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PARENTING. The root cause in all of these issues is parenting. If the parents don't bother to care about their kid's education, it's already lost. The educatio

PARENTING. The root cause in all of these issues is parenting. If the parents don't bother to care about their kid's education, it's already lost. The education and school system is part of the problem, but you can trace the child's inability to learn back to the parents. 1) Parents dont care about the child's learning 2) The child realizes the parents dont care and so they mess around in class 3) Teacher and school has no authority to really enforce learning. Meaning, you can assign homework, you can punish them for not doing them, but beyond that, you can't force them to sit down to read and learn. 4) Student fails. 5) Parent is up set at the school system so they complain to the principle, and the school district 6) School district pressures principle, principle pressures teacher to water down the curriculum 7) FAILURE of the entire system

jordan0day 16y ago
While I'm sure your premise is entirely correct, blaming parenting is essentially punting on the issue. It might be entirely accurate, but it doesn't help any, because it is one thing that can't be changed by the teacher or school administrator.
- ZachPruckowski 16y ago
  OK, but if teachers and administrators can't do more than write nasty notes in files and make kids sit in the corner, and we can't expect parents to discipline their kids, then any sort of educational reform targeted at those kids is basically trying to push a string. This idea that a teacher can stand up in front of the class and say something so inspiring that it magically makes the goof-offs and the slackers want to be A+ students is great for a Hollywood movie, but completely unrealistic. On a 1-on-1 basis, sure that's probably possible if you're really good, and really can take the time. But if teachers had the power to inspire and move those troublemakers en masse with the power of their words without taking half their class time, then they wouldn't be teachers, they'd be world-class salespeople or winning politicians.
  - radioactive21 16y ago
    I completely agree with you. When I talk to people about the education system, little or no mention is made towards the parents. When it is in fact the parents that can actually do something. Meaning checking to see if your child is learning, how is he learning, where does he have dificulties, and why. When a parent can understand at what level their child is at in their educational path, then they can make an impact. Meaning, if my child has problems just sitting down and absorbing information, they can go out and find answers. One large part of why the educational system is so bad right now, is that parents are not taking responsibility for their child's education. They blame it on others.
    - ZachPruckowski 16y ago
      It's not even that hard. It's not like we need them to check their kids' homework and go over it with them (though that'd be great). It's a mindset issue. If you can instill in your kids that learning is important and getting good grades is crucial and respecting parents and teachers is non-negotiable, that's like half the battle right there. I'm not saying that all children should mindlessly obey whatever they're told by authority figures, but I think we can all get together on "shut up while the teacher is talking"
    - jordan0day 16y ago
      Again, I think I am in total agreement with you and ZachPruckowski... I just don't see how we could make parent involvement part of the system as a whole. I mean, maybe that really is it -- we have truancy laws where a parent can get in actual legal trouble if their kid doesn't go to school, perhaps there should be laws where a parent can actually get into trouble if their kid is a disruptive student. I have a hard time seeing such a system actually working, "can't legislate morality" and other platitudes, but it's a thought, I suppose.

jordan0day 16y ago

While I'm sure your premise is entirely correct, blaming parenting is essentially punting on the issue. It might be entirely accurate, but it doesn't help any, because it is one thing that can't be changed by the teacher or school administrator.

ZachPruckowski 16y ago
OK, but if teachers and administrators can't do more than write nasty notes in files and make kids sit in the corner, and we can't expect parents to discipline their kids, then any sort of educational reform targeted at those kids is basically trying to push a string. This idea that a teacher can stand up in front of the class and say something so inspiring that it magically makes the goof-offs and the slackers want to be A+ students is great for a Hollywood movie, but completely unrealistic. On a 1-on-1 basis, sure that's probably possible if you're really good, and really can take the time. But if teachers had the power to inspire and move those troublemakers en masse with the power of their words without taking half their class time, then they wouldn't be teachers, they'd be world-class salespeople or winning politicians.
- radioactive21 16y ago
  I completely agree with you. When I talk to people about the education system, little or no mention is made towards the parents. When it is in fact the parents that can actually do something. Meaning checking to see if your child is learning, how is he learning, where does he have dificulties, and why. When a parent can understand at what level their child is at in their educational path, then they can make an impact. Meaning, if my child has problems just sitting down and absorbing information, they can go out and find answers. One large part of why the educational system is so bad right now, is that parents are not taking responsibility for their child's education. They blame it on others.
  - ZachPruckowski 16y ago
    It's not even that hard. It's not like we need them to check their kids' homework and go over it with them (though that'd be great). It's a mindset issue. If you can instill in your kids that learning is important and getting good grades is crucial and respecting parents and teachers is non-negotiable, that's like half the battle right there. I'm not saying that all children should mindlessly obey whatever they're told by authority figures, but I think we can all get together on "shut up while the teacher is talking"
  - jordan0day 16y ago
    Again, I think I am in total agreement with you and ZachPruckowski... I just don't see how we could make parent involvement part of the system as a whole. I mean, maybe that really is it -- we have truancy laws where a parent can get in actual legal trouble if their kid doesn't go to school, perhaps there should be laws where a parent can actually get into trouble if their kid is a disruptive student. I have a hard time seeing such a system actually working, "can't legislate morality" and other platitudes, but it's a thought, I suppose.