Whats wrong with America's high schools

CNN ^

[durasell]

Minutus cantorum, minutus balorum, minutus carborata descendum pantorum

[Bob Mc]

What's wrong with America's high schools???

Might be a lot easier and shorter to list what's right. Shouldn't take but a few sentences.

[Air Force Brat]

Who has these data? What are the data?

I have two sons in public high school right now. They're getting an excellent, challenging education IMHO.

I have little patience for those who denigrate public education from a position of ignorance.

One could find horror stories in any organization where stupid decisions are made; money is wasted; opportunities lost. I've been in business for a quarter of a century and have seen amazing examples of this in the private sector.

Schools are no different.

I'll let you in on a secret.

If a school district adequately funds teachers' salaries so decent, well-qualified teachers will want to work there...

If a school district stops implementing "make work" policies that do nothing to teach kids but consume the valuable time that teachers have...

If parents shoulder their responsibilities as the critical link in their childrens' education...

If parents provide good role models, positive reinforcement, and appropriate discipline aimed at promoting success at school...

...Then the students will succeed. The schools will succeed. Society will succeed.

This is happening in the USA today. Not everywhere - but I'd bet in more places than you might think. I see it in my sons' school. I saw it, three decades ago, in my school.

I give no quarter to those who seek to destroy public schools. An educated citizenry is absolutely necessary for a successful republic. Successful public schools are a source of strength for America. Rather than sling mud or try to tear them down, we should work to improve them.

</soapbox>

[Jabba the Nutt]

"I give no quarter to those who seek to destroy public schools."

Public schools are democratic socialist in structure. And they work as well as one would expect a socialist enterprise to work. By concentrating resources and talent, socialism can produce excellence, but in limited areas and limited conditions.

"An educated citizenry is absolutely necessary for a successful republic."

Absolutely!! I agree. That's why government schools need to be replaced with the proven free enterprise system. Congrats on your sons. All the best to you and yours.

[kittymyrib]

Nothing that a good depression couldn't cure. These spoiled, snotty teens need to be shoveling manure in a dairy barn somewhere, or washing dishes in a cheap diner, or digging potatoes, or picking apples. They have an obscene amount of money to squander on nasty music and movies and insanely expensive fad clothing that determines whether one is 'in" or "out". Most have no religious training and cannot define what a Christian is, though they may claim to be one.
At the very least, the high schools would benefit from same-sex high schools so the inmates don't spend all their time trolling for sex partners, and school uniforms would keep some of the thuggishness of gangs and the snobbishness of the spoiled at bay.