Good Saturday Morning!
Very good questions. The answers may be difficult to process.
So Who should determine the Curriculum to be used in the classroom? The teacher? Principal? School Board? Local govt? State govt? Federal govt? Should a student be able to progress from K thru 12 and emerge illiterate? Ignorant of American history? Math? Economics? Science?
Answer: Curriculum Coordinator in collaboration with teachers.
Answer: Does it really matter when the process is SO politicized with who picks costly curriculum shifts which will never ever change? There’s no real accountability or incentive to act like a business, Funding is wasted as we spend way more than other nations per kid and are getting crushed in math and science and lower income areas spend 20%+ more per kid b/c its always about ‘throwing’ money at problems with tax-and-spend initiatives run by people who have no problem lining their pockets with the ‘next big thing’ that will solve all the problems all to make things irreconcilable with No Child Left Behind that hurts those who really want to achieve and b/c so much is often spent on kids who don’t want to go to college in the first place or is so far behind they don’t know how to dig themselves out of it. Community College is a great option but not everyone is cut out for college. At my HS I graduated from we’ve always had extensive programs for auto repair, auto body, shop/woodworking, cosmetology and now IT Security and IT Certifications, etc…this is along with all the overachievers who want AP/Honors opportunities that get them into the ‘right college’…it works, it really really works and we’re 7th in the nation raking wise and proud to say I’ve helped on the IT Security program and my HS has won the National Championship in Hacking competitions 2 of the last 3 years! We need to pump out relevant skills and kids are getting jobs out of our HS in the 50-80k range b/c they’re certified! Stop the college trap! Its NOT for everybody! ..and this from a School named after the greatest 5 star General ever in George C. Marshall who put out many distinguished military careers as it too is a GREAT option and this was w/out ROTC along with a ‘special needs’ program in the midst of all the rest of the chaos…it works it works it works for anyone willing to try and find something for them.
Answer: Even when I am so tired after a long day and simply want alone time to recharge, I am amazed that I can instantly perk up with the right conversation and topic. It is like my brain was bored from the prior focus throughout the day and by changing the topic to one of interest to me, I am wound back up to charge ahead again into this next topic, albeit still exhausted. I simply push off my quiet me time to enjoy the type of conversation I rarely get to have.
Who should decide on school curriculum? That is a great question. I believe this ought to be a joint effort by parents and education professionals and vocational craftsmen. Personally, K-12 is overrated. It is an outdated format. Even the initial schools didn’t have so many grades. Honestly, I believe the additional grades are a form of government-provided babysitting without the ability to enforce discipline for good or bad behavior.
How would I do it differently? Make two tracts. One is for the vocational student. The other is for the academic student. The student with the demonstrated apptitude determines which tract to pursue. The counselors will provide the tools necessary to the students throughout their early years to help them make that decision. That means exposing the younger children to aspects of different vocations throughout the school year with hands on experience. Personality tests may help as well. And if a student is a late blummer, going on the vocational tract until academic grades improve by the student’s own efforts may be a viable interim solution.
I see the beauty in what I propose. It isn’t cheap, but the result is more teens will come out of school ready for employers to hire them. And with better educated vocational students, employers will have better quality workers than what the current generation is proving. The academic types will continue on through higher education to become the lawyers, educators, medical specialists, scientists, etc. Going with my proposal leaves fewer students behind…but there are programs for the learning disabled that could possibly be improved to ensure they gain the confidence to join and particpate healthily within society upon their graduation. Late bloomers are like me, I think. They will have the ability to go either way once they choose their path in life…although years behind to catch up if changing course to academics.
Answer:The early America curricula worked well. I realize that knowledge of technology would need to be added, but MATH,SCIENCE, SPELLING, PUNCTUATION, GRAMMAR, and definitely the founding documents and writings surrounding them such as the Federalist and Anti-federalist papers, and the founders’ views on education and morality. Omit sex education. I would add knowledge of the scriptures but fear too much push-back.
Answer: The early America curricula worked well. I realize that knowledge of technology would need to be added, but MATH,SCIENCE, SPELLING, PUNCTUATION, GRAMMAR, and definitely the founding documents and writings surrounding them such as the Federalist and Anti-federalist papers, and the founders’ views on education and morality. Omit sex education. I would add knowledge of the scriptures but fear too much push-back.
Answer: STATE.
Rebuttal: So would there be State Standards?
If schools are funded by tax payers, should the tax payers have some metric demonstrating accountability of the school’s product–ie the student?
Answer: Graduation Rate
Answer: Not going to happen, ever. No Child Left Behind, like all ‘well meaning’ programs cripple schools b/c of focusing on test scores, graduation rates and big bell curves that are now down to 10 point scales. On the flip side let’s be realistic, not everyone is there to learn for various emotional or spiritual issues. At my kids H.S. its real real simple: IF you’re mostly focused on A.P. classes problems are minimal beyond stress to achieve, get into the ‘right’ school which is a trap and another discussion, etc…but A.P. focused kids are in a class by themselves and the teachers jobs are MUCH easier. Honors focused or a mix of both brings more challenges b/c honors classes can be packed silly as some choice AP’s are but by in large the ratios drop off b/c of overcrowding and lack of qualified teachers. Classes that are neither AP or Honors? Might as well be The Sweat Hogs from Welcome Back Kotter!
Answer: YEP. School boards are generally not good. They select the superintendent, so he serves them, he does not back the principles, he backs his selectors.
Rebuttal: But, the school board is elected by the populace. The Supt should be carrying out the SB desires and vision. Problem: the Supt did not hire the principle…what if the principle is the one who is in error in job performance?
Teachers, are they: Professionals? Careerists? Opportunists? Baby Sitters?
Answer: Professionals / Careerists
Answer: All of the above as some fit each ‘label’ and many have 2 or more of the attributes but with how their paid and over-worked trying to keep up with grading papers in overcrowded classes I’d be in 2 or more of the buckets also but I’d never forget what I’m there for – to inspire kids to pursue mental, physical, spiritual and emotional excellence and go make an impact by serving others. The argument of ‘they can work at the beach in the off-season’ is not an issue for me…they make so little money who cares? The ones who double dip and come back into the system after a stint at private schools, who cares? We need great teachers with experience to come back and make an impact…those who work the system and put forth the minimal effort? That’s on them and the Principal on down to manage them up or out! We ALL know which teachers were miserable A-Holes who hated teaching to the ones who changed our lives forever just by connecting, believing in us, inspiring us and in some cases reaching the unreachable!
If K – 12 were “for profit” businesses, how would schools change? How would your local school look differently? How would their product be different? What do you think ‘the administrator’s’ metric would be?
Answer: Entitlements would be out, discipline would be given back to the teacher & Principal, graduation rates
Answer: This will never happen in public education…most charter schools water things down and some hardly even emphasize test scores…private schools offer this already see this changing….there should be a melding of the minds on what works in charter and public and magnet ie; IB programs but unless all of them find a better way to help kids get on career paths what will really change? DECA programs become competitions and all about winning more then enabling but still a good example of putting out relevant programs to help kids focus on career choices…not that they pick it and stick with it but that they figure out the process is more important b/c they’ve been taught how to think critically and analytically!
Answer: Competition? Incentives?
Rebuttal: If we ran schools more like a business our products would be better. Not a doubt in my mind. Over just a few years, the products would define the institution they came from. Poor products would eventually lead to the collapse of poor institutions. The best would survive.
If you have ever relocated your family with school aged children, what did you look for in a school or school district? If you ever sent your children to private school, what was your consideration or driving force to do so?
Answer: When we moved to Huntersville in 1999 the first thing we noticed was that North Meck was a zoo..we saw trailer counts double year over year and said ‘no way’ and put them in private school. Once they built new schools that benefited us we let our taxes go to work! So in the end its simple..those who have nice new schools in affluent areas have such an incredible advantage and those in low income and high crime areas are in such a disadvantage there are no words to form a workable solution b/c of how the system is set up. Those in the middle are just that…mediocre.
Answer: More faith based teaching.
Rebuttal: And that’s a great reason. But Charter schools focused on STEM are very popular….once we had kids, moving took on a different set of values. No longer was it about the neighborhood as much as it was about the school district and how they conducted their “business.” There are good public schools…and there are many disasters out there.
We work hard at getting education ‘right’. Why do we feel we continually miss the mark
Answer….
Answer: Government & Parent interference
Answer: No Accountability, Wasted Funds, Political Agendas, One size does NOT fit all and No Child Left Behind are my Top 5 Reasons we miss the mark…its all managed by the tax-n-spend crowd and well-intended programs doesn’t always allow for the best candidate to lead but in the end thank God for teachers and coaches who care, connect, inspire and guide our youth to give them options in life and change their destiny forever…they are the real hero’s and their numbers are many!
Comment: There are systemic obstacles to providing great education. Making schools more transparent to the consumer would be good, and giving families choices on where to educate their kids would be great too. We have ‘open enrollment’ here (two districts, many schools) and it works well…schools compete for state dollars. Best schools fill up early tho and are always at 99 to 100% capacity.
rem – I had no knowledge that I had no knowledge.
Question & Thought & ANDs.