City Thinking is Stuck in the 90s

[stjr]

Mmmmm... if the prototypical educational model of the 50's and 60's was considered good versus now, what has changed and why?

With single families, broken homes, lack of family accountability, political interference, parental micro-management, demands to appease all interests on many non-educational subjects, volatile and declining funds, attacks on and scapegoating the teaching profession, teaching all kids to a standardized test regardless of ability or resources, undervaluing teachers, the competition with the distractions of technology (videos, games, cable, TV, internet, etc.) and more, who is to really blame here?  To me it's a wonder anyone is willing to work in a school today.  I know many idealists who have gone and given up.  I sure tip my hat to those who remain.

Until we prioritize and properly and stably fund education, allow teachers to TEACH to the individual and not ask them to cure all the ills of our society, transfer the social ills out of the classroom, and go back to the three R's, we are headed for trouble.  Yes, I agree, tenure should not be a factor and teacher accountability is important but "grading" schools and teachers based solely on a standardized test is absurd.  Even colleges don't rely just on the SAT to admit students so why should schools?

I have worked in an inner city classroom and it is amazing that a teacher can teach at all when almost all the energy and effort goes into keeping hyperactive and less than respectful kids in their chairs and from disrupting the education of those in the room who do care to be good students.  Add that the kids have no family support, mentors, or other support systems.  And, today, the same issues are creeping into private schools where a significant number of parents are also divorced and disinterested in their kids versus money to pamper themselves and kids are raised spoiled (i.e. "bought" by their parents) and undisciplined.  No one is immune and no teacher can consistently TEACH such students effectively.

We need to stop blaming teachers and start blaming ourselves.  Until we admit the problems we can't fix them.  We have a long way to go.

[finehoe]

....is it any wonder that home schooled kids are doing much better than those in regular schools?

Are they?  Please link to the research that supports this statement.

[cityimrov]

I have no clue how to solve the current school problem from a bottom up perspective.  I just know what it takes to send money there.  How they use that money....that's another question.

If you want help, ask Bill Gates: http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/10_30/b4188058281758.htm
He seems to be turning into a hated person for the school system since he wants to change minor things and verify normal conventions and see if they work.  

For college research, let's just say Florida is definitely NOT #1.

[Dog Walker]

Here is a link to an old article.  Article is from a pro-homeschooling website, but research is from independent, peer-reviewed sources.  Most recent research here is 1997, but can't think things have changed much in the meantime.  http://www.hslda.org/docs/nche/000010/200410250.asp

Seems that the impact of homeschooling is greatest in the high school years.  Interesting.

The home schooled kids I know and interact with at a local sports club are smart, well informed and mature for their years.

I'll keep looking and see if I can find more recent research.

[buckethead]

My kids are home schooled, as are JCs (According to a previous post). I can assure you mine are ahead of their peers in public school. A good education is available in public schools, though. It depends on the school, the student, the teacher and mostly the parents.

[finehoe]

research is from independent, peer-reviewed sources.  

I'm not sure how you determined that.  The author of the study is the President of NHERI.

I don't know one way or the other what the facts are and have no position myself on homeschooling, but I'd take these "results" with a grain of salt.

[CS Foltz]

My kids are home schooled, as are JCs (According to a previous post). I can assure you mine are ahead of their peers in public school. A good education is available in public schools, though. It depends on the school, the student, the teacher and mostly the parents.

"Mostly the parents" is the key phrase there buckethead ..................I agree! It might be due to a lack of parental control, push or even insight but I think the current generation is lacking those attributes! One small slice of the educational pie but a building block I think! More money and the latest and greatest programs is not the answer.............more focus from the parental units should be the start! Mine did and I salute them for their efforts.........I would not be where I am today but for their part!

[Dog Walker]

Read the article and look at the footnotes!

I hesitate to post this link.  Talk about a potentially biased source!

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/aug/30/home-schooling-outstanding-results-national-tests/

Had to hold my nose to put that up there.  (Goes to bathroom and washes hands.)

[cityimrov]

One problem with homeschool - parental self selection.  If all the smart and responsible parents home schooled their kids - what happens to the rest? 

[buckethead]

Don't worry... The government is in control.

[finehoe]

Read the article and look at the footnotes!

I did.  The footnotes are almost all references back to himself, or to other homeschooling advocacy groups.  Plus most of the sources are from the 80's, when homeschooling was illegal in most states, so it doesn't seem to be a representative sample.

[CS Foltz]

finehoe .....you have a point plus the information is slightly dated! Not sure that home schooling is the ultimate answer since there are other aspects of "Public School/Private School" that does not take into account social or peer skills that home schooling does not teach! Interaction between persons of the same age bracket can not be quantified..........IMHO!

[finehoe]

Read the article and look at the footnotes!

I hesitate to post this link.  Talk about a potentially biased source!

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/aug/30/home-schooling-outstanding-results-national-tests/

Had to hold my nose to put that up there.  (Goes to bathroom and washes hands.)

LOL.  Yeah, the Washington Times is hardly an unimpeachable source.  However, I think there is probably a great deal of truth in the authors conclusion:

"...there are two main factors for these outstanding results: the educational environment where learning takes place, and the individualized, one-on-one instruction. Most home-school students are directly taught by their parents, who love their children enough to make the sacrifice to stay at home to make sure their child is taught in a safe and loving learning environment. Second, one-on-one instruction emphasizes the best interests of the child rather than the best interests of the group."

[CS Foltz]

The thread of commonality through that is...............one teach and one student! Any home schooled person has the benefit of one on one..........or one on two and so on! Public school enviroment precludes that option!

[Dog Walker]

Don't know how I got into the position of defending homeschooling!  (Shakes head in confusion)  I was just making the point that our antiquated educational system doesn't produce good results; that a whole systemic redesign is needed.

We would not accept the results that we get from our school system from any other endeavor we depend on.  What if JEA only had the electricity and water on 60% of the time or JTA buses were only on time 60% of the.....(Oops, really bad example!) or only 60% of the food you bought at the store was edible.