by Marianne Greenwood

Created on: February 19, 2008   Last Updated: September 22, 2010

Twenty years ago, when I was a volunteer at our local high school, I remember coming home one afternoon feeling very confused and bewildered. I felt as if I just left a zoo where the animals were in charge. The saddest part of this is the fact the high school I left was one of the best in the county.

I remember thinking, how can children learn when they have no respect for teachers. Students openly made fun of the teachers and other authorities. Each class period was approximately forty minutes long. The first ten minutes were filled with students strolling into the classroom. The next ten minutes were used for the teacher to get the class in order and take the attendance. Next was a review of the previous days lesson and finally the last ten minutes was dedicated to new material.

This ritual was repeated in almost every classroom. Very few teachers seemed to have good control over their classes. Discipline was unheard of. Any teacher that tried to discipline a student would be accused of abuse.

Even in a high school setting many of the classrooms were set up like play stations. Teachers were told they needed to make learning fun for their students. The very bright were given special treatment and athletes were pampered.

The student body was broken down into different groups. The jocks. The brains. The druggies. The glam girls. The speds and the nerds. Last but not least there was a group that didn't fit in any group. These kids were open season for any of the other groups. Everyone and anyone could pick on them.

Go into any high school today and you will find much the same as twenty years ago. Some of the names of the groups have been changed but basically they are the same. Teachers today still spend more time trying to teach than actually teaching.

Parents send their children off to school everyday thinking they are being given an education that will prepare them for a bright future and a place in a good college. Wake up parents. Spend a day in school with you children. See what really goes on in the school you pay taxes to keep open. Is it any wonder so many families are choosing to home school. Today's schools set students up to drop out. We are fortunate to have as many graduates as we do.

Learn more about this author, Marianne Greenwood.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.