Is our education system failing us in the USA?

[CJL5585]

I have noticed that the grammar, spelling, and the attempt at communicating sometimes reaches a new low on the internet and other forums such as this one.

Individuals whose first words were "mommy" and "daddy" now seem to be writing paragraphs without following any of the normal rules that are associated with the English language in written form. Sometimes these individuals seem unable to express any idea or concept other than "You know what I mean."

The question is whether or not our education system is failing us in the United States of America?

How much money can our Government (Local, State, and Federal) throw at the problem before it gets better?

My personal idea is to throw all the calculators out of schools, limit the number of TV programs the students watch, and get back to the basics of education. I believe that children should be able to read, write, and know their multiplication tables. They should be required to do math problems without any calculators or other aids.

Give the teachers and the education system the means to discipline students. Give them the means to discipline the parents of the students if events take that path.

Do not allow anyone who MIGHT prey on children, or live a related lifestyle, to be employed within K1 thru K12 educational system.

Your thoughts?

.

[srstol]

for starters the local government should drug test the teachers

most medium to large machine shops drug test their employees to appease the insurance companies

really though spelling an d grammer aare not all they r cracked upt o be

msst persons can get by jst fin eveen when they're not grate spellers

[Kiwi]

I've noticed it is not only the USA.
Some members from non English speaking countries apologize for their English but in many cases is better than the average.

E. & O.E. (errors and omissions excepted.)

BTW grammer > grammar

[nine 16]

Bring choice into publicly funded education. Subject public schools to the competitive pressure of the market place. Abolish the federal Dept. of Education. For starters.

[CJL5585]

Originally Posted by nine 16 Bring choice into publicly funded education. Subject public schools to the competitive pressure of the market place. Abolish the federal Dept. of Education. For starters.

I agree.

Two votes for -- None against -- Does the measure Pass?

Kiwi -- Thanks.

[Caprirs]

Education begins at home. If parents don't push their children to excel in education, there is no way the government can effectively teach them. Education is the responsiblity of the individual, not the state. Relying on the guvment for deliverance from ignorance is futile.

[Meffe_dk]

I have to say that no teacher shall ever discipline my son, it is not their job and should never be.

I as a parent will do my best to teach my son right from wrong.

When that is said, then I think that the school system should redefine the way that they do their teaching.

Their funding should not be connected to how their students do in a test, they should get their money by putting a dollar amount on every students head and letting those students parents choose where they can get the best education, that is in my humble opinion the only way shake their buts.

Oh before I forget, it should be easier to fire an incompetent teacher.

I'm not American (yet), but my son and wife is, and we live here and I have problems figuring out where to send my son to school, I can't see where he will get as good public school education as I did in Europe.

I'm sorry if I offended anyone.

[DennisCNC]

Search "college life" on goodle video. That is how "kids" are learning in school I'm not much older but it all start at home in the family.

[NC Cams]

Yes, teachers shouldn't discipline children BUT when a child comes to school totally lacking in discipline, what is a teacher supposed to do to gain control in the classroom?

Some kids come to school all jacked up on sugar and candy because the parents simply don't feed the kids properly. Try teaching a kid when the're on a sugar high or crashing when they're come down.

When spelling and simple grammar are not DEMANDED as part of the taught/learned communication process, what do you expect? When slang is tolerated instead of proper grammar, the communication process will deteriorate. Sadly, when the lowest common denominator is tolerated instead of the highest level of achievement striven for, you get poorly educated offspring.

Poorly educated parents generally produce likewise in the form of offspring. The spiral has a negative slope that increases at an ever increasing rate. How you break the downward spiral of decay is the trick. Unplugging the TV and working with the kids is how its done.

My ex-fiance taught kids in a magnet school and the kids came to her class and LEARNED. She challeneged and demanded peformance from them and usually got it. If not the kid was subjected to peer pressure and usually rose to the occasion. Occasionally there was one that couldn't/woudldn't level up. Sadly, herd thinning is/was out of the question....

[protopath]

Take a look at your kid's textbooks, lots of flashy pictures, very short on text and what is actually being "taught." My sons mathbook has a lot of crap in it. You have to sift through to find the math. Way to much time on self-esteem and other fuzzy things and not enough on education.

Voucher System! BRING COMPETITIVE MARKET FORCES INTO EDUCATION!!!!

If I could get the money the state spends on my kids "edumacashun" and have them taught at another school I have no doubt that all schools public and private would sharpen up.

Another thing, not everyone needs to go to college, teach trades in high school. I'm not to talking about the b.s. vo-tech. Re-vamp that entire system and really teach them a trade and quit pushing college for those that can't or won't.

Colleges need to get rid of all the courses that make you "well-rounded." If I'm going for mechanical eng. what do I need to know about 15th century England for? Why do I need music appreciation? I like my heavy metal just fine thank you. Teach me to design things, not indoctrinate my entire being.



Whew, sorry 'bout that. I feel better now.

[tobyaxis]

Originally Posted by protopath Take a look at your kid's textbooks, lots of flashy pictures, very short on text and what is actually being "taught." My sons mathbook has a lot of crap in it. You have to sift through to find the math. Way to much time on self-esteem and other fuzzy things and not enough on education. Voucher System! BRING COMPETITIVE MARKET FORCES INTO EDUCATION!!!! If I could get the money the state spends on my kids "edumacashun" and have them taught at another school I have no doubt that all schools public and private would sharpen up. Another thing, not everyone needs to go to college, teach trades in high school. I'm not to talking about the b.s. vo-tech. Re-vamp that entire system and really teach them a trade and quit pushing college for those that can't or won't. Colleges need to get rid of all the courses that make you "well-rounded." If I'm going for mechanical eng. what do I need to know about 15th century England for? Why do I need music appreciation? I like my heavy metal just fine thank you. Teach me to design things, not indoctrinate my entire being. Whew, sorry 'bout that. I feel better now.

Yea!!!!!!!!!! You Tell Them!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The Educational System in this Country Keeps Slipping. Personally I think that all these extra Classes should be Banned.

LOL, Got to Rock with Rob Zombie, but on your own time.

[RICHARD ZASTROW]

Get rid of teachers unions, they're supposed to be professionals. Get rid of tenure, who else gets job security? Like most everybody seems to agree, install school choice. Pay teachers on a merit system, not time served. Do not advance students who do not perform at grade level. Put truth back into textbooks instead of liberal politics. Demand maximum administrator/student ratio. Have a required basic curriculum 1-12 that produces a high school graduate that can successfully function, though he/she may require specialized training for a specific occupation later. This is a small installment of my opinion about the failed education system. You don't want to know what I think of some of those "politically correct" "my kid can do no wrong" parents. I'm one of those "if I came home and told my parents a teacher swatted me I'd get my butt blistered again" geezers.