Stupid In America

Once in a blue moon, the mainstream media gets something right. Case in point-- the ABC 20/20 program entitled, "Stupid in America: How We Cheat Our Kids" delivered an honest and rather frank discussion on the reality of Public Schools in America. I'm indebted to Brad and Carrie Mills (Happy Mills) for pointing me to the program. Teacher's Unions, liberal-based education, and low standards have sucked the very life out of the majority of Public Schools. I found this out the hard way as an education major at Ball State University. It was a known fact amongst the faculty, there, that Public School kids scored decidedly lower than Private and Home-schooled children. While there, I became extremely dissatisfied with the status quo approach to public school education. This has always been the "elephant in the room" reality for them. How do they defend against this fact? "Not enough money...not enough political influence...not enough resources..." Yet study after study have disproven these assertions. What is the solution?

Teacher-Student Relationship. A telling moment in the program had one kid stating: "Teachers just don't care." Though this is certainly not the case with every teacher, there is more to that "simple" statement than meets the eye. Traditionally, the relationship between the teacher and pupil was more intimate. In the modern Public School setting, you have one teacher per 20-30 kids. It is physically impossible to attend to the needs of the kids in that kind of setting. Having taught in the Public Schools, I can attest to that fact. Also, many teachers approach their careers in a "what's in it for me" mentality. Though there is nothing wrong with securing your future (in terms of health benefits and salary), this cannot be the primary motive for working with kids. ABC did a great job of pointing these things out.

Teacher's Unions are yet another factor--they have made teachers the main focus, not the kids. They are also extremely liberal and disconnected with most in America. They typically don't share the same values of your typical American. Liberalism has become the creed of the Public Schools, rather than a more well-rounded approach to education.

Low Expectations. You shoot for the dirt and you typically end up with dirt. While substitute teaching in the Louisville area, I was horrified as I watched kids cussing out teachers, sexually harassing fellow students, and refusing to do their work. What was the punishment for such behavior? A trip to the office, a pat on the back, and back to the classroom they go! What was their justification for allowing such behavior? "We need to deal with these kids where they are!" Which, of course, is in the dirt. Dust we came and to dust we shall go!

Bravo to ABC for giving an honest and balanced look inside America's Public Schools!