Why Is American Public Education Failing? Teacher Unions!
Wednesday, 05-06-09- Here is a story about one of the reasons why our public edukation system is broken. To put it bluntly- Teacher Unions! When teachers organized as unions they lost status from being professionals to being labor. This move was all about protecting teacher jobs at the expense of actually teaching children. Anyone who doubts that the Amerikan Edukation System is all about supporting the jobs of the union and administration needs to read the following story:
www.latimes.com/news/la-me-teachers6-2009may06,0,6604006.story?page=1&track=rss
Tuesday, 1-13-2009– Here is a bright spot in American education. Check out this homeschooling story:
www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=2964
Will Pres. Obama Change Amerika’s Publik Schools?
Monday 11-24-2008– The Amerikan edukation system is not working. Will the Pres. who promised change break with the teacher’s union and do what is necessary to fix the public schools? I DON’T THINK SO!! This article is a call from within liberalism for Pres. BO to break with the unions and make the schools child focused instead of adult focused.
online.wsj.com/article/SB122748933977852023.html
I simply do not think that a demoncrat, a marxist/socialist like BO will be able to change the public schools; he shares their viewpoint too much and is beholden to the money the union has to offer. Amerika needs to wake up and realize that the publik school system is corrupt to the core and needs either radical change or all Christians, and cultural conservatives, must leave the schools and go to private schools and homeschooling.
Conservatives had better be getting ready to fight for the rights of homeschoolers by the way. I am pretty certain the demoncrats, once they eliminate Talk RAdio, will come after the homeschooling movement next.
No Child Left Behind Is Behind
Monday, November 10, 2008– In Pres. Bush’s first year he allowed Demoncrat Sen. Ted “Chappaquidick” Kennedy write the education bill and Bush promoted the No Child Left Behind program. That is pretty much when Bush lost my support by proving himself to be a Demoncrat. I see almost no role for the Federal Government in the education system in America, it quite simply is not in the Constitution. But in Amerika, we have the Dept. of MisEducation (I supported Reagan’s desire to eliminate that useless bureacracy.)
I mean, c’mon, how does this sound: “I’m from the Federal Government and I am here to help educate your young.”
Now, after 7 years of NCLB, the results are not good. Read the linked article by Diane Ravitch and see how NCLB is failing and then ask, “What will B. Hussein Obama do about it?”
www.forbes.com/opinions/2008/11/09/obama-education-president-oped-cx_dr_1109ravitch.html
Education is best handled at the local level with some State supervisory authority. The entire educrat monopoly that goes on with Teacher Colleges, Textbook Publishers and local schools is a recipe for failure. We need to give parents the choice to homeschool or go to private schools without government intrusion.
Here is a great book by Diane Ravitch that I read a few years ago:
search.barnesandnoble.com/The-Language-Police/Diane-Ravitch/e/9781400030644/?itm=1
The education system is really sad at its current state. It is something that can be changed, but it will take alot of effort of legislation and it must have the support of people who want the needed changes. However, with the current state of government, its not going to change, most likely going to get worse.
That is one reason that the teaching proffesion now is such a needed calling. A teacher really has s large influence on students through what they teach and how they model behavior. A christian teacher can renew and transform the lifes of their students through the teaching truth and modeling a christ like life and behavior.
Education at this point is sad though, all but two of the teachers I have observed do the least amount of work as possible in their class. Because of this, the class I am student teaching now, has students who cannot read in the 10th grade. Because education builds up on itself, the fact that teaching has gotten so bad shatters the whole formation. By the time students get out of high school they are confused, poorly educated, given conflicting values and ideas, and easily influeenced by others, society, and government.
For these reasons, the education system needs alot of prayer, guidence, and action to have any hope of changing the horrible system in its current state.
Tony
January 10, 2009
Tony,
I agree that Christian teachers can have a positive effect upon the students and the system of publik edukation. We do need Christians serving in the school system and in administration. I absolutely believe, however, that it is time for all Christians to do what they can to take their children out of the publik skools and place them in private, Christian schools or homeschool them. The system is evil, built upon a false philosophy, and ruins children.
While we should lobby our legislatures to fix what they can fix, what must happen is a new Reformation and Awakening in the Church so that we can recreate a culture that is so heavily influenced by the Gospel that it changes the philosophy of education at the teacher college level. Also, the average American family must be transformed because at least half of the problem in our schools is the lack of a God centered home life for these children. Parents raise their children to be little hellions and expect the teachers to teach them. It doesn’t work that way.
mark12ministries
January 10, 2009
I noticed this about 1 year too late…however, as an update: I am a 6 year teacher and have found it to be rewarding when I actually teach. It’s the bureaucracy that takes a toll on me and many others. Did you know that in 2013 that we will go to national standards? Again, the government thinks it knows what is best for our children? And don’t get me started on the whole union thing
I came from a unionized state but had to move because there were no teaching jobs available for multiple reasons. I move to a state where there is not a union and the treatment of teachers can be deplorable at times! It all depends on which district you work in or whether it’s a charter school or not. I love my job, but there are days that I reminisce about my “easy” job at a hospital! Interesting isn’t it?
Trish Valentino
March 2, 2011
I am worried that the average person making public comments about the education system in America has not critically thought about the issue. It is easy to adopt an idea that gets repeated again and again in the media, or read an article or a book and run with that author’s opinion. The education industry, like any other industry is riddled with problems, and it seems that those who yell in the microphone the loudest, get the most attention. Unfortunately, those who have been yelling are void of a critical analysis of the system.
I will attempt to be brief in my chronological process.
Parenting has changed. Research how many elementary students come to school prepared, academicallyand physiologically. Hence, students start out already behind. No matter what the government says, God has ordained that parents are the first teachers. How students behave in class affects that class. If they are remedial and behaviorally challenged, it is a breeding ground for little to no learning. The public has allowed the standardized test to rule the day. This has come to define a good teacher. Teachers teach their low level kids to pass; everyone else suffers. In most school districts, elementary schools fair well. It is the middle school and high schools who suffer. Yet, if students are to do well at these stages, rigor needs to be a part of the elem. curriculum.
Many middle school students are promoted to high school via social promotion. Because of standardized test, students do not really write at length until the seventh grade. After that until the tenth grade. Why? Writing is not assessed on many state standardized test. If a teacher is evaluated based on how many students pass a test and writing is not covered, writing is not a priority. To prepare for high school, middle school students need rigor at the middle school level to perform at the high school level. Plus, research low performing schools country wide; low performing schools serve the low socio-economic class. Education in America first fails the poor, which has and will continue to spill over into other socio-economic classes.
For so many reasons students enter high school unprepared. But let us focus on what the education system needs: better prepared students, positive parent involvement, teachers who know their content, can manage classrooms, and can teach the populations that they serve (like in every profession, every teacher needs consistent, relevant training that is helpful), principals who are highly capable, the absence of a legislative policy that undermines teaching professionals, and colleges that truly prepare teachers.These are the broad needs, but the issues of American public education cover so many things.
There are awful teachers out there; however there are superb teachers as well. Most teachers are average or slightly above average humans who are not fit to handle everything that influences a classroom; that takes time and serious effort. Look at each industry in America. Analyze the industries business by business. How many highly superb employees does each business employee? How many of you are higly superb and irreplacable at your job? Teaching is no different. Careful training, analytical solutions, and constant reflection make good employees.
If I had to pick two items to focus on, it would be effective principals and teacher hiring. Good teachers do not miraculously appear out of thin air; they are trained and learn from their teaching experiences. If the only remedy is to fire everyone, the problem will always exist. Principals need to know the school and what it needs. These two items can weather any state standard or mandate, any parent or home life, and any ill prepared student.
Teacher unioins are necessary. They need to be fixed, but are necessary. I could expand, but I am sure the reader is near exhaustion.
Another thing. If all the Christians leave the schools, they will always be in disarry. Why is that the remedy for Christians? We are told to be in this world, and live in it. Will there be a mass exodus of Christians leaving their corrupt employers as well? I don’t see Christians fleeing their secular communities to stake claim in some remote countryside. The schools need change; only Christ can change situations. And isn’t it a contradiction to want legislation to fix schools but yell that the government is too involved in schools? Where were Christians when NCLB was passed, which allowed the student not to be accountable for anything? Are the Christians seen in these neighborhoods that do not know God where these students come from? I am not a theology student, but I am sure Paul did not have this attitude. Consider where the world would be if Christ did. Christians should not have a seat on the blame bandwagon. If one is that distraught about a system, pray for God’s guidance to be solution oriented.
May we not be mislead by articles that allow one or two cases to define a whole school, a district, or an entire system.
May we hold up the blood stained banner where ever God chooses to have us live. May we not flee in the face of trials if he has not told us to do so.
daytime888
September 5, 2011
Daytime888,
Thank you for an exceptionally well written and cogent response! I absolutely agree with you that the breakup and failure of the homes in America is the Major cause for problems in the public school system. I know that there is a problem with the standardized testing resulting in “teaching the test” but a hundred years ago there were regents’ tests and college entrance exams. I have examined some of the High School standard tests of 100 years ago and compared them with tests of today. It is patently obvious that the standards were higher back then.
I think that another problem contributing to the decline is a lack of discipline in the classroom in our litigious society. The inmates are running the asylum as it were; they know that the teacher or principal cannot do much to them.
I agree that Christians should not abandon the public schools, but when I say that I am talking about the adults who teach there or serve on staff or in administration. If possible, I firmly believe that Christian parents should pull their children out of that godless, socialist, violent environment.
mark12ministries
September 5, 2011
This is the place to be where hate can be vented. And, “Christians” do know that hate is just as bad as murder, right?
Is this a Christian’s page? : o
I must be in the wrong place.
Larry
December 20, 2011
Larry,
In my experience and reading it is very typical for liberals to label as “hate” anything which challenges their beliefs, the status quo, or policies. I “hate” the FACT that the American education system is failing; this does not equate to hating specific individuals who work in the education system. There are some good elements to our system, and there are many good school districts, individual schools, principals and teachers. But across the board, when compared the other industrialized nations and when compared with our own system of 100 years ago, we are clearly in decline. My stating this does not make me a “hater”….unless you think like the liberal establishment.
mark12ministries
December 20, 2011