The other day someone on Facebook posted this video A Broken Education System . The poster simply stated that it was disgusting. Although I did not read blame on the teachers but instead on the system overall and Common Core I have to say that there is still at least half of the recipe missing.
So many times through my life as a teacher I hear that teachers are the problem, schools are an issue and no one is there for the kids. Yet I know that there are ingredients missing.
People don't look at the students themselves. The students who are more interested in video games, texting, instagram, and each other. The students who will gladly tell a teacher to "F... off" instead of accepting their work. I fight each of these on a regular basis on the job and yet I'm the one blamed when the student makes a failing grade. According to data those aren't the reasons students aren't doing well.
People never look at the parents and home life. The students come to school still hungry and yet wearing the newest Jordan's, Coach or Beats. Parents are called and respond with "Oh I'm so sorry, I'll take care of that," yet the student comes back with something else brand new and a promise for more new things if they can go 2 weeks without getting into trouble again. Yes let's award the students for negative behavior and not help in supporting their learning environment. Then we have the students who have a topic introduced to them and quit after only one try because "its too hard." No matter how many times a teacher explains it the student refuses to listen once they deem that it is "impossible" for them to do. Does anyone ever look at those students who give up, or do they just automatically blame the teacher and the system?
Without the support of the parents and the students willingness to learn there is always a struggle within the classroom. Yes, no classroom is perfect, but many times students are continuously placed in classes with like students because the teacher is "a strong teacher and good disciplinarian." Placing so many of these kids together in a room is the recipe for disaster and lower academic time than wanted. When parents don't support the education at home they support the students not doing homework. Teachers provide homework and/or study topics nightly and yet so many students don't complete it.
So people I simply ask before you go blaming a specific thing for the fallen education status within our country how about taking a look at all the factors. Sometimes a recipe goes bad because of one item but in most cases it is because the mix has something missing. In education the missing ingredients are direction, perseverance and support.
I'm not setting blame here just had something to say about the negativity surrounding education these days.
I totally agree with you, because I see how much you care and how hard you try to get through to those kids. If they get no support or guidance at home, how are supposed to make up for it in the shorter amount of time you have with them? It is true that education begins at home. And add to that the fact that funds for educational supplies and services continue to dwindle, making your job even more difficult. You are expecting to work miracles!
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