Failing Teachers

Boris' plan to "fix" education:

(1) No more mandatory schooling. School's out. Hit the beach; play Nintendo, go shopping. We don't care.

(2) At age 18, everyone takes the SAT tests (no exceptions). Kids who score less than [pick a number] will be marched outside and shot. The executions will be televised.

(3) For 'voluntary' schools, no more teaching certificates. Indeed, no more "Ed Schools". If you can teach, you get a job. Your salary is based on the average score of the kids in your class on a standardized test. The test is changed each year.

(4) Parents' tax refund is proportional to the same number. In the case of more than one offspring, use the average.

(5) The maximum teachers' salary is to equal the lowest salary paid to any NBA player in a given year.

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The lil' bastids will LEARN, I guar-un-tee.

Now, I am not really serious about the execution part. But what I am proposing is just a souped-up version of the (very successful) asian model, complete with "cram schools" and the occasional student suicide [can't take the pressure]. Learn or die; or at least 'learn or suffer'.

--Boris

Some of the teachers are in survival mode. They would teach if the students would let them. But administrators won't back up teachers when they refer multiple unruly students to administrators. Administrators say it is the teachers' responsibilities to control such "disciplinary" situation. So, while there are "dud" teachers, yes, the lawless environment discourages many.

But there are many, many others [teachers] who are not remotely interested in these kids.

The administrators know these teachers are in there, but they can't fire them because of the unions. It costs $200,000 to fire a teacher in NY, no matter how bad he/she may be. And, it goes without saying that Bob Herbert adores unions.

This problem won't be solved until all union bosses are put on a boat and pushed out to sea.

Let's make the educational institution strictly for education. Get rid of all the trappings to include the lunchroom. You get about a 30-40 minute information dump, you go to the next class, etc., and then you go home and let your parents deal with your hormones and your social entertainment needs.

Indeed. That would put the responsibility where it belongs and save a lot of money for the taxpayers in the process...

You would save money on buses, lunches, and extra-curricular activities.....drivers, cooks, coaches.

And the naysayers would cry, "Look at all the lost jobs." Not really. The buses could be a private business called a bus company. They'd be assured a twice a day clientele AND they could carry others for a fee, too.

The cooks would be part of a resurgent fast food industry for those older kids going home, or for grocery workers who'd see an upsurge in sales as families brought more food into the house for lunches. Coaches would be physical fitness and club operators who would promote their sports in the community.

At least one parent would have to be home to help raise the kids, so that would decrease the work-force and drive wages up for the fewer available workers. The children would be watched and guided by their own parents....(novel concept.)

In short, the entire community would benefit, imho.

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