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It is hard to fathom that the United States has dropped from first place to dead last in comparison to seven major countries, when it comes to the public school system. Education in this country was considered foremost in raising adequately trained young adults to become the future work force of the world.

We spend $9800 per student in the lower grade levels and $24,400 per student in the higher grade levels and yet many of the children graduating from their senior year cannot spell, count or put together a comprehensive sentence when speaking. How were they able to even graduate without knowledge of the basic skills? If they are not capable of even mastering 9th grade level English, why are they graduating?

Somewhere in the 1970's, the criteria, programs and testing changed, and apparently not for the better. State run programs and interference has played a major role in the dumbing down of American students. The state governments determine what criteria and tests will be used in the schools and every state has a different criteria.

There has been a reduction in academic guidelines as to what constitutes a passing grade. A guideline for a passing grade pre-1970 stipulated that a score of 75% would get you to the next grade and now it has been lowered to as much as 60% in some states.

Why have the guidelines changed? Is there less information to teach? No, there is more governmental interference. The new program, No Child Left Behind (NCLB), has been a disservice to the children. What is the point of passing a student who does not meet the criteria for passing from one grade level to the next? They are learning the bare minimums to get by in society and that is not the point of attending school.

Children are no different in intelligence capabilities than they were before 1970, so why should we be lowering the standards? Allowing a child to use a calculator in Math class, does not constitute learning and solving problems. Computers are fine as long as they are not being used to write a story or essay where spellcheck is available. How are children supposed to use the written word, spell and have to research a subject if the computer is going to do that for them. They are not having to use their own brain to figure it out.

Dumbing down the students so other ethnic groups can pass tests is not being responsible either. This is an English speaking country and if someone speaking Ebonics or Spanish need assistance, there are special education classes to provide for that.

Also, just because an athlete is helping their team go to a State Championship is no reason for the Principal of a school to change a grade so that athlete can participate. Or a teacher refuse to take the State Tass Test and find out that the teacher failed a test that her students are expected to pass in order to go to the next grade level.

Our schools are failing the children miserably and nothing is being done to correct the problems. Our children are leaving the school system completely unable to read, write, balance a checkbook, count money or fill out an application for a job.

Parents need to again play an active role in PTA and spend more time assisting in their childs education. It should not be left entirely up to the school system to teach our children. We cannot assume they are being taught what is necessary for life and learning skills. According to national standards, a parent should spend a minimum of six hours per week assisting and reviewing a childs homework. At this time, it is less than three hours, if any at all.

Until the standards are again raised and education actually becomes an important part of child rearing, we will continue to see the decline of the American school system.

Learn more about this author, Nanette Piotrowski.
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