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Public schools have not failed us, we have failed public schools. Contrary to popular belief it is not the schools job to baby-sit our children, it's not their job to teach them to be decent human beings and it is not their job to instill morals and values in them. It is simply their job to teach them what they need to know academically to be successful in life.

It frustrates me to hear parents complain about things like teacher to child ratios in the classroom and on the play ground. Do they really think that teachers are never entitled to a break or a lunch hour? Have they thought about donating their time to the school to assist in the class room or joining the school board so they can do something constructive about the problem? Teachers are over worked, over whelmed and underpaid; society in general expects them to cater to each and every child individually and intently to the exclusion of all other children. This is an unrealistic expectation in a public classroom setting which is typically comprised of 22 students and one teacher.

Many parents and non-parents like to blame the school systems for teenager's rotten behavior, lack of respect, increased sexual activity and rampant shows of violence. Teachers and schools do the best they can with the time they have with children to teach them all of the things required academically by the public school system, it is ridiculous to expect them to teach our kids how to behave as well. Parents should be doing that at home.

I find it absurd that so many people get bent out of shape over what kinds of values and morals are being instilled in our children at school. The schools shouldn't be responsible for that. Moral and values should be taught in the home and or church. Conflicts should be discussed and settled in the family not the class room. A schools job is not to cater to each ethnic and religious groups social standards of behavior but to teach a curriculum that has been set down by the US government as being what each child needs to know to move on to higher education. If a family is unhappy with that then maybe they should look into private school or home schooling.

I'm in total respect of the challenges that public schools face today. Trying to please everyone and raise hundreds of children for lazy parents while providing a quality education is an awesome responsibility. Especially when our school systems are grossly under funded. Parents need to take a more active role in their children's education and concentrate more on teaching them values and morals at home rather than expecting the education system to do that for us. Our country is blessed to offer every child an education and we have the right to freedom of religion. As a result when you send your child to public school you send them to a montage of different cultures and beliefs. If this frightens you then look into the alternatives, don't trash the school systems for it.

Learn more about this author, CaCee Walsh.
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