by K. Russell

Created on: October 16, 2007

As an educator, I am able to state clearly, honestly and completely that schools are NOT preparing our children for the future. I wish it weren't so. I wish I could say that children are learning all the things they need to step out into the adult world and succeed, but I can't.

Schools are run by politicians and administrators who have their own agendas. Teachers are horribly underpaid and over-worked. Children come to public schools today without basic skills, courtesy or self-control.

When I was a child, my mother taught my sister and I our letters and numbers, basic words and math skills and demanded courteous behavior at all times, long before kindergarten. I entered the public school system as an enthusiastic learner and with good behavior skills. I thrived. I got good grades. I made friends. I went on to get a BA in Accounting and a Masters in Education. Now, I work as an education specialist making good money and a positive difference in the lives of the students I work with.

Unfortunately, for the most part, the public school system has deteriorated into a federally institutionalized babysitting service. Are students learning? Some are. Are they learning what they need to know as adults? Somewhat, but not really.

Students are graduating from high school unable to balance their checkbook, fill out a resume, or with the maturity to hold onto a job. Forget higher learning skills in political history, literature and art or economics. It's not that these things can't be taught. In fact, there are countless good teachers working very hard to provide all these skills. But the demands made on students and teachers alike interfere with the transfer of useful skills and knowledge.

Young students come to school with practically no academic skills, no self control and too little parental involvement. Teachers work with these students in overcrowded rooms with curriculum requirements that often have nothing to do with the collection of students in their room. Instead of being allowed to work with smaller groups of children in a program of individualized instruction, teachers are required to document irrelevant data, live off an inadequate salary, and constantly rush everyone through whatever program the administration and politicians deem "the best there is for everyone (this week)."

Older students are forgiven bad grades in exchange for sports achievements and simply for being "too old" for their grade level. The textbooks being used are often outdated and tedious, but someone paid someone to approve the contract bid and that's what teachers are forced to use. Most classrooms don't even have a dictionary, unless the teacher bought one with their own money, as they often do.

The future will arrive whether we are ready or not. Students should be learning real life skills in small classrooms where teachers are legally able to enforce behavior guidelines. Schools cannot be successful if every trouble-maker is catered to at the expense of good students' learning and teachers are treated like underpaid babysitters.

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