In my classes, even my Pre-AP classes, people do not understand very simple subjects the teachers attempt to teach them. For example, in my Pre-AP Algebra 1 class every student except for about four have trouble with simple expressions (2x+2/y with x=7 and y=9) and that it takes days for them to finally grasp the concept.
Along with not knowing their basics in school, they are also ignorant about common senses. Fights breaking out over misunderstandings are not unusual to see every day. Even without remembering most of the things I was taught last year I was able to pass the final exams because of knowing how to take a test. It really saddens me that they can actually fail these incredibly easy tests.
Copying is a major dilemna in all of my classes. If over half the class did not copy from me in some way their grades would be ranging from the 20's-30's. It agitates me that if they see an answer on my paper then raise their hand and say it that the teacher praises them while the said student says over and over "I'm so smart".
So, to get to the point of the topic: Why do you think public school are crummy?
Of course, not all public schools are as bad as the one I am in, but I'm sure it's the case with many.
I personally think that there are many contributors to their failure. A major one I have noticed is that teachers are afraid of failing students! The district threatens to fire all of them and close down the school if too many of them fail. If you do not fail students, they will get into their head that school is a pushover and they can depend on the teachers being afraid of losing their job and passing them. In my Pre-AP English class, my teacher is offering about three extra credit assignments (About a two-three paragraph essay per assignment) to bring up students with 20's and 30's to a passing grade. If you do not fail students, they will not be motivated to strive to learn more to get that passing grade.
Of course, it is not all the teacher's fault. I actually put most of the blame on parents. The parents of the students do not care if they do well in school. If the parents would actually give a shit about their child's education they would achieve so much more in life. I belive that in most cases, a child growing up in a nurturing family in both love and education would be able to pass at most private schools regardless of their actual intelligence.
Some of the blame also lands on the harder working and smarter students such as myself. It makes me sick that my answers are being used over the entire room, but peer pressure gets the best of me. Sadly enough, many of the friends I have made were because of copying.
A large amount of people might say that public school fails because of lack of funds and they blame individual higher ups that pass laws, but I don't believe that is so. It could be that the staff does not know how to manage money, and those are issues in the school itself, not the public school system.
I'll stop my rant because any more or not a single person will read it on the site.
Edited by jpt, 22 September 2006 - 11:27 AM.


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