Fixing Education

[Minimalist]

What about this aspect of the problem?

http://teacher-attrition.wikispaces.com/

Teacher attrition is a problematic issue in education that many schools around the nation have to face. Many school districts focus on teacher recruitment when the real problem is teacher attrition. “Low-performing urban schools are experiencing the brunt of the teacher shortage” (Wise & Levine, 2002). These schools are forced to hire inexperienced and unprepared teachers. Sixty percent of teachers in urban settings leave within three years (Wise & Levine, 2002).

[bladevalant546]

What about this aspect of the problem?

http://teacher-attrition.wikispaces.com/

Teacher attrition is a problematic issue in education that many schools around the nation have to face. Many school districts focus on teacher recruitment when the real problem is teacher attrition. “Low-performing urban schools are experiencing the brunt of the teacher shortage” (Wise & Levine, 2002). These schools are forced to hire inexperienced and unprepared teachers. Sixty percent of teachers in urban settings leave within three years (Wise & Levine, 2002).

Well it is nice to know they have a short two word to describe this issue. Have two close friends being teachers (used to be) a lot of the issues here in that article they stated. However, this appears to be a symptom in my opinion of the broader issue with education. It seems to point towards bureaucracy and mediocrity. I found from what my friends stated is a lot of political pressure and the stupid cookie cutter teaching methods. I feel the solution resides in the root of the problem itself, which is not simple either. We can give the teachers plenty of tools, but that will not make a rebellious, or hopeless feeling student learn. I kinda see what you mean the complexity of this issue.

[Minimalist]

It's a vicious circle. Look at it from the administrator's point of view. They are constantly dealing with a substantial portion of their staff which is not only inexperienced but also the produce of the same educational system which is failing to begin with. They know that if they successfully mentor that person into something roughly akin to a good teacher that they will probably lose them to a better paying district in short order.

The entire social contract of what we expect from an educational system has broken down.

And I have no idea how to fix it.

[bladevalant546]

Indeed, i guess in simple IT terms we need to re-image the entire system. The worse catch 22 is most of the "intelligent" folks who could help reducate are either dying, part of the problem aka in control, or dead. I think in terms of our social structure have reached long time ago a point which simple resolutions will not work, only drastic cultural changes. I for one kind of see George's point of view. At this rate it goes feel hopeless, with this perspective there is not easy solution short of full scale revolution. Which sadly takes intelligent people to pull off and not make things worse.

[Minimalist]

Add in the fact that Americans prefer easy solutions. In fact, the more complicated the problem the easier the solution we look for.

[bladevalant546]

Add in the fact that Americans prefer easy solutions. In fact, the more complicated the problem the easier the solution we look for.

My favorite one is......freeing the shit out people. I mean that is best thing, when they do not agree with you. You go ahead and free them.

[pineapplebunnybounce]

I don't live in the US, but from what I've heard, science teachers in the US for lower grades (up till high school, I've heard) aren't too qualified. Am I right? I agree about curiosity not being valued in school, and I think one of the way to deal with this would probably be assigning students independent projects where they can do whatever they like as long as it's somewhat related to what they learn in school. We do this quite a lot in uni, and it's great fun. But the big problem is that a lot of teachers won't be comfortable with students presenting about subjects they're not familiar with, thus unable to answer questions or correct mistakes.

The truth is, school before uni sucks. Most kids I know, myself included, never found a single thing that was fun until we went to uni and picked things we liked to do. Kids who are responsible will know they have to do well to get to uni, but those who are more shortsighted will lose interest and do poorly.

[Captain Colostomy]

And I have no idea how to fix it.

Make all children work in sweatshops til their 12 years old. 14 hours a day, 6 days a week. For peanuts, literally. On the eve of their 12th b-day, remove their choker collars long enough to decide: a lifetime of this, or go to school and do well. Tick tock, tick tock...

I'm sure they'll make the wise choice.

As for teachers...performance incentive bonuses. Tax funded...or sweatshop, whichever.

[Minimalist]

Make all children work in sweatshops til their 12 years old. 14 hours a day, 6 days a week. For peanuts, literally. On the eve of their 12th b-day, remove their choker collars long enough to decide: a lifetime of this, or go to school and do well.

Fixed that for you.

Now you have the republicunt plan.


And, before some of our resident nazis jump up to deny this....

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/02/14...labor-laws

Now Republicans want to repeal child labor laws

[gilbertc06]

I'm actually studying to be an educator here in the U.S. and boy is it mind wrenching to think about how fucked up the system is. I probably won't be able to change anything. I might even have to HIDE the fact that I am an Atheist just to get a job. The only thing I can conceivably do is smuggle in secular logic to the young folks and start to get them thinking outside of the ideological sphere once in a while.