Public School Rant
Posted 02-07-10 at 08:55 AM by Closer To God
In the United States, the government provides free education to all citizens between the age of 5 and 18. Education is mandatory to obtain almost any job in today's world. Even in the most simple fields, such as retail, many employers will not hire you without a certification of high school graduation or a general equivalent. For many, graduating is not as easy as it is for others. Especially after former President Bush implemented the No Child Left Behind Act which increases graduation requirements. Don't get me wrong, No Child Left Behind sounds great on paper. In theory, the act should motivate high school seniors to work harder to earn their diploma. Unfortunately, this is not the case. I have seen fellow classmates drop out of high school because they could not meet the new requirements.
Proficient scoring on standardized tests is an obstacle on the road to a diploma that, in my opinion, does more harm than good. Students are not being taught to learn, they are being taught to pass a test. Too much time is taken from the 180 day school year to learn how to take a test. I have spent entire class periods listening to instructions on how to take the test. I could have read an entire novel in the time I've spent listening to teachers reminding me to bring a #2 pencil.
The one thing that pisses me off about the public school system more than anything else is the inequality between schools. Schools who produce higher test scores are given government grants which allows them to purchase new technologies, update text books, and hire more teachers. Schools who produce lower test scores are given nothing and therefore still can't afford the tools they need to give students a proper education. The rich get richer and the nobody cares about the poor. But hey, what more would you expect from America?
Proficient scoring on standardized tests is an obstacle on the road to a diploma that, in my opinion, does more harm than good. Students are not being taught to learn, they are being taught to pass a test. Too much time is taken from the 180 day school year to learn how to take a test. I have spent entire class periods listening to instructions on how to take the test. I could have read an entire novel in the time I've spent listening to teachers reminding me to bring a #2 pencil.
The one thing that pisses me off about the public school system more than anything else is the inequality between schools. Schools who produce higher test scores are given government grants which allows them to purchase new technologies, update text books, and hire more teachers. Schools who produce lower test scores are given nothing and therefore still can't afford the tools they need to give students a proper education. The rich get richer and the nobody cares about the poor. But hey, what more would you expect from America?
Total Comments 2
Comments
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Funny how you missed the point. The new technology is a prize for those who work harder.
Public education is just stupid. It always produces lower test scores because the bar is actually set lower for students, not higher. They have nothing to strive for.
I would know, I went to one, left it, and now my grades have sky-rocketed.
No Child Left Behind was a moronic thing to pass not only for the students but for property owners as well.
This couldn't be closer to the truth when talking about a socialist system. Public Education is a socialist system, you know this don't you?Quote:The rich get richer and the nobody cares about the poor. But hey, what more would you expect from America?
There's no striving. Richer areas are going to have smarter students, do you know why? Less crime over all, parents can afford to make sure their kids get a better education, also property taxes, more money is going to the school in that area because more money goes to it because the parents and other pay higher property taxes.
Public School offers no motivation whatsoever. Students in poor areas have a "piss off" mentality. The teachers don't give a shit, their parents don't give a shit, no one gives a shit but that's no reason to punish rich people just because they give a shit about their own kids.
Raising the bar is much much much harder than lowering it. Standards are lowered, that's why it looks like poorer places do so much worse than richer areas. If the bar was raised then everyone would try harder.
You are right about the test scores though. They don't really teach us anything. Aside from which, most of what's on it is bullshit anyway. However, you do have to know the material in order to pass.
Take Private Schools for example. Yes, their parents pay for them to go there, however in order to keep a high standard the students also have to keep their grades up, money alone can't keep you in the school. With Public School, it's the opposite, wealthy or poor your grades could be shit and stay shit but they keep you around anyway. There's no fear in getting kicked out. Eventually this leads other students to realize "hey wait, if he gets to stay with his grades then why am I working so hard?".
Personally, I know many like this. All smart but don't do the work because they'll get to stay failing or not.
It's just like if you've got a job and you get paid the same no matter what... then what motive could you possibly have to work your ass of if you're not going to get more than the other guy who does practically nothing?
Same concept.
And by the way, it really is a socialist concept, just ask Hitler and Stalin - they both wanted Public Education.
I should also add public education is controlled by the government. The government doesn't care about us at all.
Over all a really stupid move on Bush's account. However at least vouchers were included for those who wanted to transfer to private schools.
You were on the right track, but you kinda missed the point. It's not so much that it's America. Actually, most people would rather have a system where you get into schools based on grades over all and location. Rather than a school based on location only. This puts people like me at a severe disadvantage. I live in a crappy area filled with crappy people and it's declined ever since I've lived here.
So it's not that the rich get richer and the poor get poorer. First of all, rich people are those who are so rich that they no longer have to work. And with the exception of heirs, rich people worked their asses off in order to even get rich so they deserve something for their hard work you know. The poor are poor because they either don't work or never finished their education. The poor are poor because they decided to be. Before government hand outs were given to the poor that is. These day's it pays more to be poor because then you get to sit on your ass for money.
It's not America, it's the system chosen. Things used to be the opposite. I should also add, Bush passed it but he didn't come up with it.
However, if all the schools were the same then that would greatly decrease motivation because there's no longer a higher level to strive for.Posted 02-07-10 at 10:08 AM by Marionetta
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Your description of the American school system applies equally to German, French or English public schools.This impression you get every time you talk about school matters with your French, English or German friends or relatives or watching the news in these countries, if they report about newest education stuff. So, everywhere, it is moved to pity, but the problems are not solved really effectively. Seems only the Swedes and Norwegians make a better job in this case.Posted 02-07-10 at 10:32 PM by Brainiac
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