Correspondent of the Day: Public Schools Aren’t the Problem
Public Schools Aren't the Problem
Editor, Times-Dispatch: Regarding this paper's endorsement of Bob McDonnell: Politics aside, I could not get past the opening paragraph, which included this sentence: "Too many public schools fail too many students."
Well, fine. Is that just something in the catch-phrase playbook that all newspapers routinely use? Perhaps it should be revised to read, "Too many students come to the public schools from economically-deprived homes, dysfunctional homes, homes where there is no understanding of or appreciation for what it takes to be successful in school. Homes where a book is a non-entity, homes where parents think it is perfectly fine to let their children run the show and run the streets, or affluent homes where parents think their kids should receive an 'A' just for showing up and behaving."
I have spent every school day of my 35-year teaching career trying to show children that it is their responsibility to put their talents to their best use and urging them to take responsibility for their futures. If no one else appreciates their potential, my colleagues and I certainly do. Sometimes we are all they have.
The implicit message in your stock "it's all the public schools' fault," comment is that public schools are staffed by idiots just there to collect a paycheck. Nothing could be further from the truth, and your comment is a blatant insult to all of the public schoolteachers who give their blood, sweat, and tears every day to help our kids achieve their potential -- despite the sometimes overwhelming odds against them.
My colleagues and I challenge our students and meet their needs every day. We teach, counsel, and advise them every day. We give our best every day. Our students understand and appreciate that fact. Apparently, though, The Times-Dispatch does not.
Rebecca Wright.
Richmond.
Reader Reactions
In the interest of full disclosure, and while I fully support my colleagues in the RPS, I teach in Henrico County.
Thank you and Amen to Rebecca Wright for telling the truth about the Richmond Public Schools. As a Micah volunteer for the last four years in one of the city’s elementary schools, I have been witness to everything Ms. Wright has documented. In the school where I mentor, teachers do their utmost to teach and serve a stressed population, in one of the older school buildings and cramped space, with not nearly enough appreciation or recognition by the general public. The teachers and the RPS need our support, not criticism. Try volunteering in any one of the RPS, and see what you think!
Oops! William & Mary is not private; is a public educational facility, and a great one, just like many others of such.
Do believe we have some other pretty good govmint-run educational entities, located at West Point, Annapolis, Colorado Springs, Kings Point and New London.
Oh my! Not only a medical doctor (brain surgeon?), but a doctor of education?
“Govmint run anything (military aside) is always a colossal failure”?....it er a smark dock.
I’ve got friends who have kids attending Deep Run High School in Short Pump area. Kids seem pretty well-educated so far. Entire family often goes to Twin Hickory Henrico County branch library next to the high school. Both facilities are “govmint” run. Come to think of it, are not the U. of Virginia, Virginia Tech, VCU, William & Mary, and some others in VA, public (govmint) run universities? All you alumni out there “colossal failures”?
How about you all who are members of our VA State Police, County and local police depts? How about firemen? Members who toil during summer and winter repairing our highways? You all “colossal failures”?
So, we ought to turn all our “govmint” run schools into private ones, like William & Mary. After all, a dock “guarantees” better results, even in spelling.
Ms Wright is correct. Much of the education problem originates at the family level.
The other part is the “politically correct”, physiological babel, junk teaching methods imposed on the teachers.
Get back to basics, give grades, students do fail and repeat grades, get rid of the SOL’s. Not every student is college material, so begin teaching vocational programs.
The list could go on…but one only has to look at the results of the last the 10 years.
But, as Ms Wright says, it begins at home.
If funding stopped entirely for public schools and all the doors were closed, private schools and church schools would pop up across the land immediately.
And even though some of these school leaders would have little or no experience in teaching and administration, I can guarantee the results would surpass that of the public school system overnight.
Govmint run anything (military aside) is always a colossal failure.
Rebecca Wright and other teachers like her deserve much support for their efforts and hard work FOR the children.
But the greatest problem is the parents/guardians of these children. Too often parents don’t put education in the forefront of their priorities. It’s always about the parents and their schedules/holidays/time off.
William Bosher, former supt. of schools for Henrico and Chesterfield, said the school systems tried lengthening the school year by 2 days, but it was the PARENTS who objected. Does that send a message that the parents are behind the children’s education? I don’t think so.
Once we realize that education is a JOB for the students AND the parents, only then can we realize educational improvement in this country.
Another consideration, especially in this economy, is to run the schools year round. Most classrooms sit empty during the summer and the kids return in September having forgotten most of what they learned the previous school year. That creates a “catch up” waste of time for the first 6 weeks, thus putting the children further behind in their education.
With the year round system, children will still attend 180 days, but in a staggered format. The teachers would still enjoy a 2-3 month time period off (and still accrue their CEUs for re-certification and their vacations), the students would waste less time and still have their days off. It’s something to think about.
Throwing MORE money at education is NOT the answer. Make the parents/guardians more accountable for their children’s education. If we don’t do something to remedy the situation, it will only get worse.
Thank you, Ms Wright. As I read your letter, I thought of some of my teachers many decades ago, most of whom did not get paid enough to be their family’s primary bread-earner, working a lot more than eight hours a day, including grading papers and preparing class work during evenings at home.
Most of us owe so very much to our teachers, including Ms Wright. No better return on investment than that of public education of a society. That includes financially and time devoted by parents and guardians of our nation’s young.
Want a better America after we are gone than while we are here? Focus on education. Education is #1 priority in China (+9% GDP growth this year vs negative for USA) and it is #1 focus in many other nations and their bright futures. How bright is America’s future? Answer that question by answering “how bright is our children’s education”?
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