This could be a quite lengthy blog as there are myriad problems with the public school system. Unfortunately, our politicians and school czars continue to believe that the silver bullet for fixing the problems is money. Obviously, money can help with some things such as payroll, buildings, buses, etc., but does nothing to enhance the learning experience of our children.
Every year there are clumsy attempts made by school districts to give the appearance that they are tackling the real problems. Every year they fail. Once again this is because they create a new program or proclaim that the latest "hot biscuit" is going to eradicate both historic and existing problems. No single program is able to address the mulitfaceted problems within the schools. I'll keep this short and discuss just one example.
Are you aware that teaching methods used today are the same as those used in the 1850s? Yes, there have been minor upgrades, but the basic mode of instruction is the same. In short, the school system has failed to move forward as technology has, so we have classroom teachers trying to maintain the attention of children with wooden sticks and droning lectures, while students actively engage in an after school life with computers, video games, and cell phones to name a few. The wooden pencils and coloring books no longer hold their interest. In fact the chief complaint on the part of students today is "school is boring," and for them it is. More on schools later.....
We find geniuses rising from the lowest depths of our society without formal education. Certified people usually lack the very basic understanding of education, they educate themselves in the hope of earning more money which is OK up to some extent, but skill itself is more important i.e, understanding, implementation and research...so what am trying to say is
ReplyDeleteSmooth seas do not make skillful sailors. - African Proverb