what is the state of education today.

[egrant3]

kids don't value education.

[mperez7372]

I thinks it be great!

[Phx0808]

The state of education? Hmmm....
Kids have not valued education since the dawn of time. It is only when we are older, we realize just how valuable our education was. Adulthood is when the real education begins.

No wonder the U.S.A. is falling behind:

1. Spelling doesn't matter. ( I received a note from my son's teacher and OMG! 12 words, she misspelled 5 of them.)
(She also stated at the first conference she doesn't give spelling tests. I can't imagine why.) 
2. Grammar doesn't matter. (It's time to eat Grandma. = It's time to eat, Grandma.)
3. In the today's math, it's okay if 1+1 = 3. ( I still haven't figured this one out.)
4. w is a vowel.

I think if the kids don't value education, it is because the adults in their life don't value education.
We do need to hold teachers responsible, but it can't be solely on the student's performance. A system which measures teacher's performance including the student's success can easily be put into place. Teachers who have our children 6-8 hours a day need to be held responsible.

[vickysue]

Don't blame it all on the teachers, the students would rather be texting all day. If the kids would study it might help. I know there are a lot of great students out there. But the rest who are just killing time until they get through school hurts all the rest who are trying. I can't tell how many time my hubby comes home beacuse some of the students will tell him that they don't want to do something when he ask them if they are going to do there schoolwork. They just shrug it off and go on even when they know they will be in campus suspions.   So like said don't always blame the teachers. Oh yeah and there is nothing the teachers can do with them.

[mjoseph1]

one word terrible 

[kapeh12]

I think the state of education is yet another reflection of the general attitude of our society.  We used to be a country where people lived by the motto that  people rise to the level of expectations.  Then some geniuses got into the mindset that we need to lower expectations so everybody can "feel good".

Over time, this attitude of lowering expectations has created a culture of laziness and unaccountability.

There are those individuals who still believe in the "rise to the level" principle, but it's getting ever harder to implement due to all the government rules to the contrary.

In education, students get lazy because either there are no consequences for not putting forth effort, are not being adequately challenged to keep their interest, or their teachers have given up after being beaten down by a system that doesn't let them "teach" anymore.

When I took physics in high school back in the late 80's, the book was out dated, but the science was sound.  A decade after I graduated I saw the "new and improved" physics books where the lesson to learn about force called "torque" was that it rhymed with fork...no kidding.  That was it - no equations, no science - just how to pronounce the word?!?  How is a teacher supposed to "teach" when they are limited to using such substandard teaching tools.  And when you try to actually teach something, you are reprimanded because if you demand students learn "too difficult" a concept, they may develop negative "self-image issues".

I've seen this same attitude in the work place these days.  I'm always marveled how my work is constantly marked as being an "over-achiever" when as far as I can see I'm simply doing my job.  Meaning people who don't finish their assignments on time (or at all) are now considered "average".  I even had a manager tell me I shouldn't expect the people who worked under me to work at my level (which is simply doing my job).  I couldn't believe that!

Maybe we need to collectively start demanding people in society take responsibility for their actions and expect more of people again.  Humans desire challenge and need something to strive for to keep interested and moving forward.  I feel we've lost that somewhere along the way, where other countries still expect that of their younger generations which is why "we" keep falling behind and "they" keep outshining us.

[southernhorizons]

Kapeh12, you explained it really well! This is one of the problems with our whole society, not just education.

[Phx0808]

Don't blame it all on the teachers, the students would rather be texting all day. If the kids would study it might help. I know there are a lot of great students out there. But the rest who are just killing time until they get through school hurts all the rest who are trying. I can't tell how many time my hubby comes home beacuse some of the students will tell him that they don't want to do something when he ask them if they are going to do there schoolwork. They just shrug it off and go on even when they know they will be in campus suspions.   So like said don't always blame the teachers. Oh yeah and there is nothing the teachers can do with them.

You are absolutely right. You can put out the best TV signal in the world, but if people have lousy antennas, it will do no good. That is a problem that needs to be addressed also. Students play an EQUALLY important role in the education racket.

[Phx0808]

I think the state of education is yet another reflection of the general attitude of our society.  We used to be a country where people lived by the motto that  people rise to the level of expectations.  Then some geniuses got into the mindset that we need to lower expectations so everybody can "feel good".

Over time, this attitude of lowering expectations has created a culture of laziness and unaccountability.

There are those individuals who still believe in the "rise to the level" principle, but it's getting ever harder to implement due to all the government rules to the contrary.

In education, students get lazy because either there are no consequences for not putting forth effort, are not being adequately challenged to keep their interest, or their teachers have given up after being beaten down by a system that doesn't let them "teach" anymore.

When I took physics in high school back in the late 80's, the book was out dated, but the science was sound.  A decade after I graduated I saw the "new and improved" physics books where the lesson to learn about force called "torque" was that it rhymed with fork...no kidding.  That was it - no equations, no science - just how to pronounce the word?!?  How is a teacher supposed to "teach" when they are limited to using such substandard teaching tools.  And when you try to actually teach something, you are reprimanded because if you demand students learn "too difficult" a concept, they may develop negative "self-image issues".

I've seen this same attitude in the work place these days.  I'm always marveled how my work is constantly marked as being an "over-achiever" when as far as I can see I'm simply doing my job.  Meaning people who don't finish their assignments on time (or at all) are now considered "average".  I even had a manager tell me I shouldn't expect the people who worked under me to work at my level (which is simply doing my job).  I couldn't believe that!

Maybe we need to collectively start demanding people in society take responsibility for their actions and expect more of people again.  Humans desire challenge and need something to strive for to keep interested and moving forward.  I feel we've lost that somewhere along the way, where other countries still expect that of their younger generations which is why "we" keep falling behind and "they" keep outshining us.

Kapeh12, you explained it really well! This is one of the problems with our whole society, not just education.

Agreed! It was a great explanation. I call it the dumbing down of America.

[6265AT99]

kids don't value education.

Hey, maybe that's a good thing!!  After all, the only thing they teach them these days is PROPAGANDA!!!!  These kids don't even learn AMERICAN HISTORY the way we did.  The teachers are so busy teaching how to be "diversified" and "tolerant" it makes me cringe!!!!!!!!!!

[ajann1983]

not sure what it is today. Sometimes it seems that schools are more worried about passing the standardized test than actually getting the students excited about learning. But it not all about the teachers. Parents need to be more involved. It's more than just sending your child to school and hoping for the best.

[constance312003]

I think the state of education is yet another reflection of the general attitude of our society.  We used to be a country where people lived by the motto that  people rise to the level of expectations.  Then some geniuses got into the mindset that we need to lower expectations so everybody can "feel good".

Over time, this attitude of lowering expectations has created a culture of laziness and unaccountability.

There are those individuals who still believe in the "rise to the level" principle, but it's getting ever harder to implement due to all the government rules to the contrary.

In education, students get lazy because either there are no consequences for not putting forth effort, are not being adequately challenged to keep their interest, or their teachers have given up after being beaten down by a system that doesn't let them "teach" anymore.

When I took physics in high school back in the late 80's, the book was out dated, but the science was sound.  A decade after I graduated I saw the "new and improved" physics books where the lesson to learn about force called "torque" was that it rhymed with fork...no kidding.  That was it - no equations, no science - just how to pronounce the word?!?  How is a teacher supposed to "teach" when they are limited to using such substandard teaching tools.  And when you try to actually teach something, you are reprimanded because if you demand students learn "too difficult" a concept, they may develop negative "self-image issues".

I've seen this same attitude in the work place these days.  I'm always marveled how my work is constantly marked as being an "over-achiever" when as far as I can see I'm simply doing my job.  Meaning people who don't finish their assignments on time (or at all) are now considered "average".  I even had a manager tell me I shouldn't expect the people who worked under me to work at my level (which is simply doing my job).  I couldn't believe that!

Maybe we need to collectively start demanding people in society take responsibility for their actions and expect more of people again.  Humans desire challenge and need something to strive for to keep interested and moving forward.  I feel we've lost that somewhere along the way, where other countries still expect that of their younger generations which is why "we" keep falling behind and "they" keep outshining us.

well said.  I do not have kids but if I did they would be in a Christian School where morals are being taught as well as a work ethic.