by Jen Thorpe

Created on: July 01, 2009

What is the problem with public education? The problem is that there are many, many problems with public education, and all of these problems interact to create a quagmire of disfunction. There are no simple answers here. Focusing on just one piece of this puzzle will not result in a clear picture of the perfect classroom. There is no "easy fix". In other words, the first problem with public education is the mistaken assumption that there is only one problem to be dealt with.

I am a teacher. So far in my career I have taught students of all ages, from Kindergarteners to High School Seniors. I have been a teacher in two different states. I have taught lessons in two different languages. I have worked with just about every kind of student one can put a label on. I believe my experiences give me a unique perspective into the problems with public education.

One problem with public education is the value and emphasis placed on the results of standardized testing. Many schools get their funding based on how well their students do on whatever standardized test is required by their state. Do really well, and you not only get to keep the funding you got from the government last year to help your school improve, but, you might even be eligible to get additional funds for the next school year. Do very poorly, and you risk having your school's funding decreased for the next school year, and the possibility of having your "failing" school closed entirely.

The result is that the public schools whose students, for a variety of reasons, perform miserably on the standardized tests will be the students who will have the least money coming into their school. These students will experience more crowded classrooms, to accommodate for the teachers whose jobs were cut out of existence due to budget constraints. These students can expect to be using older textbooks, and may even have to share their textbook with other students, instead of having one of their own to learn from. Computers and other technology used in the classroom will have to wait to be updated until more money can be found. These students will get less help from Paraeducators, Special Education teachers, and Resource rooms because there will be less of those positions existing. How do you think these same students will do on the standardized tests next year? Do badly on the standardized tests for just one school year, and your school falls into a vicious cycle that is difficult, if not impossible,

• 1
• 2
• Next Page >>