The Problem With Education

Teachers are getting quite a bad rap these days. Everybody seems to know that any time children don't do well in school, it is the fault of the teacher, and it is because teachers make too much money, have too much time off, and have little to do when they are at work. I must admit, that even within the ranks of teachers, there is some of that backbiting. High school teachers insist that elementary schools are just places where babysitting takes place, and elementary teachers insist that high school personnel have little to do except to prepare for one class a day, and teach it over and over again. Middle schools? That's just where kids hang out once they've gotten through those lower grades, and aren't ready for high school yet. I have some ideas about education, though. Teachers have long known that while we are important in the education spectrum, the most critical learning takes place at home. I'm not suggesting that parents become educators and follow the curriculum. No. The lessons children need to learn consist of the following: taking school and education seriously. My daughter pointed out to me the other day that the Top 10 students in our local school district, as well as the Top 10 students in a neighboring school district all came from 2-parent homes. In each and every instance, the children's parents were referred to as Him and Her Blankenspot. Every single one of the 20 top students in 2 neighboring districts have parents who are married to each other and live in the same home in which the child resides. I realize that this is an anomoly, and that there are many circumstances that arise in which this is not possible. But what a level of commitment that shows.