Take back the schools-Take back our nation.

[Jeffrey Lebowski]

Parents and parents to be should go spend a day in a classroom and see what it's like. It's an absolute madhouse with the way kids act these days and there is only one person to blame and that is the parents.

I don't have kids, but the thought of this scares me into some mild anxiety!
Just observe how kids act in public IN FRONT OF their parents and I cannot imagine how it is when it is one adult and a classroom of peers. Yikes.

[BigBear]

Schools are failing abysmally at their primary role, which is to impart the basic skills (i.e. literacy) and knowledge needed for kids to go out and function as productive members of society. Instead, the "everyone's a winner" philosophy and mindless conformity to even the most idiotic policies, as well as slavish adherence to political correctness and suppression of any original or independent thought, is facilitating our national descent into IDIOCRACY.

I agree mostly, but don't forget that it "takes two to tango". A lot of the behavior from the kids themselves and resistance to learning when taught is not helping the situation either.

The NEA-approved curriculum doesn't have anything to do with teaching rational thinking skills or what we would call "general knowledge" either. At least the standardized tests make them spend time on stuff like math, English and actual history instead of why Heather Has Two Mommies or other sensitivity/diversity BS. I'd rather have teacher teach to a test that at least verifies basic skills than have kids indoctrinated by more of the PC diversity crap or junk science like carbon dioxide being an evil toxic chemical that should be regulated by the EPA.

Luckily the two moms and EPA issues are not part of the ciriculum (to my knowledge). If that BS is going on, then parents need to get involved in their school and change some things. A few irate parents showing up to the admins office DOES accomplish A LOT.

How do we get out of this mess?

Start demanding resignations and make sure replacements are qualified, both papered and morally/etc.

Parents and parents to be should go spend a day in a classroom and see what it's like. It's an absolute madhouse with the way kids act these days and there is only one person to blame and that is the parents.

YES!!! I BEG parents to come to my class and sit it, help out, be a silent observer, whatever. I just want them to see what is being taught. Teachers are not the only ones to blame.

Just observe how kids act in public IN FRONT OF their parents and I cannot imagine how it is when it is one adult and a classroom of peers. Yikes.

Yup, spare the rod, spoil the child.

[james_bond_007]

The Problems:

1) Lack of Motivation - Students have little motivated to excel. To them, school is a chore and a "time occupier" during the day. The have no desire to reach, achieve, and set higher goals for themselves....it's too much work. It is easier to "just do the minimum" to achieve a tolerable level of pain.

2) Lack of Accountability - this applies to the school administration, teachers, students, and parents . No one wants to be accountable for the poor performance of students. We live in a politically correct world where we "everyone gets a trophy"...win or lose. No one wants to admit that there are "winners" and "losers" . They just promote the kids along. Of course there are always exceptions ( some of the admin, teachers, students and parents DO care and try), but these exceptions don't last long and are soon taught to play by the "rules" , if they want to keep their jobs.

3) Lack of Consequences - So what, if the kids graduate and can't read, write, and suck at math? What are the consequences ? How many times has a teacher gotten fired because they were sub-standard teachers? (I can't think of any. In fact I spoke to an attorney that represented several school districts. He told me in all his 30+ years, he has yet to see a teacher be fired due to incompentency) When do admins get fired for poor policy? (My memory fails me again). Do the parents have any issues ? (I 'm sure it has happened, but I have not seen too many parents complain that their kids graduated high school and can't read/write/cipher). The kids? They got through it and now don't have to deal with school any more. (Ever hear of a story of a kid complaining that "the school system let me down...I'm not educated enough.