Adults Blame Parents for Education Problems

Parents are a crucial component of the educational system. Nurturing learning strats at home at early age. The educational preparedness and levels in adults in our society have shifted. Attending school many years ago was regarded as priority and had a sense of pride; the shift promotes a working society to meet the economic mishaps.This shiftness has also produced citizens with lack of skills. There is lack of respect for teachers in our schools, from the government, and from parents as well. Although I don't like to compare the USA with other countries, in Japan, teaching is regarded as one of the most prestigious careers. They place value in education. USA uses education for political gains. The USA places value on sports, and quick monetary gains. Ask our youth for what they plan to do in the future. Many of their responses are "baseball player, basketball player." In terms of school board members: many of these members are business career people with no educational background. Although many school districts would like to include more members with educational backgrounds, politics take place. That's the reality we live in. In conclusion, unless the government takes a true and honest active role, parents immerse themselves in holding accountable their kids regarding behavior and school expectations, and teachers do not teach to the test, the educational system will eventually fail.

I am not sure what you mean by "kicking them out" of school, but I do know one of my local high schools has a large number of immigrant students who do not speak English well, if at all. So, the principal will encourage them to be absent on standardized testing days, not to help the school rating, but because he knows that it isn't fair to the students. As far as No Child Left Behind, I agree it isn't working. Now they push Kindergartners to read and write in journals so by 3rd grade they should ace the tests. It doesn't work that way. I am not sure if it is the same in all states, but in mine parents can opt out of the standardized testing. The schools will not inform you of that, but all you have to do is write a letter to the principal stating that your child (give name) will not be taking the ...whatever the test is.
Our Board does try, and members often come to meetings at the local schools. But, the lack of funding is hurting badly. So, parents need to help in all the ways they can. Or grandparents, or concerned neighbors etc.

Wendy I totally agree and when you get the opportunity read my post because I feel N Child Left Behind is a lot of the problem.

Its ridiculous, I just graduated from a great public school, but every year the school board is asking for more money. And they do the stupidest stuff, they spent over 500,000 remodelling a school for future use and the next year decided there were too few students and closed it, they also give themselves over 50,000 in bonuses each while our high school french books still in Francs and we can pay teachers. I personally think that all schools just need someone to come in and audit there money budgeting and make all spending legitimate. They saddest part is i went to one of the top public schools in Minnesota.

actually wendy, i think that the curriculum in the early grades are lousy.. there is no second language,especially when kids are learning their first..teaching by rote is boring and even a first grader"gets it"..spend your time teaching the students who are able to learn and let the rest fall by the wayside..continue to upgrade many different topics and do not spend to long on them[ short attention span]young children can learn at an astonishing rate and can retain what they learn if it is interesting and fun..slowing down and giving homework juswt defeats the purpose.. spend less time on indoctrination and more time on actually doing something and you will be suprised at young minds and what they can learn..

Instead of placing cameras in the classroom, we could place grammar texts there. If there had been one in your class when you were in school, you never would have put that apostrophe in your comment. That's likely the schools' fault as well, isn't it?

Did you see that? Three correct examples of apostrophe usage in one sentence.

Seriously, kids don't get to school until they are 5-6 years old. They have had all that time with their families to learn how to learn the alphabet, tie their shoes, do simple addition, etc. When schools are required to teach the most basic of tasks (those that kids have learned at home for generation after generation, until now), it just makes sense that they will struggle to teach to as high a level as we would like.

My dear, your math skills are rather rusty. The schools have your children for about 7 hours a day, 5 days a week which is a grand total of 35 hours. They are home for the other 17 hours 5 days a week in addition to 24 hours a day during the week-ends. To conclude, students are in school for 35 hours a week and are home for 133 hours a week. Students are home 79.1111 % percent of the time therefore parents are 79.111% responsible. This is not counting summer vacations and other vacations when the students are home.

Sure it is the parents. Their lack of involvement and concern, or backing up the teachers. When my oldest (29) was little, lots of parents showed up to the teacher meetings, back-to-school, open house, etc. With my youngest, only a handful of parents bother to come. The parents expect the teachers to do it all, from teaching to disciplining.
I can't believe Susan would say... "Schools have our children from more time than parents...The schools/administration are 80% responsible..." They are YOUR children, Susan! Not the teachers, not the administrators. We shouldn't need cameras in the classroom. Parents should teach their children how to behave in the classroom! There is no excuse for the schools to have your children more hours a day than you do. If that is the case, you need to rethink your job schedule, or reconsider having children if it isn't too late! Put the children first and spend time with them. Even the article has a quote from a man stating, "
"Nobody is too busy to raise a child for a successful future." Take note Susan.
There is so much talk of the number of students in a class. Well, in the 60s we never had fewer than 30, and we all learned to read, write, do the math, and I don't remember any discipline problems from the kids.
Teacher's hands are tied too. If they try to discipline the parents complain. Or sue.
Parents, get involved! It takes time, and that can be a sacrifice, but they are worth it. You do it for them, as well as the future of us all. Join the school groups, volunteer. Make sure they do their homework. The districts are hurting, at least in my area, and cutting services to the bone. Parents need to help out.

Oh, Susan? I don't usually comment on spelling or grammar, but in this case I think it is necessary. There is no apostrophe in "cameras," it is a plural. A parent needs to know this to help with homework!

As a teacher, I would like to know how a teacher is suppose to teach when students cut up, do not pay attention, or do not do their homework? Children cannot learn if they are not actively involved in their education. Most of the disruptive behaviors are due to lack of discipline and inattentiveness of parents and their lack of expectations. Teachers are no longer able to discipline students in a manner that makes a difference. To maintain discipline in a classroom requires the respect of the students. When parents discuss teachers and education in such negative ways, their children look at education in a negative way too. Kids know that no matter what they do their parents will support them against the school system or many parents of lower functioning students don't even care. The schools are not the only places students learn.

Seriously??? Teachers have your student but YOU are responsible for raising YOUR child!!!! When your child misbehaves or does anything wrong by blaming the teacher you are copping out on being a parent. When parents start putting their kids' NEED before their wants and stop buying their children off we will see a difference. Students have no morals, no respect and very few see any consequences at home when they mis-behave at school. Until parents start supporting education; the teachers and take responsiblity for raising the child they brought into this world we are going to continue having problems such as this.

so the parents have to go to school too? most of the things they are teaching in school now, i have no clue sometimes when my children come home and ask for help on thier homework. then some of us work ,cook dinner clean the house and ect to raise the kids so they have a safe place to live and now the schools want you to go to school to or send your kids allready taught. and once they reach 17 they say your kids has the right to drop out and the school could care less if your kid makes it or not , and now i have to see thier report cards to see how they are doing . i rember when they were in elementry and jr high id get call from the school saying you kid is falling behind , but now in high school not a single call . so whats up with that ?

Lori, not all parents are lazy! We send our children to school and that job is placed on the teachers and the school staff to teach. Many of those school lessons are not fresh in my mind. When a parent works its hard to "teach" at home. WE have an 8-12 hour job just like the teachers do. If the teachers do NOT want to teach then the we should keep our kids at home and keep the tax money we pay them! Would you want to pay someone from your hard earned money that isnt doing their job????

Manual
NO parents do not have to return to school but with the internet and friends there are plenty of places to get help for your child. I'm an English teacher but I am horrible at math. My daughter excels in math; I cannot help her with her homework. I can however be supportive, make sure her homework is completed - providing her time and space to do the homework. There is more than knowing the content are in helping kids with homework.

I have concern about all the illegal immigrants within our school systems; they are draining funds from a tapped out system. Those families are not paying taxes, they are not here legally, how do we even know these kids have had the same shots our children were required to have in the name of health??? The number of dollars spend teaching illegal immigrants could be well spent helping students of LEGAL Americans. I believe if you come to America and put your child in the public schools then they should be able to speak basic English. Teachers are required to accomodate and work with students that speak NO English at all. Do you know how much time this takes away from YOUR child? Do you know how many dollars are spent on studnts that are ESL Learners? I have no problem assisting students but when I have students that have parents paying tax dollars for education and I'm expected to spend my time working with students who speak no English it is frustrating. America has requirements to enter the country just as our schools should have; if you aren't here legally then your children shouldn't sucking up tax payers money getting free education. It's time to speak up and learn where money is being spent and how!

Mamaof2, I am appalled by your comments about ELL's. Having an issue about illegal immigration is one thing, but what about the children of LEGAL taxpaying citizens who unfortunately do not speak English? It is not the children's fault that they do not speak English and it is disgusting that you, a TEACHER, would feel so seemingly turned off by having a non-proficient English student in your class. If the parent doesn't speak English than they can't very well teach their children the language now, can they? That is what being a teacher is about. If you don't teach these children English they are just going to grow up to be one of those adults that offend you so much. If you went into teaching expecting a class of homogenous abilities you are nuts. I myself teach in a district that is comprised of 98% ELL's and anyone who works with ELLs can understand the frustration at times, but seeing the progress these kids make makes up for any of this frustration.