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Are we getting what we need from education in America?

I was not specifically targeting teachers. Thus, the "at all levels" part.

I was thinking of higher education as well.

However, there is something wrong with our public school system, IMO. Perhaps not in all areas, and perhaps not with even most teachers.

But SOMETHING is wrong.

I don't deny that there are problems with our education system but placing the blame on the teachers is ludicrous. Teachers have very little control over the system.
 
I don't deny that there are problems with our education system but placing the blame on the teachers is ludicrous. Teachers have very little control over the system.

I don't think teachers are exclusively to blame.

But I do think that some, even if only a few, are at least partially to blame.

And a point I wonder about...

How can teachers have so little control over the system? Are they not, for the most part, members of a teachers union? I admit, there are probably a bunch of ways people could exert control over them, but I do not know what they are.
 
I don't deny that there are problems with our education system but placing the blame on the teachers is ludicrous. Teachers have very little control over the system.

Placing the blame on teachers is not ludicrous at all. A big part of if students learn is how the teacher teaches. For example, in my first semester math class my teacher was boring and just lectured the whole time while my second semester teacher did interactive things and I learned a lot more.
 
I don't think teachers are exclusively to blame.

But I do think that some, even if only a few, are at least partially to blame.

And a point I wonder about...

How can teachers have so little control over the system? Are they not, for the most part, members of a teachers union? I admit, there are probably a bunch of ways people could exert control over them, but I do not know what they are.

All teachers are not union members and I'm not and most of the teachers I know are not. Teachers do not have control because they don't make the big decisions that affect education. That is done by politicians and school boards - who for the most part have no knowledge about how to teach. School administrators also have a great deal more control over the system.

I don't deny that there are poor teachers out there but they are the exception rather than the rule.
 
All teachers are not union members and I'm not and most of the teachers I know are not. Teachers do not have control because they don't make the big decisions that affect education. That is done by politicians and school boards - who for the most part have no knowledge about how to teach. School administrators also have a great deal more control over the system.

I don't deny that there are poor teachers out there but they are the exception rather than the rule.

A big thing of learning is how you teach though.
 
Placing the blame on teachers is not ludicrous at all. A big part of if students learn is how the teacher teaches. For example, in my first semester math class my teacher was boring and just lectured the whole time while my second semester teacher did interactive things and I learned a lot more.

Great example. I am sure you learned more useful information for the second math teacher. However, more and more teachers are forced to teach like the first teacher to cover the information needed for a student to score well on a standardized test. That second teacher may find the he/she is discouraged from doing those great lessons so that there is more time to prepare for the big test.

I don't mean to say that the skill of the teacher makes no difference but heaping all abuse on the teacher is pointless. For example, let's compare two dentists. Both graduated at the top of their class and both continue to keep up to date on new techniques. Now, let's judge these dentists according to how many cavities their patients get. Do you see the problem with this? While the dentists can do everything possible to help their patients, they can't control if they brush, what kind of toothpaste they use, how good their diet is, etc. If you want to make these dentists more like teachers, severely limit the money they can use for supplies, give them outdated equipment, and give them patients that are disruptive during exams. This is what teachers have to deal with every day. So yes, blaming the teachers for the problems in education is ridiculous.
 
With today's recession hitting us all hard, questions have arisen about the quality and value of education in America today – is it really translating to jobs? I'm conducting a poll, to be nationally published, on what actual Americans are thinking the value of higher education is to them. I'd like to hear from you in this quick one minute poll if you have a chance (your responses won't be tracked back to you at all). Thanks!

The Value of Education

The problem isn't just with the teachers and the materials taught, it also involves the students. While I have been to both public and private education schools my experience has been about the same. There are some good teachers, ok teachers, and some really bad teachers. In general the good teachers were the ones who were older and the bad ones were the younger teachers. Of course there are some exceptions to this, but in general this what I found whether it be in public or private schools.

Though I find the real problem I find with our schools comes from the kids and parents. A lot of my friends don't care if they fail and there parents don't care about it. If the kids don't want to learn then there is really nothing a teacher can do. In order for education to succeed it begins with the students and their parents. If we can get students to want to learn then good teachers will come along.
 
Great example. I am sure you learned more useful information for the second math teacher. However, more and more teachers are forced to teach like the first teacher to cover the information needed for a student to score well on a standardized test. That second teacher may find the he/she is discouraged from doing those great lessons so that there is more time to prepare for the big test.

I don't mean to say that the skill of the teacher makes no difference but heaping all abuse on the teacher is pointless. For example, let's compare two dentists. Both graduated at the top of their class and both continue to keep up to date on new techniques. Now, let's judge these dentists according to how many cavities their patients get. Do you see the problem with this? While the dentists can do everything possible to help their patients, they can't control if they brush, what kind of toothpaste they use, how good their diet is, etc. If you want to make these dentists more like teachers, severely limit the money they can use for supplies, give them outdated equipment, and give them patients that are disruptive during exams. This is what teachers have to deal with every day. So yes, blaming the teachers for the problems in education is ridiculous.

If teacher's aren't responsible for kids learning why do we have teachers and who is responsible?
 
No we're not. My kids are in one of the top school districts for our state and all the district seems to care about is how well the kids do on the yearly standardized tests. They spend months teaching to the test and taking practice tests in preparation for the big day. They teach the kids how to pick the right answer, but neglect to teach the analytical process necessary to find the answers. I don't blame the teachers because I know they have no choice in the matter, but something's got to give. There's something terribly wrong when third and fourth graders show up at school crying on the day of the exam because their nerves can't take the stress. The system as it is now crushes the desire to learn rather than nurtures it. :(
 
If teacher's aren't responsible for kids learning why do we have teachers and who is responsible?

Oh my gosh... I didn't say that teachers weren't responsible for what happens in their classroom. I said that they weren't solely responsible for the problems in education. Huge difference! If you want to know the difference read my previous post.
 
If teacher's aren't responsible for kids learning why do we have teachers and who is responsible?

How well do you think any professional can perform their job if they aren't given the materials/resources needed? Teachers are responsible for maintaining class order, presenting new material, and answering students questions. If you have students who can't or won't pay attention, who don't do their homework assignments and/or parents who are uninterested and uninvolved in their kids' education, then the teacher can be the best out there and it still won't matter. Successfully educating children requires cooperation and involvement from the school as well as the parents.
 
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