by Kelly Revels

Created on: June 01, 2008   Last Updated: June 09, 2008

The United States Education system today is failing. It is failing parents, it is failing teachers, and it is failing our students. The need for reform goes way past doing away with No Child Left Behind. The U.S. is in a societal state of flux, and the current educational system is trying to be all things to all people. In an effort to do this, educators and administrators have lost sight of why they are in public education, and have done a grave disservice to students. In a global world, the societal rule books have all been thrown out, and moral relativism has taken over.

In an effort for full disclosure, I am a teacher. I have been now for four years. It has been the four most demanding years of my life. One in which all the walls of idealism about the world have crumbled, and I have seen both the best and worst of humanity. If you want a true snapshot of the U.S., just spend a day or two in a public school. If only parents could or would do the same, they would see a mirror reflected back with harsh reality. You might ask, "What would we see?" They would see students sleeping in class, not bringing even the simplest of materials to class, a complete lack of respect for teachers, drug dealing, teenage sex (yes, on campus), and teachers and administrators looking the other way.

Now, some might say these things have always happened in public schools. To a certain extent, they would be right. There were always students who were not fit for the educational institution, whether it be because their interest lay elsewhere or they were simply too smart. Societal standards have shifted to such a degree today that it is almost impossible for teachers to teach. Kids are being raised by kids. One of my first parent conferences was with a parent of a sixteen year old. The mother walked in, and she was my age. It was very evident within the first few moments of the meeting that the parent was defending the child. The child's problems were the school's fault. Students today are apathetic, self centered, lacking common behavioral skills, and not performing to standards. Simply put, schools are being held accountable, and not the parents or students.

Teachers are put in a no win situation. The more referrals they send to an administrator, the more it appears the teacher does not have control so why write them up? Administrators will appease the parents of any problem, right or wrong. It is as if the public education system is afraid; afraid to stand up for its students,

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