School is such a different experience as a teacher than a student. Granted, I never went to school as a kid (which now I kind of regret not having the experience) but my knowledge of elementary school has come from what I now observe as a teacher, and what I read in the Ramona books as a child. It is a MUCH different world now than the one Beverly Cleary wrote about. Poor Ramona would be lost and confused. Teachers no longer have coat closets in their classrooms for student to hide in and tell secrets (probably too many legal issues involved in a small, closed space like that). Nobody packs their lunch to bring to school anymore, so there's no sharing of food. Half the kids eat breakfast at school now. The issues plaguing students aren't which jumprope to use at recess, or that someone accidentally cracked an egg on their head at lunch. Students don't wear pajamas under their clothes anymore because they're pretending to be a firman - they just wear their pajamas to school because no one tells them that's probably not a good idea. Now the issues that kids are concerned with are whether or not they'll live in the same place tomorrow, or whether or not Mom, Dad, or Grandma will feel like getting up to take them to school in the morning. They're upset because they stay at school until 5 o'clock or later because no one can come to pick them up. They have to wonder whether or not they'll even get to see their parents at home that day, because Mom and Dad are working late hours to make minimum wage or slightly better in order to make enough to buy food and whatever else they want. Kids now don't know how to settle disagreements (petty or significant) amongst themselves because they don't get the opportunity to interact with each other in person. TV is their friend, and they spend hours with this favorite friend early in the morning before school watching horror movies. They're not told to brush their teeth or their hair, and some might even have to shower at school (once it gets so bad the teachers notice) because they don't have any water at home.
I see this and wonder why the push in education is to meet lofty standards set by someone hidden far away from seeing all these issues. Why is the push for elitist charter schools - which can only accept a small number of students from the area each year, and will find a "more suitable environment" for students if they don't meet expectations? No wonder these schools are some of the top performing in the nations - their only students in attendance are performing at the top of their class! What happens to all the struggling students, or those with special needs, if charter schools become the norm?
Teachers face these issues and bear the brunt of dealing with the baggage students carry with them from home. Yet there is no time to address these needs and care for the students individually, because our country sees them not individually, but as a large mass - one that is not excelling in education or meeting standards. Students are pushed toward meeting these standards, when their real needs aren't being met. Who is going to teach them to settle their disagreements peacefully, or at all? Who is going to teach them that they have the right to ask questions and find answers? Who is going to teach them to use an encyclopedia or the text features in any nonfiction book to find information for themselves? Who is going to take the time to break down the steps of division and EXPLAIN the process to them - without just saying words like "quotient" and "dividend" that they can't even understand or spell? Who is going to teach them to stand up for themselves and be responsible for their actions instead of blaming others?
Teachers much stop blaming parents and administrators. Parents must stop blaming schools for their failing students. Both parties have a clear responsibility, and both parties must be held accountable. Teachers must be given the time to teacher important skills to children. Parents must teach children important life skills at home with the people these children are dying to spend time with - their families.
These are all things we can agree on.
What we can't seem to agree on is "religion" in schools. But really, is this the best time to fight to push faith out of schools? Why are we afraid of this? Why don't we teach our children to have an open mind and ask questions - to explore their beliefs? It is our duty at home to teach them the truth, but why should it be illegal to hear it at school? Why do different beliefs offend us? Are we afraid of finding out what we feared all along is actually the truth? "Salvation is found in no one else, for their is NO OTHER NAME UNDER HEAVEN given to men by which we MUST BE SAVED." (Acts 4:12 - emphasis mine.)
Think about it.
