Education and Politics

I am so sick of politicians who come in and think they are going to "fix" education. Most of all, I am sick of people making it politician's jobs, and teacher's jobs to "fix" education. People, everyone, need to become more invested in the local school near where they live. I despise "open enrollment" so parents can just yank their kids and send them somewhere else. I despise vouchers. I despise the fact that instead of fighting for the things "your" kid needs and should get at the local school near where a person lives, they pick up and go to where it isn't any work to get that stuff.

It amazes me, it is interesting what message we are sending to kids. It should be easy to get what you want. If you don't like something, just leave. What about social responsibility? What about teaching children that you have to "fight" for things and work hard for them. It takes time, effort, money, and most of all persistence to succeed and make a difference.

I want Washington to butt out of education. There should be a baseline to quality education, yes so No Child Left Behind is good, but, not every child is going to learn the same way, at the same rate, and the same "things" regardless of how much regulation there is. What happened to America's desire for "individuals"?

Education, public education, is an opportunity to learn what you need to so that you can contribute to society in the most minimal way. Excelling, and even learning depends on the child, the parents, the community, and society. Instead of working to improve "their" school, people go to where there aren't any problems. I think that is unacceptable! There is a reason "states" retained the right to govern education. The federal level is too big and doesn't address the issues.

The local level is where teachers can be held accountable, when parents know them and know what they are doing in the class. When administrators can actually have more time to deal with their school rather than the bureaucrats. I am just sick of it. Leave education alone. Stop changing everything. Provide money for resources, and I mean PHYSICAL resources, books, computers, classrooms, equipments, sports programs... instead of on committees, administrators, textbook companies who make money from creating "testing" materials from the government, schools, and parents. Put that money back in the classroom so students can learn to love learning again.

What were we doing when we were at the "top" of the list. We were tailoring education and allowing students the opportunity to learn what was being taught. The more you "force" someone, the less they are going to continue.

Washington, stop it! Leave education alone... stop having people 1,000s of miles away making decisions for students, teachers, communities they know nothing about! Education and American IS NOT a one size fits all kind of place.