Now that school’s out for summer vacation, it’s appropriate to admit that schooling truly is out. Public education has failed to lead students out of ignorance. What is the cure? Academics and excellence have been replaced by fluff, public service, athletics and high self-esteem. Many valedictorians, not few are chosen at graduations. One prom king and queen do not suffice. Most students from kindergarten through college receive A’s, place on some type of honor roll or receive an award. Yet only 9% of 4th graders can identify Abraham Lincoln.
The Record-Herald dutifully displays photos of award-winning athletes, but how much depth or meaning exists in a national fitness award whose requirement is only the 50th percentile of performance? Even a Presidential award only requires the 85th percentile. Whatever happened to win, place and show? Furthermore, student athletes need only maintain a 1.0 to 1.5 grade point average (out of 4.0) for eligibility.
Elementary school classrooms feature ‘citizen of the month.’ Have you noticed that almost every student in the class is photographed? Do losers dare to exist? Why must ‘cooperation,’ for example, be encouraged as part of schooling when it should be expected? Why is independent achievement scorned?
The time-tested classroom curve has disappeared in which during the course of a normal class, A’s B’s C’s and D’s and F’s distribute themselves in the pattern of grades. A few at the top, a few at the bottom and gradations in between.
We also can’t ignore the prevalent problem of crime in the schools. Each incident over the years is more disturbing than the previous one. Recently, a 17 yr. old Columbus, Ohio sophomore in 10th grade (already not on a normal timetable) shoots and wounds two people. With jeans hanging in the balance near his knees and the cuffs of his pants trailing the ground behind his boots, he is no poster child for proper attire and respect for learning.
Furthermore, bullying has invaded the culture. After Jessica Logan hung herself, a federal act is being proposed that would require schools to expand bullying policies to prohibit harassment by cell phones and computers and train teachers to combat cyberbullying. Why must taxpayer dollars be diverted to help solve this problem?
A collection of snow, heat, emergency and teacher conference days hinders regular learning. Last days of school are apparently throwaways. Locally, an AP high school government class’s last days of 2011 were spent helping out at the dog pound. An elementary school’s included fun in the bounce house.
The loss of schooling has an inverse relationship to government spending. Fewer students in the nation’s classrooms have resulted in the hiring of more teachers with higher salaries. A recently created $500 million dollar program is designed to solve the problem of fidgety children. Called the ‘early learning challenge,’ it will educate both teachers and parents so that 5 yr. olds can ‘sit still in their seats’ in class.
Neither smaller classes and newer buildings nor billions of dollars of ‘investment’ has significantly raised test scores. Under 20% of elementary and only 12% high school students are proficient in American history. Students receive numerous chances to pass the Ohio Achievement Assessment test. They practice to be prepared, are counseled to be relaxed and review what they should have already learned. After the test, teachers must adjust their teaching methods ( like a general after a battle).
Obviously, failure in school cannot be an option. We have alternative schooling to help raise grades. In WCH, 2nd chance schooling is designed for trouble-makers, drop outs or potential failures. District sponsored charter schools in Ohio coach students who have failed classes, been expelled, dropped out or trail behind academically. Programs for ‘credit recovery’ prove that funding for warm bodies is at stake.
In our nation’s colleges, the downward trend continues. Remedial classes substitute as the standard entrance requirement. Four, five or six years of subsidized leisure follow. College campuses thrive on watered down learning and diversity training. They spike the experience with appealing food bars, hot tubs, saunas, pools, rallies, gyms and hotbed housing for reckless drinking and hookups. What student would base his choice of a college on the ambience of the library?
It’s time to reconsider whether citizens should fund a permanent vacation from learning. One source of the problem is the lack of PPP - proper prior parenting. Why are 1000 government feeding stations In Ohio during the summer, needed to feed the children? Two parent families are a thing of the past because one parent, a guardian or a grandparent now carries the child-rearing load. Yet no excuse - money, stress, work, time, trouble - should be accepted for a student’s lack of understanding the meaning of respect or readiness to work.
Another solution seems to me to lie in privatizing all schools. Consider the Medina, Ohio school system which spends $9921 per student. Teachers receive $3,244 per pupil. In spite of expensive, taxpayer-funded education, parents in Medina pay additional fees. A few examples are: $50 for honors classes, $152 for AP classes and $33 for chemistry. The excuse is that the district needs to raise money because of cuts in state funding. If a $5000 voucher were given directly to parents, they could enroll a child in a chosen, private school, whether for academics, athletics or a trade.
PPP and privatization will only work if the principle of a disciplined work ethic is the modus operandi of both parents and schools. No time like the present to drain the public education swamp.
