Things wrong with modern public schools

Wednesday, 13 May 2009

There are many things wrong with public schools, from drugs and gang acts to the way teachers tell tell the students what they want them to hear, or what they are commanded to say to them and then the students take their word on it, even with claims that in real life are very complicated debates worth looking into.

Lets look into a list of what needs to change about modern public schools.

Educational freedom potentially stolen.

Children in public schools do not have the ability to use the flexibility that they should.

First, they can't study things how they want to, or which way makes it the easiest, but whatever the teacher plans for them. The teacher doesn't give each of them a list of ways they can do their studying and let each individual have their own choice, but, instead she picks out what she wants them to do at which subject at which time. The student knows best what's easiest and most enjoyable for him, so a very important thing for a teacher to do is to give him more freedom. That's better for a student's education and makes school more enjoyable. Off course, in order for students to have more freedom in this matter, they need more available ways to study. One thing teachers don't normally use that they should, is the Internet. It sounds silly at first, but it makes it easier for students to concentrate on what they're studying and the Internet also provides more freedom itself. If one website is hard on the child, he can go to another that talks about the same thing.

Second, the teachers don't have much flexibility in subjects they study. Students in public school normally don't get to study what subject they want, when they want. No, the teacher doesn't give them a website where they can type in a subject and then their name in a search engine and see if the subject's available for them, in their case. No, the teacher usually gives them whatever she is ordered to give them at the time. It's better to have more flexibility, because it's easier for the child to learn something he's interested in, and it's better for your concentration and understanding, because he can exercise it more. Although the teacher should sometimes tell them what subject to study at the time, if there is a subject that the students avoid, students should have more freedom than they do in public schools.

The bullies are taking over the many of the schools.

Public schools seriously lack security. There are more and more reports of bullying on students. The amount of fights over pier pressure, jealousy, revenge over accidents, insults and other foolish things are seemingly increasing every year. And some of teachers have been caught on camera using serious physical pain as a punishment. We don't have time to deal with this nonsense! No child should have to pay physically to get an education, which is a parent's responsibility. It's also harder for a child to be educated under pressure by the bullies, both teachers and more powerful students.

Some teachers are sometimes cruel to the students, punishing them for non- punishable acts, for things without warning, for things they are unsure of and even for accidents! Some teachers will scream at their students for joking or laughing. Is this fair? Education should have some humor. In moderation, it shouldn't be much of a distraction. When people go to Church, the pastor normally uses some humor during the service. Does that mean the people forget everything else he said? No. He's just making himself easier to listen to!

Some teachers believe every bad thing they here about a student. Some will punish a student for what's clearly a mere accident. Some will beat their students over a mistake in a basketball court. Some will obviously even frame the students to their parents or, even in court.

Public schools need more security, more careful teachers and better judgment when it comes to student freedom.

Opinion control.

Teachers are not respecting their student's opinions. Often, when it comes to beliefs in considerably controversial subjects, the teachers tell their students what they want them to hear, or what society expects them to hear.

What's wrong with that? Lack of responsibility. Teachers should encourage their students not to take their word on things and look at both sides, not take advantage of a student lacking their willingness to have their own opinion or boring someone who wants to look at both sides. Why? For one thing, a teacher can be wrong and a child has a right and a need to avoid being mislead by that, although the students don't always understand that, which they need to. Second, someone who researches both sides will differ more in his studies and may have a healthier conscience and understanding. Although, he can research at home, it would be easier because in class because he would be less bored at that time, and because he would have more time to do it than if he only did it at home.

Lack of reasonable timing.

Students have to do around five hours of school and then go home and do 30 minutes to two hours of homework. What's happening is the school makes it take longer to learn because:

> They're distressed from doing so many hours of boring school that it takes that long to learn.
> They can't learn as quickly because they don't have the flexibility they should have and that they need to for learning to be as easy as it should be.
> For every student, there are some things easier to study alone. In schools, they don't let the child study what he wants where he wants.
> Students often feel pressure because the teacher and more powerful students are cruel to them.

In home schools, students have better ways of learning, more flexibility and all together an easier education, so in most cases, they don't have to take as much time out of there day to do it. While some might say public schools are better than home schools, others might say we either need to take a big leap in an immediate change in our public schools, or pass a homeschooling law that ensures children are home-schooled.

Home or public? The law does not apply much freedom to students.

A public school will accept and teach a student even if they know both, that they want to and could be home-schooled. This is not fair. For one, homeschooling has better flexibility an freedom for a child. Second, a home-schooled child can have more ability to enjoy his day. In all, a home-schooled child has a better chance of a both good and easier education. A parent's duty is to raise a child. Doing what's worse for a child's future and present than another reasonable, available option is a direct opposite of that.

But does this mean this is also a principle's business? Not much, but allowing a child that could and wants to be home-schooled to be forced into public school is pretty much as invading as saying "no" to the parents or to the child. If a school is really being responsible and the staff and teachers are doing what they need to do, all for the student instead of themselves, and they understand that the educational values of homeschooling are above public schooling, they will not take advantage of a student by allowing him to be forced into a public school when homeschooling is available and desired.