify with the issues you discussed. We believe we are giving our students the best education we can provide them but are still faced with falling grades. Like you stated, it is time that parents and students make responsible choices.

Barbara Sabatini @ 8:58 PM PDT, Aug 1, 2008

Remember the Bell Curve? All populations of people, in the workforce, students in a classroom, in a private business usually fall into the standard Bell Curve distribution. A small % failing, a small % outstanding and the majority of teachers, kids, parents, ect. will fall average. Some would argue, including me, that standardized scores are not an indicator of true learning anyway, much less a way to decide how I am paid! I would invite either candidate to come to my classroom, located in a multi-lingual, lower middle class, rural area of Riverside any day. We will glady show them both what REAL life learning is all about!

Kristy Orona-Ramirez @ 8:27 PM PDT, Aug 1, 2008

Finally, someone with the courage to say what has been on the mind of teachers. I have exactly the same opinion after teaching for 3 years.

Mr. D @ 3:56 PM PDT, Aug 1, 2008

Two key obstructions. One is attitudes, as observed. People talk of rich high performing schools vs poor under performing schools. Of course this will be the case. Wealthy families are likely wealthy because they appreciate the importance of education. Of course those schools will perform well. Unfortunately the opposite is also true. The other problem is the teachers unions having a vested interest in the status quo. To make improvements, there must be metrics and accountability. Unions want us to take things on faith with no accountability. Just remember: unions exist to protect their constituents not to ensure the highest quality product.

Rob @ 3:23 PM PDT, Aug 1, 2008

In the same way a restaurant puts out good food and good service, those customers start to "believe" in the restaurant and come back for more. Once you make the systemic changes in public education, like the ones Obama proposes, you will have an adjustment in the beliefs about education, that school is a gateway to success and opportunity, like it should be.

Teacher for Obama 2008 @ 2:48 PM PDT, Aug 1, 2008

Next