What’s wrong with America’s high schools?
An increasing number of researchers are saying that nearly one out of three public high school students won’t graduate — a realization that has administrators taking a hard look at the problem. “Ten years ago,” says one high school principal, “if we had a problem student, the plan was, ‘OK, let’s figure out how to get rid of this kid.’ Now we have to get them help.”
This kind of shit really gets on my nerves.
What’s wrong with high schools? Oh, I don’t know. It could be that kids are sent to school to be babysat? They are only raised to care about music, cars, and boobs? They spend more time with video games and movies than with reading. They are raised to think that they don’t have to put any effort into success—it’ll just come with that first hit rap CD or movie role. They are raised to think mommy and daddy will always bail them out, so they don’t have to TRY to accomplish anything. They are raised to think school is a joke (i.e. movies, music). They are raised to think they cannot change anything in the world, so even the kids that ARE sensitive to reality don’t put effort in—why bother? In the end, I don’t think there’s that much wrong with our schools. There is something wrong with our culture.
The kids that do succeed—and there are many—do so because they are raised to think independently, to respect themselves, and to respect others. They are raised to think that only they can change their world. They are raised to respect but question authority, not bow down and accept what is told to them. Change that, and education will change. Blame the parents who perpetuate the culture of failure—not the schools.
yay! I saw that article (even tried to read some of it..but was too disgusted) and thought pretty much the same thing. How can you blame the schools and not also point at the parents of these dropouts?