I concur with the recognition that parents and students should go with the educational path that best fits them. Other than reading, writing, and basic math and basic national/state history, students who don't want to be in certain classes (or who show by their behavior they are not in synch with that class) should be off in a different program. With such a vast assortment of internet options as well as a deeply under-utilized opportunity for trade school skills to be taught, we simply have to move out those students who don't want to be in classes like literature or science or health. Maybe required physical education/sports in one form or another and some fundamental stuff that encourages a sense of community, but otherwise allow those students who want serious study to attend classes where disruptive behavior and negative peer influences can be significantly reduced. As a substitute teacher for 5 years, I can tell you that our number one need is to allow teachers to direct unwanting and unwilling students into other educational pathways and out of their classroom. Just 3 or 4 disrupters can ruin a class for the other 20 to 25 students.
KathleenJune 1, 2017
Public education will never be 'fair' and consistent across the board as long as it is paid for by property taxes.
Although other educational options have merit they cannot be paid for out of the public education pot. To continue to create alternatives and leave the difficult and costly situations to the public system (such as special education and the multiplicity of diagnoses) with less funding, robs the system of necessary resources to deal with the problems at hand.
Judy StuartJune 1, 2017
As a lifelong educator, grades kindergarten through university, I strongly support the ideas expressed in this article. Most public school teachers are conscientious and committed to serving their students. But our education system and societal and cultural changes have made this role virtually impossible to manage, and parents, students and communities are universally dissatisfied with the outcomes. Tweaking the system will not be enough. Breakthrough thinking will occur only through radical changes in the questions we ask and the perspective we take.
joeJune 1, 2017
On the contrary, I think NCLB worked magnificently as intended. The author is assuming good intentions however, and buying into the marketing. They don't want success, they want ignorant slaves.
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Harold RustJune 4, 2017
I concur with the recognition that parents and students should go with the educational path that best fits them. Other than reading, writing, and basic math and basic national/state history, students who don't want to be in certain classes (or who show by their behavior they are not in synch with that class) should be off in a different program. With such a vast assortment of internet options as well as a deeply under-utilized opportunity for trade school skills to be taught, we simply have to move out those students who don't want to be in classes like literature or science or health. Maybe required physical education/sports in one form or another and some fundamental stuff that encourages a sense of community, but otherwise allow those students who want serious study to attend classes where disruptive behavior and negative peer influences can be significantly reduced. As a substitute teacher for 5 years, I can tell you that our number one need is to allow teachers to direct unwanting and unwilling students into other educational pathways and out of their classroom. Just 3 or 4 disrupters can ruin a class for the other 20 to 25 students.
KathleenJune 1, 2017
Public education will never be 'fair' and consistent across the board as long as it is paid for by property taxes. Although other educational options have merit they cannot be paid for out of the public education pot. To continue to create alternatives and leave the difficult and costly situations to the public system (such as special education and the multiplicity of diagnoses) with less funding, robs the system of necessary resources to deal with the problems at hand.
Judy StuartJune 1, 2017
As a lifelong educator, grades kindergarten through university, I strongly support the ideas expressed in this article. Most public school teachers are conscientious and committed to serving their students. But our education system and societal and cultural changes have made this role virtually impossible to manage, and parents, students and communities are universally dissatisfied with the outcomes. Tweaking the system will not be enough. Breakthrough thinking will occur only through radical changes in the questions we ask and the perspective we take.
joeJune 1, 2017
On the contrary, I think NCLB worked magnificently as intended. The author is assuming good intentions however, and buying into the marketing. They don't want success, they want ignorant slaves.
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