[id10t]

See the "This is why you need an education" thread and others for a primer. This is my rant... hopefully I will give a few points for consideration, and watch the responses flow...

Education currently sucks (esp. the pre-college level) and it shows in our society, and part of it is culture based.

Funding - why is it that after paying taxes - property, sales, building permits, inspections after same, etc - do my children bring home 3 fund raising scams per year? I don't mind the in-school book sales (come by this week!) but that is only because I like bookstores and at least *some* of it is going to the schools. Here in Fl. the lottery promised "all funds to education on top of normal funding" when it started... over the years they've removed all "normal funding".

Fix - guarantee funding per student seat count and per classroom/teacher, bonus funds are bonus funds, and if an extra $50 per student really makes a difference (only achievable with a spectacular fund raising effort) then re-allocate or generate additional funds (and lock them to school funding) as appropriate. Also, schools need to be able to hold over money from this year's budget to add to next year's budget to spend $ on bigger items (infrastructure, technology update, etc) with out penalty - currently its a "spend it or loose it next year" game.

Standards - teaching to the test is a great pedagogical method - if you have a good test. But the test "they" have isn't a good one, and "they" make it easier on a semi regular basis to increase test scores and standings. I can understand the need for different assessment for pre-middle school but from 6th or 7th grade on I (and many of my class mates) could get a low but realistic score on the SAT.

Fix - develop assessments similar to the SAT for pre-middle school students, and for middle and high school students test to the SAT.

Cultural - it seems that "the thug life" and similar "shot in a million" grand schemes are popular amongst certain cultures, especially in certain economic conditions. It is a point of pride to not learn, get educated and better yourself but rather sit and suck off the government teat, and begin "adulthood" at 18 with no salable skills, poor communication skills (and possibly a criminal record).

Fix - see Bill Cosby's thoughts (and only a few others outspoken enough) - and skin color really doesn't apply anymore... it is a great message for all.


Drunken rant over....