A little light at the end of the tunnel. . . .

Yes, that old joke!  The light is the on-coming train. 

When we stop "passing the buck" in education and start really doing the hard work to make things better, then education will improve.  If we are not "passing the buck" then we are throwing money at the problem and we keep asking "why can't Johnny read?"

I see one of the real issues with students is that they are not being held responsible for their own learning.  I know there are some students who have support and good homes that value education.   Although for the most part, that is becoming more and more of a rarity.  The "talk" in the media is continually negative about teachers.  I posted some time ago, that I am so defeated because the media floods the airways and fiber optics with every negative story that can be found on bad teachers.  I tried to find a number for the total people employed as teachers, I checked the US Census. . .one number I found was approximately 7 million.  WOW! 

Yes, there could be some "bad apples" but not all are, for the most part we are concerned and care about our students.  Society needs to stop playing the "blame game."

I think one of the other issues we need to look at (besides student responsibility) is effective use of time and money.  Let's see, where is our money going???  To programs that are purchased and partially implemented?  To technology that is not maintained?  To training that is obsolete when the teachers get it? 

How is our time being used?  I was interrupted in one class 5 times by PA announcements.  It became quite comical, I would begin a sentence, stop, say another word, stop, and finish the sentence when I and the students had forgotten the beginning of it.  It is really imperative that we start managing our schools better.  Going to school is about learning and it should be emphasized as the end goal.  In many schools it is not emphasized. 

What is the atmosphere of your school?  Is it always a "reward day."  It is okay to interrupt the flow of units and education to reward the students for their good behavior?  When do all the parties turn the school into a circus or an amusement park?  Rewards loose their value when given too often and when the rewards are given for little or no effort, or not for academic achievement.  What message are we sending our students?  It's okay that you can't read, your behavior is great!  Is that what we are saying with meaningless rewards?

We need to get serious.  It's time, perhaps too late for some, for everyone (parents, administrators, support staff, community members, and anyone that is complaining about education), that is involved with a school to get in there with kids, roll up your sleeves and do the hard work!   Your child's teacher is already there.