The reality is the demographics are changing. Ask any large school (inner and outer city) teacher and, if it is safe to speak honestly, they will tell you that they deal with "immigrants" with many languages and lots of other "language" problems; English may be the second language or not used at all at home; I know of one teacher who told me that her middle school, with 1500 students, has about 20 languages, some children who are technically "homeless', which is to say from displaced families, and so on. Then there are the single parent families, in which "mom" is attempting to raise a family and work or go to full time school. So guess what? Kids don't learn to read.
Our government is, as usual, blowing smoke. This is a losing battle and everyone will blame the unions, the school districts, etc. The fact of the matter is, the problems start at home where homework and reading fall behind just about everything else. I have seen statistics that indicate the U.S. has a 45% at basic or below literacy rate overall. And that "proficiency" is decreasing!
Even in middle class "stabilized" families, sports and other extra curriculars displace reading.
Charter schools, which are in many cases nothing more than a subsidized and bleached version of parochial schools, won't work unless parents take something at stake. Handing them cash and telling them to spend it on the school of their choice is about as dysfunctional as handing a home to people via no money down loans and telling them they are "homeowners". We see where that got us. Thank you Sen. Frank for "rolling the dice" with the citizens money.
The only advantage to the charter school concept is that, like the parochial schools, the school could technically boot students and parents who aren't interested in learning. Of course that simply marginalizes a growing group of disinterested or disabled students. So how do we deal with them? And who are we going to pay to teach the unteachable? I think people need to be honest and realize that part of the problem in some of the inner city schools it that no one in their right mind wants to teach the unteachable. Its a thankless job which will suck the life out of any teacher.
No one really has an answer that is palatable to the parents, many of whom are children in adult bodies and unequipped for adult hood, parent hood or just about any other hood I can think of and that includes living in the "neighborhood"
Today, with school districts struggling with reduced financing, adding specialized "literacy" teachers or aids is not a viable option. Meanwhile, our congress continues it's emphasis on leaving our borders open and unprotected, and allowing "immigrants" to flood the schools. Believe me, I don't have a problem with immigration. I do have a problem with politicians who create these problems and then turn their backs on the citizens of this country. I also have a problem with politicians who create these problems and then again, turn their backs on the social issues they create and leave it up to the citizens to clean up the mess. Currently, the U.S. government is abrogating much of its responsibility in education and the funding thereof. I am tired of politicians who insist upon "social engineering" and then walk away from the messes they create.
Perhaps it is time to take the "free" out of "free" education and charge for all extra-curricular activities. If this results in kids on the street and the US government wants to get kids to get off the streets, let the Obama Administration and congress put its money where its mouth is and come up with the $billions it will take to do that. If the congress want the borders open, then perhaps they should come up with the additional $billions to fund the schools and other programs necessary to integrate these "immigrants" into our country. Instead of making mandates and simultaneously reducing funding. As far as I am concerned, it's "put up or shut up" time and considering how some of the politicians have been unusually quiet, I assume they decided to "duck and cover".
Click for Article "US Reading Scores Stall"
Click for Average Literacy Scores
A definition of "homeless" as applied by a nearby school district:
"The definition of homelessness is broader than people may think. You or your family are considered "homeless" if you are:
- Living in a shelter, motel, vehicle, or campground;
- Living on the street;
- Living in an abandoned building, trailer, or other inadequate accommodation;
- Doubled up with friends or relatives because you can't find or afford housing;
- Waiting for a foster-care placement."
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