Problem in education

[chicagodisneyfan]

How so?

How so?
From Time 2007 - American schools spend more than $8 billion a year educating the mentally retarded. Spending on the gifted isn't even tabulated in some states, but by the most generous calculation, we spend no more than $800 million on gifted programs.

Go to the disabilities board - see what some of the parents speak of - children who will never learn to read or write or do simple math. Yet they go to school with all sorts of taxpayer funded aides. What exactly are they being educated in?

The number of aides, the special accommodations, the distractions to other students - all of those have a large cost.

Public schools are failing the average and above average child.

 

[edwardsfire]

That's an easy question

Num ber one problem facing education in America is single parents.

End of Story.

It IS a fact that kids with BOTH parents do SOO much better than just one.
Single parent households is a HUGE issue in America. Kids NEED a mommy and a daddy. They just do.

 

[edwardsfire]

How so?
From Time 2007 - American schools spend more than $8 billion a year educating the mentally retarded. Spending on the gifted isn't even tabulated in some states, but by the most generous calculation, we spend no more than $800 million on gifted programs.

Go to the disabilities board - see what some of the parents speak of - children who will never learn to read or write or do simple math. Yet they go to school with all sorts of taxpayer funded aides. What exactly are they being educated in?

The number of aides, the special accommodations, the distractions to other students - all of those have a large cost.

Public schools are failing the average and above average child.

Here is an issue we agree on. "Public schools fail average and above average child"
It seems that schools want to "bring down everybody" instead of raising the standards. They also need to reward students that achieve. Not hold them back so that the rest feels more "fair".

 

[Goofyluver]

How so?
From Time 2007 - American schools spend more than $8 billion a year educating the mentally retarded. Spending on the gifted isn't even tabulated in some states, but by the most generous calculation, we spend no more than $800 million on gifted programs.

Go to the disabilities board - see what some of the parents speak of - children who will never learn to read or write or do simple math. Yet they go to school with all sorts of taxpayer funded aides. What exactly are they being educated in?

The number of aides, the special accommodations, the distractions to other students - all of those have a large cost.

Public schools are failing the average and above average child.

I don't have to go to the disability board.

I get to look in the next room.

All children have a right to an education. Regardless of cognitive/physical/emotional disabilities.

Thanks for your input though.

 

[Alyssa88]

Parents, parents, parents.

Look at how many threads are on the DIS - all complaining about teachers, schools, policies. They act like schools should exist only for them.

Then at the opposite end of the spectrum are the parents who do not care at all.


Secondly - Special Ed is killing the schools. That is the reason most kids I know go to private schools - no special ed kids - they use an incredible amount of resources.

Your second point shocks me and quite honestly i find it disturbing.

There is a lack of funding across the board, including for special ed students. Aren't there some special ed kids in private schools as well?

 

[CowboyCO]

Education is the biggest form of injustice. Children living in rural or inner city ares do not receive near as much opportunities as those living in better off areas. In phildealphia, only 50% of the kids beginning kindergarten will never graduate, and those that do have an 8th grade average education. These kids are being robbed of their potentials at a very young age, and its not fair.

Schools that do well on standardized exams get more funding, while those who do poorly receive less. Schools with more resources tend to do better, yet they keep getting more and the schools that really need it do not. Its stupid.

My statistics are from the teach for america website, which could be a good place to check for your topic.

I'd need to see a link to substantiate that claim. Schools in more affluent areas tend to do better because there are more two parent homes and the parents have a higher level of education. This isn't rocket science. Boards of education spend as much or more on underperforming schools as they do on those that perform well. Until we recognize that socioeconomics and lack of parental guidance at home are a large function of the success of education, we will continue to throw money in the pit...

 

[Goofyluver]

It IS a fact that kids with BOTH parents do SOO much better than just one.
Single parent households is a HUGE issue in America. Kids NEED a mommy and a daddy. They just do.

Kids NEED a stable, loving parent. Maybe that's one mommy. Maybe that's one daddy. Maybe that's a mommy and a daddy. Maybe that's two mommies or two daddies.

Children need love and healthy guidance.

 

[MidgeD79]

I am a single parent of 3 special ed kids (one is dead)and none of them are (were) labeled mentally retarded. There is so much more to special ed than mentally retarded. Some of us are single parents because "daddy" could deal with a son who would never walk. Sounds like some adults need educating.
I do agree with many of the things previous posters said and would like to add: stop pushing college prep and encourage vocational training.

 

[chicagodisneyfan]

I don't have to go to the disability board.

I get to look in the next room.

All children have a right to an education. Regardless of cognitive/physical/emotional disabilities.

Thanks for your input though.

I disagree - if a child is not learning- what is the point? It is just an expensive daycare for a child with disabilities.

But thanks for you opinion.

 

[Alyssa88]

How so?
From Time 2007 - American schools spend more than $8 billion a year educating the mentally retarded. Spending on the gifted isn't even tabulated in some states, but by the most generous calculation, we spend no more than $800 million on gifted programs.

Go to the disabilities board - see what some of the parents speak of - children who will never learn to read or write or do simple math. Yet they go to school with all sorts of taxpayer funded aides. What exactly are they being educated in?

The number of aides, the special accommodations, the distractions to other students - all of those have a large cost.

Public schools are failing the average and above average child.

Are you serious? Those children can learn how to do other things that help with daily living or help them adapt to their disability. Some of them can learn some math and reading, etc but it takes a bit more. They deserve the chance. They have that right

 

[Pembo]

Uh-oh, my innocent thread is turning ugly. And for the record, I'm a special ed teacher of a child with a disability...so let's refrain from negative comments please.

Maybe I should have made this a poll?!

 

[Goofyluver]

I disagree - if a child is not learning- what is the point? It is just an expensive daycare for a child with disabilities.

But thanks for you opinion.

Hey...maybe you should fight to change the laws. You know...the ones that grant an education to them "children with disabilities".



Damn kids. Suckin' up our tax payer's dollars...

When we really all know...there ain't no hope for a...what didja call 'em? That's right...the "mentally retarded". Them kiddos can't learn.

I'm not even sure why we let them in the building.

Would you like to break it to my son? He really loves school...I mean babysitting.

 

[disneyjunkie]

That's an easy question

Num ber one problem facing education in America is single parents.

End of Story.

I'm not so sure about this one.

Maybe because I'm a single parent.

Aren't there some special ed kids in private schools as well?

Not always

There are private schools will not accept special ed students.

 

[disneybound2010]

It seems that schools want to "bring down everybody" instead of raising the standards

My DH's StepMom has been a high school teacher for 35+ years and in the last couple of years has been labeled a troublemaker by her colleagues as well as the former principal. Why? Because she dares to expect that her students actually learn in her class. She doesn't grade on a curve or give out grades because a student might feel bad for getting less than an A. Last year, she got into a heated argument with the principal because one student was in danger of failing. The student wasn't completing assignments,missed a lot of school and when finals came up didn't complete half of the exam. The parents blamed her because she should have been easier on him and hurt his feelings DSM was FORCED to grade the kid's exam based on what questions he answered(this was only done for him no other student) When she reluctantly regraded,he passed the test with a 65...failing is a 64 here.

 

[daisyduck123]

What is the most important problem America is facing in education today????

The "higher ups" who mandate everything but have absolutely NO IDEA what it is really like in the classrooms/schools.

At my school, we're always saying the folks at our local Board of Educ. must have been high on drugs when they created some of our policies. They need to get out of their offices & back in the classroom for awhile to see what these kids are really like.

I would love for our Superintendent to come sub. in my room for a week.

 

[CowboyCO]

Wait...

was that a joke?

Not at all. Children from two-parent families outperform those from single parent families, unless the household income is equivilant (meaning the single parent would have to earn as much as a two-parent household - not likely).

This is a not bash on single parents. It's just true. Especially in inner city areas.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Oh God....where too start. Warning I have many pet peeves here.... But since you asked....

1) Personal...Bright kids/above average are left in the dust.

Example....my 12yodd, 6th grade now, is able to be in the gifted classes and do the work if she was allowed (she has scored 99 on the district rankings). However she has taken the gifted twice and not passed, once in 2nd grade in MO and once in 3rd grade in TX.

There is NO CHOICE. You must fall into the testing parameters even though you can do the work and more importantly my dd WANTS to do the work and excel. Very frustrating for her. She has been bumped to "challenge classes" last month and it is still a walk in the park for her.

English (writing) is where she is gifted esp, she cannot get into the gifted program because she has to qualify for ALL.

This will lead to her being in lower ranked classes in high school and therefore reduces her RANK in HS when she is competing for college.

This pisses her off greatly because she has high goals in education. However she works hard and is going to try and get things published and make her name to get to where she wants to go, which are prestigious colleges in writing.

2)

Requirements of classes in different states. Why in the hell are kids taking the ACT and the SAT? Oh I know...because the midwest schools are not up to par with the SAT model.

My oldest who just finished HS this Dec. was not ALLOWED to take Biology freshman year. Only the "gifted kids" were. The "regular kids" had to take a general science class which THROWS OFF the testing for college. How is that you say? Well because they require the science math path and guess what, that makes you behind with Chemistry and ALG 2 because you have to take BIO before you take Chemistry.

Thank God we moved to TX that yr, because I was going to blow a gasket. She got to take Pre-AP Biology and got straight A's.

Public schools DO NOT match requirements state to state and that is where the major failure is. And don't give me the crock of crap that "kids aren't ready here"....that is rubbish.

The models are not up to par, period. That is the biggest failure.

Great models on the east coast, I am sure. Texas was GREAT compared to Missouri.

 

[Pigeon]

Special education does cost districts a great deal of money. However, disabled children are every bit as entitled to an education as abled children. Schools should be funded such that all children are getting an appropriate education. Years ago, children with special needs where simply warehoused. Thank goodness there is some improvement, but there's a long way to go.

It's funny how adequately funding education is so often termed "throwing money at it." The day we view adequately funding the military as "throwing money at it" is the day that argument is worthy of consideration.

 

[Bluestars]

I think every child deserves an education. I don't believe a child in special ed is in any way hurting the education of a child in regular classes. If a child is failing, it all falls on the parents. You can spend all the money in the world on schools, but if a parent doesn't step up to the plate and become involved, then it won't do any good.

Most private schools do so well because the parents are involved. If a person is willing to pay for an education, then that person has a vested interest in it.

I also don't think the problem is single parents. I do think that single parents have to work twice as hard, but it can be done. When I was a single parent my daughter was on the honor roll. I read to her, I looked over her homework, I went to her school functions. I was involved.

 

[rgf207]

What is the most important problem America is facing in education today????


I'm taking a grad class and this is one of our questions...wanted some other opinions.

4 Words.....

No Child Left Behind