Schools and the necessary changes for success

 Today I wanted to continue the discussion on teaching and schools.  I had several people comment (on Facebook and in conversations) their thoughts, agreements and disagreements to the statements about teaching.  I wanted to take the conversation a little further and talk about schools and the systems in general.  Please understand that I will be making statements that are general in nature and obviously do not apply to all, that there are always exceptions and situations that are contrary.  But for the purpose of this discussion I am referring to the general, not the specific and if we want change we CANNOT keep doing what we have been doing and expect different results....that is, in its essence, the definition of insanity.

   So I mentioned yesterday that I believe that no matter where you attend school in the USA that your standards should be the same, the curriculum should be the same, the materials you have access to should be the same, pay and benefits should be the same, etc.  I also mentioned that I believe schools should be a safe haven for all.  

     The reality:  Depending on where you live you may or not have access to the above mentioned.  It is so radically different that a student whose parent serves in the military or who has a job that transfers them, or they move because they bought their first home and it requires that a student change schools will find that the school they move to is nothing like the one they left.  The classes offered will not be the same, the standards for behavior will be different, the standards for achievement will be different, the expectations for moving from grade level to grade level will be different, the requirements for graduation will be different and on and on.  This is a huge part of why the American educational system struggles and is failing.  

     There is no accountability for students and parents in their education and achievement.  Students do not come to school or are late on a regular basis (for all different reasons).  When they are present they are on their phones, sleeping, socializing or engaged in some sort of off task behavior.  Failing schools find a lot of the same behaviors and attitudes toward education in general and parents and students look to blame the system.  I agree that some of the issues (as mentioned above) are factors, but the largest factor to a students lack of success starts at home and with the individual student.  

     I have listened to different governmental leaders (from both sides of the isle) say they were going to fix the system.  Raising standards, hold schools accountable, offering choice are all things that have been offered up and done, but....it has not changed a damn thing in moving American students higher.  What it has done is help to drive teachers out of the profession, caused a hyper focus on something that changes nothing (test scores) and move American students further behind.  People like to blame all sorts of things like poverty and covid, but the reality is that if you want the system to work wholistically you have to make AND enforce sweeping change.  The enforcement is a key factor.  You have to put your energy and money into making those changes and holding ALL players accountable.  

     We can no longer teach the way we taught 50 years ago, we can no longer allow students not to show up to school and not perform, we can no longer allow parents and communities to harass and bully the local school when they do not like their child being held to the same standard as all other students, we can no longer place higher value on one students education than all other students, we can no longer allow students and parents to bring violence and drugs into the schools, we can no longer accept things as they have been.  If we want the outcome to be different we can no longer abide by and allow things to be as they are and we have to be consistent in holding to the new standard.  

     If we want successful American schools and students we can have them by making and enforcing a few changes:

1.  All schools across the nation are under the same curriculum and same course offerings for each grade level. That those levels are progressive and a student cannot move forward without meeting the requirement for the previous.

     This means that we no longer have separate school districts.  It does mean that the same course offerings are provided with the same resources (books, computers) as all other schools.  Trim the curriculums to focus on the things that our nation needs (Reading, Writing, Math, Science, Social Science, Technology, Physical Education, CTE)

2.  All standards for achievement and promotion are the same and assessed the same.

       This means that we are using the same standards for assessment and the same tools for assessment.  Students will be given the assessments at the same time of year (regardless of where they live).  No student moves to the next progression without achieving the basic standards of the courses and grade they are in.  Students and families are expected to actively engage in the process.

3.  All students will attend school and parents will be accountable to ensure that they are there and following the expected behavioral and academic standards.

       This means that kids will be in school, on time, and succeeding academically.  It also means that they will follow the behavioral standards that are acceptable in polite society.  This will be enforced through financial and social sanctions on the families who are not in compliance. (harsh maybe, necessary if we want all students to be successful).  If a student struggles, academically or emotionally, the family will be expected to utilize the provided supports offered in the community until their student is successful

4.  Remove from the educational environment all of those things that are not directly academic and shorten the day to include only the necessary academic courses.

       This would included before and after school activities, sports, community services, etc.  Schools need to no longer be looked at as a babysitting and social service provider.  If we want to improve in our academic achievements than that is all we should be focused on.  The schools will be responsible only for providing the academic aspects of education.

5.  At 16 years old all students take an assessment and make a choice to continue to pursue a generalized high school diploma, or be trained in a technological/trade and graduate after their training. 

       This would more directly facilitate moneys into education pathways that would benefit society and the students vs. the current method of a one size fits all.  Which has been failing the nation as a whole and not providing and fulfilling the purpose of the public education system which is to:

           to prepare students for college and the workforce, foster well-rounded individuals, and cultivate responsible, informed citizens who can participate in a democratic society

I know many people will be uncomfortable with these changes, but continuing to do education as we have is pushing American students further and further behind.  We have become our own worst enemy in education and it is time to majorly overhaul the current system and set out streamlined and specific universal processes that will move us back to the leadership position in the world.  

I look forward to your thoughts and comments