| Strangers to the GED often think that I'm thick | | | | 2. The state tests to find schools not teaching |
| skinned. They can't seem to get a rise out of me | | | | effectively or the curriculum. |
| with their jokes about the skills of drop outs and | | | | 3. These schools get the teachers and resources |
| GED graduates. I don't have much to say to | | | | they need! |
| people who think that education is a joke. Or | | | | 4. Principals are solving the problems and informing |
| believe education exists in today's public schools. | | | | the school board before the current school year is |
| There are some inner-city schools where survival | | | | up. |
| is more important than education. Where even | | | | 5. Teachers are teaching what works getting the |
| teachers who want to return home have learned | | | | students to pass curriculum tests and |
| to leave the students alone! | | | | performance goals. |
| To many students, a teacher is that adult in the | | | | 6. Parents are providing disciplined children. If not, |
| front of the classroom who gives out meaningless | | | | paying fines or going to jail. Schools are too |
| busy work. The teacher is probably thinking when | | | | expensive to become daycare centers. Help for |
| do I get to teach and see the light bulbs come on. | | | | parents to provide resources their children need |
| So why are both dysfunctional? I think it's | | | | for their education is available and offered. |
| because they aren't sharing the same space. Sure | | | | 7. Children are mentored, they have the right not |
| they're all in the same classroom but not in the | | | | to fear for their life. They will be heard and in turn |
| same social space. Between gangs, parents, and | | | | must listen. They will learn, acquire test skills and |
| the social life of the neighborhood kids aren't | | | | grow to do many new and strange things. |
| ready to get with school if they can avoid it. | | | | 8. Students will see the real world. Inside of jails, |
| Those at the bottom of the pecking order are | | | | emergency rooms, pregnant teenagers, |
| trying not to be noticed by those at the top. | | | | corporations, police cars, and even talk to political |
| Teachers are distracted by millions of surveys, | | | | leaders. |
| meetings, discipline and trying not to get knifed or | | | | 9. History of this nation will be taught not white |
| shot by the little darlings in their classrooms. Not | | | | washed. Schools are not social incubators or |
| only are teachers expected to teach but they're: | | | | laboratories for liberals viewpoints |
| - Expected to do it for free or little to nothing. | | | | If parents want their students to be taught more; |
| - Not to take time for a family life. | | | | then provide the resources. Allow teachers to go |
| - Teaching kids what their parents should have. | | | | out in public and solicit the resources they need. |
| - Solving the gang violence problem in the | | | | Let them have some TV time to show what's |
| classroom. | | | | going or is a problem. |
| - Expected to make the children learn. | | | | I want schools to have access for their students |
| - The reason your self-certified genius failed | | | | by the Internet and virtual teaching classrooms |
| school this year. | | | | staffed by interns and teachers. Online education |
| - Teaching because they couldn't do anything else. | | | | is a practical reality for more students every day. |
| Add to the mix school administrator's who may | | | | Schools must deal with it and use it. Yes, this |
| never have been in the classroom or can't teach | | | | means that PC's will have to be available for |
| in the classroom. A school board that will never | | | | students . Either privately or publicly owned. |
| see inside a classroom or a struggling student. | | | | Let's raise our expectations for our students |
| They typically wouldn't recognize a teaching | | | | above the level of “Beavis and Butthead.” |
| environment not described in the NEA handout for | | | | That we live in a republic not a democracy! As |
| school boards. Stir this to a lumpy consistency of | | | | citizens we reserve the right to change our cities |
| what the h..l is this supposed to do? | | | | and leaders as we see fit. Not as a czar sees fit. |
| Businesses and colleges get the end product | | | | We may not always get what we want or even |
| which is focused on itself. The “Me” | | | | what we deserve but we should be able to try |
| generation around whom the universe revolves. | | | | and better ourselves. Justice is not in the |
| My life is too important to be interrupted by | | | | courtroom but in the hands of responsible citizens. |
| education. “What do you mean I have to | | | | NO Judge, lawyer, policeman, or politician is |
| keep my mouth shut? Why do I have to know | | | | responsible for my rights. I should not have so |
| that?” | | | | many that I can't keep track of them! By George |
| So the magic solution is? | | | | we are expected to be able to read, write, find a |
| 1. The state and school boards knows what is to | | | | job and just maybe think. |
| be taught. | | | | |