eichel

As a carer educaational researcher and evaluator of Follow Through, Title I, and other elementary education programs, it is relatively easy to criticize the outcomes of many of our schools. Everyone over the last 40 years has identified the problem as the teaching practices in the classrooms. In my experience, it has been the lack of support for education from those outside the schools (parents, community leaders, etc.) Nearly all students who are not successful in schools are either truant (mising 40 or more days of schools) or transient (moving from school to school each year). Some school districts have implemented bussing programs that keeps students in the same schools, even though they move to new residences. These programs have had very positive effects on student achievement. Most reform efforts have tried to identify the "best" materials or instructional practices and trained teachers to use them. These assume that there is one right or best way to teach all students. Past reseach and evaluation has documented the unique needs and talents of each student. There is no program or materail that is best for all. Although this piece states that finding the origin of the problem is not a part of this piece, it is impossible to make improvements in the system without some idea of the reasons for present problems.

The 2012 Page

True!

Meyerg58

I am currently a student of education and find that the problem starts with the government. The government believes that they know what needs to be done in the classroom without input from teachers. Somebody should ask us what is needed for improvement. Teaching isn't as easy as it looks. Too many people think that it is a menial task that anyone can do, but I argue that it is a task that only a few can do well. Thanks for the article.

Yoda2

my father was an educator for 40 years; your post is very insightful and appreciated.