This is not a particularly helpful piece. There is more than enough blame to go around. Many but not all teachers are weak, lazy, ill-prepared, do not know or understand their students and contribute mightily to the problems kids have in and with school. Many but not all kids lack self-discipline, are distracted, ill-prepared and drive teachers and parents nuts. Many but not all parents are weak, lazy, ignorant and contribute to the problems their kids have in school.
Parents need to make the time to observe their kids in the classroom. Teachers need to provide parents with regular, systematic feedback on the performance and demeanour of students. Kids need to be asked to and held responsible for the same level of commitment and dedication in class that most HS athletes demonstrate on the athletic field.
As anyone who has run a business knows, ensuring a quality process and quality product requires constant effort.
P.S. My wife was an outstanding public HS foreign language teacher. We have 3 young adult children - 2 were good students and generally liked school, one was a terror and hated school. 2 went to private schools including HS, the terror ended up in public HS. In hindsight, he should have gone to military school.
As a military school near Washington D.C. - many many foreign dignitaries and such sent their younger sons there - thinking it a prestigious academy where American dignitaries might send younger sons (older sons learn to manage the family business, younger sons go to the military).
Little did they know or imagine that a military school in America is basically a “Reform school” for bad kids.
My ex brother in law still has a taste for those wild wild women - learned by growing up with many a ‘reform school girl’.