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I totally agree and am depressed that places like inner cities have such a hard time getting more charter schools and competition that would give these kids and

I totally agree and am depressed that places like inner cities have such a hard time getting more charter schools and competition that would give these kids and their families a shot at a decent education. Is it politics? Teachers unions? Getting good admin people? What's holding back these places from getting ahead? As a comparison, my sister lives on the outskirts of a large metro area and their school has been teaching STEM for almost 10 years now.

mikegioia 12y ago
Honestly, the problem is a collection of so many problems that it's very difficult to really even assess the situation properly. It could be the overemphasis on standardized testing. It could be the lack of support teachers get in inner cities and the fact that they have to babysit 50% of the time. It could be the public school system's unwillingness to adapt. It could be the unions fighting tooth and nail to prevent more charter schools from opening. It could even be the charter schools not actually working! Personally, I think the problem is that the public school system can't work well enough in poor areas. I think those children need a completely different education system to work for them (longer hours, after school programs, school uniforms!, etc).
Jtsummers 12y ago
I'm curious what you mean by "teaching STEM", do you mean a particular emphasis on STEM? Because most schools at least cover the science and math part, with varying degrees on the technology and engineering (often limited by teacher availability and financial resources). If they don't cover those things then they aren't really covering any state's high school curriculum.
- at-fates-hands 12y ago
  Sorry, bad wording on my part. Yes, they have an emphasis on STEM. My niece is in 4th grade and they're already learning algebra, something I didn't start learning until 3-4 years later. They also are learning about programming and other really technical stuff I was surprised to hear about. The other thing which was nice to hear is how they foster kids to learn and enjoy math - something I missed out on until I was in college and had a professor who really gave me a sense of how wonderful mathematics can be, not just a means to an end.
relaytheurgency 12y ago
>What's holding back these places from getting ahead? There is no motivation for someone to teach in inner cities beyond a sense of civic duty. I live in a city with terrible (unaccredited) schools. Students in those schools are often openly hostile to teachers and faculty. Administration is often on the verge of a breakdown due to the pressure to "turn things around." Why would anyone want to teach there? I know I didn't want to. If you think it's a travesty that talented and bright teachers want to avoid inner cities then you should do it yourself. That's what I say to anyone who brings this up. Often I will be told, "But that's where you're needed!" "So are you," is my response.
- at-fates-hands 12y ago
  This is probably one of the main things I did leave out, which is the socioeconomic toll of broken families, absentee parents and the lure of drugs and gang culture. >>> If you think it's a travesty that talented and bright teachers want to avoid inner cities then you should do it yourself. I can't argue with you there.
zaphar 12y ago
All of the above. Politics is involved through school boards where an understanding of education is not really considered a job requirement. And at state and national levels it's difficult to fix problems that are uniquely local. Teachers Unions can create the wrong incentives in a district. Good Admin people are hard to find and bad ones make the working environment unplatable for good teachers. Add in money as well for some districts.
Florin_Andrei 12y ago
Yeah, let's robo-blame the unions, that will inject some magic Ayn Rand juice into things and make everything better real quick. Sure.

mikegioia 12y ago

Honestly, the problem is a collection of so many problems that it's very difficult to really even assess the situation properly. It could be the overemphasis on standardized testing. It could be the lack of support teachers get in inner cities and the fact that they have to babysit 50% of the time. It could be the public school system's unwillingness to adapt. It could be the unions fighting tooth and nail to prevent more charter schools from opening. It could even be the charter schools not actually working! Personally, I think the problem is that the public school system can't work well enough in poor areas. I think those children need a completely different education system to work for them (longer hours, after school programs, school uniforms!, etc).

Jtsummers 12y ago

I'm curious what you mean by "teaching STEM", do you mean a particular emphasis on STEM? Because most schools at least cover the science and math part, with varying degrees on the technology and engineering (often limited by teacher availability and financial resources). If they don't cover those things then they aren't really covering any state's high school curriculum.

at-fates-hands 12y ago
Sorry, bad wording on my part. Yes, they have an emphasis on STEM. My niece is in 4th grade and they're already learning algebra, something I didn't start learning until 3-4 years later. They also are learning about programming and other really technical stuff I was surprised to hear about. The other thing which was nice to hear is how they foster kids to learn and enjoy math - something I missed out on until I was in college and had a professor who really gave me a sense of how wonderful mathematics can be, not just a means to an end.

relaytheurgency 12y ago

>What's holding back these places from getting ahead? There is no motivation for someone to teach in inner cities beyond a sense of civic duty. I live in a city with terrible (unaccredited) schools. Students in those schools are often openly hostile to teachers and faculty. Administration is often on the verge of a breakdown due to the pressure to "turn things around." Why would anyone want to teach there? I know I didn't want to. If you think it's a travesty that talented and bright teachers want to avoid inner cities then you should do it yourself. That's what I say to anyone who brings this up. Often I will be told, "But that's where you're needed!" "So are you," is my response.

at-fates-hands 12y ago
This is probably one of the main things I did leave out, which is the socioeconomic toll of broken families, absentee parents and the lure of drugs and gang culture. >>> If you think it's a travesty that talented and bright teachers want to avoid inner cities then you should do it yourself. I can't argue with you there.

zaphar 12y ago

All of the above. Politics is involved through school boards where an understanding of education is not really considered a job requirement. And at state and national levels it's difficult to fix problems that are uniquely local. Teachers Unions can create the wrong incentives in a district. Good Admin people are hard to find and bad ones make the working environment unplatable for good teachers. Add in money as well for some districts.

Florin_Andrei 12y ago

Yeah, let's robo-blame the unions, that will inject some magic Ayn Rand juice into things and make everything better real quick. Sure.