Going Back to School

Hello?

Yes, I'd like to enroll in the Fulton County Schools After-School "learning program." (finger quotes added in private.)

Yes, we've had a lot of interest. What is your child's name?

Who said anything about children. I'd like to expand my knowledge and I could use the extra cash.

Click.

The Fulton County Schools will soon run a pilot program where they will pay kids to learn. Yes, you heard that right: Pay kids to learn! (read the story here)

Since when did the United States become the land of pay kids to learn. Shoot, I would have stayed in school my whole life.

But I digress. Who is to blame for this?

Defendant: The System. Our education system is broken. It has been for a long time. I do believe for the same reason I did then, that No Child Left Behind, NCLB, was the right legislation at the right time. For years, nothing had been done at the national level to stem the erosion of our education system. The new laws, I believe give students who do want to learn, a better chance to do so, and in a better environment. I also believe it places and unfair burden on the schools to teach kids who maybe, just don't want to learn. More reform is needed, but we're progressing. Higher education is so expensive now, it's no wonder the students at Fulton have to be paid to learn - because in a few short years, they are going to be paying thousands of dollars to be taught by teachers who can't be fired and don't want to teach.

Defendant: The School. At least from my experience, it comes from the top. When the top of the chain doesn't enforce education, it doesn't happen. When parents control the powers that be, the students suffer. I know for a fact that there are some parents in this country who will go to the principal or the teacher and in a matter of speaking, demand a grade be changed. 'Oh, my Sally can't handle a B+.' No mom, it's you. The students of today are faced with increasing pulls on their lives. Homework - which I believe should be reformed. Part-time jobs - which take away from being a kid. Family - the trouble our kids face at home is staggering. The world. They live in a world far different than even the one I grew up in.

Defendant: The Teachers. In my academic career, I was fortunate to have teachers who really did care. I also had teachers who didn't. At the end of the day, I wish I had been pushed harder. Forced to learn more, question more, experience more. But... it's the system. They are underpaid. I also believe that if the powers the be would stay out of the classroom and back their teachers, real learning would take place. I remember an English teacher of mine and a history teacher of mine wanted to team-teach a class that combined literature and history. Verdict: no-go.

Defendant: The Parents. There are two things happening here. One, parents don't have the time to parent anymore. Two parents, two jobs. Parenting just isn't happening anymore. Even worse, when parents try, they are stymied by the world. Two, parents enable their children to be who they are: weak. The world is different and our students need to be pushed, challenged, tried.

Defendant: The Student. At the end of the day, a student needs to push themselves. For once they graduate or drop out of school, they will be on their own. Get your own food. Get your own job. Save your own money. Pay for your health insurance. At this juncture, how can I possibly blame the student when I already laid out the case against everyone above? But I will. The students get what they want, because they know they can, because the have their parents wrapped around their little fingers.

I believe in teaching our students humility, honesty, hard work, and pride.

The system must change or we are dooming ourselves to failure. While not catastrophic, it will be a failure of depressing proportions.