From schools districts facing severe budget cuts to students not being able to read on grade level, it is very hard to say that Americans don’t have reasons to be concerned about public schools. In order to complete the debate on whether public schools are preparing our students for the future or not, I will talk about the positives and the negatives of receiving a public education as well as discuss some of the plans that our government and school districts around the country plan to do in order to improve the conditions of our schools.
Public education plays a fundamental role in our society. Majority of parents can’t afford to send their children to private schools, so many have no other choice but to send them to public schools. Over 90% of America’s children attend public school. This fact along shows the severity of the problem and how important it is for our society. In addition, while private schools have specialized curriculums (i.e. Christian schools) public schools have a broader curriculum, exposing students to more thoughts and ideology. However, since private schools are smaller and students have more interaction with teachers, this environment is more conductive for learning and students are able to master the material which is not the case in all public schools. Since many educators know that many public school classrooms are overcrowded and they have limited resources, plans are in the works to change these conditions. The Obama Administration is trying to improve the conditions of the schools by making needed changes one of which includes increasing teachers in the classrooms so students can learn more.
It will take many resources, time and patience before we realize the full potential and the impact of the investment in education required. This by far, is one of the greatest challenges our country is facing in this 21st century, yet, it is a challenge we must win in order for our great country to continue being the world leader we have always been.
It is impossible to deny the extreme importance of public schools in America. It really stinks that with the downfall of the economy has come a shortage in funds for public schools and their activities. I don’t think anyone really knows where to get the money that should be going towards public schools, but it’s definitely an issue that needs to be resolved soon. It should be mandatory that each and every public school has the right resources for children to learn. If every school in the nation had an abundance of books and other school materials then the future of American children would be so much brighter. If all children learned to read at the right age then they would all start at the same level and hopefully the huge gaps in standardized tests would be eliminated. It is really sad that some schools don’t have enough money for basic supplies; it seems like if the government has enough money to have thousands of offshore drill sites that often do more harm than good, then it should have enough money to pay for the most important organizations in our country. A good education is the foundation of America and if our foundation is well supported and strong then the rest will come easily. Get your priorities straight America!
ReplyDeleteSchooling is a huge issue that needs to be dealt with because of the future of our country. I went to school in the Charlotte Mecklenburg School system and my last two years in high school were like nothting I had ever seen before. My junior year, hundreds of teachers were fired over the county so that money could be saved. We would be having class I can remember when the principal came to two of my teachers during class and told them they were being let go. One of my teachers broke down and cried and she didn't even try to teach us anything for the rest of the month that we had school. The money shortage problems are not even the start to the problems in our schools. Other countries are flying by us with the education they give their kids and this is a problem. I have been in classes in high school where a kid has been choosen to read and he can barely read at a 5th grade level. It is really sad almost how this is happening and the effect it is going to have on our country. Something needs to be done.
ReplyDeleteI definitely agree with you Lacey. America does need to get their priorities straight. I’m still trying to understand how the US can spend billions of dollars on a war but there are children sitting in classrooms that have don't have text books or even heating/AC. It upsets me that people in this country don't put much value on education. Snap crackle- your right too. I remember when they were laying off teachers, several of the teachers at my school that weren't returning next year, they didn't teach anything or did anything to help the students. My English teacher, when I had him during the 1st semester of the school year, he worked us to death but second semester, all his classes did was watch movies. Even though unmotivated teachers are part of the problem going on, who can blame them for not caring to teach, especially dealing with what they have to go through.
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