What is happening in our public schools?

Like so many Americans I was excited when Obama won the election. Not just because of its historic importance and closing the door on the Bush regime, but I genuinely thought that a new period of optimism and energy was beckoning. I am not an infant, or worse, a twenty-something. I did not delude myself that a black president was any less of a political animal than the white presidents who preceded him. However I was hopeful that Americans would see this event as a means to truly engage in the political and social process that was so lacking for the previous eight years.

In particular I was very much hoping to see President Obama and Education Secretary Duncan put forth philosophy of education, not simply policy changes, that could begin to address the numerous ills that plague our public schools. This first post will be devoted to listing some of these problems based solely on my observations as a public school teacher. I have conducted no academic research into my observations. I base them them on my hands-on experience as a teacher in a New York City high school that has its fair share of crime, gang violence, depleted resources, and political in-fighting among teachers, administration, unions, and parent coordinators. Lost in this mix are the majority of students who really want to excel at school but often wonder what is the point.

So in no particular order here are some issues that never get discussed because they might make a lot of people uncomfortable.

1. Most of your more experienced teachers do not care about teaching or students. By the time many teachers hit the 15 to 17 year mark they are burned out. What youthful enthusiasm and dedication they might have possessed when they started teaching has long since turned to cynicism towards the students, the parents, the curriculum, and the politics that are tied to all things education.

2. Too many parents do not care about their children's education. Yes I said it. Too many parents just do not care if their children are well educated. I didn't say most parents. That would be stretching it. But a large percentage of families do not see the point in school. I know that every elected official, special interest group, and people whose livelihood depends on promulgating the myth that family involvement is the key to successful schools become apoplectic when this is said, but many of these parents failed at school and are indifferent or even bitter towards the public educational system. This apathy is passed on to many of their kids and becomes institutionalized.

3. Elected officials really do not care about public education. Every election cycle our elected officials visit schools, attend PTA meetings, seek Union endorsements, and make lavish promises about how, if elected or re-elected, they will transform our public school into safe havens for our children and create environments that will foster growth and learning. Please. Our city, state, and federal governments have had well over 100 years to improve our public schools. If they wanted to do it they would and could. They do not. I didn't say could not. That would imply that there were and are forces beyond their control. I mean just what I wrote. They do not want to improve or fix our public schools. Lets face it. Our schools should be palaces devoted to learning, creativity, diversity of thought and action, and inclusion of technology and philosophies that prepare our children to actually evolve into more thoughtful, kinder, more generous, and more productive citizens than previous generations. If our elected officials, communities, unions, and anyone else really wanted this to happen it would. When the Wilpons and Steinbrenners needed hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars to build new baseball stadiums they got it. If there ever is really a will to transform our schools....well lets just say that I'm not holding my breath.

And to complete this bitch fest...

4. Public schools are designed to fail. New York City has over 1,000,000 million students attending public schools. With the exception of certain schools located in affluent sections of the 5 boroughs, the majority of schools are there to warehouse the students for six or seven hours while the parents work. Most teachers know this but can't say it because their jobs would be on the line. Politicians and Principles quote ridiculously phony test scores and improved grade averages as proof that our schools are changing for the better (parents, if you only knew how easy it is to manipulate test scores and grade averages you would never again trust their validity). No Child Left Behind bribes schools into reporting improved test scores as a means of receiving federal funding. Does anyone really believe that scoring a 65 on a Regents exam that has been so modified that an intelligent sixth grader could probably score an 85 equates to academic and professional success??

I have given a thumbnail sketch of some of the problems that I see in the public schools as a professional teacher. I have not elaborated on any of them. That will come later. I welcome any and all comments as I believe that this issue (public education) is at the crux of what kind of society and future we will leave our kids.

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