What is happening to the American school education?

2015-10-24T03:03:20-04:00

(quick background on me: retired US Army SFC - new career teaching abroad 9th year now)

I find it disturbing as a teacher when I talked to America Junior High and a High School kids and when they ask questions like; "What kind of drugs do the kids use at their schools", "What are the school gangs like there?", "How many school pregnancies does you get have yearly?" and I have to say back... "if your going to ask questions like that - maybe you should ask first... Does your schools have any drug problems? Are their gangs in your schools? and Are there teen pregnancies issues in your schools?" Its sad to hear these even are issues in school - American schools of all places when we should be the world leader in Education and school management... but reality is another thing...... I could only answer back the truths... No our kids do not use drugs, No gangs at our school - matter of fact I have not seen 1 fight since working here and ZERO teen pregnancy - fact is these kids really don't start relationships like kissing and holding hands until Grade 11... this seems to be true in most schools in Taiwan. What in the hell is going wrong in my country (USA) and why isn't any adults taking charge!!! Why do I love teaching abroad - maybe because the priorities are in order...

I feel the biggest problem is the Liberals are and have been running our schools in America into the ground along with their passive actions in solving issues... its about time America's best former "Warriors" start infiltrating America's school system and start leading the way as teachers and administrative leaders and implement our great practices learnt in the military - trust me the kids love it! One way to start (Hint!) visit "Troops to Teachers" online. Please respond any of YOUR: care, concerns, and/or thoughts.....

Response by Capt Seid Waddell made Oct 24 at 2015 3:30 AM

2015-10-24T03:30:25-04:00

It has been going downhill for decades, but it has deteriorated faster since the liberals came to dominate the system.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Oct 24 at 2015 8:34 AM

2015-10-24T08:34:49-04:00

Many kids are too lazy or ambivalent to care the less they do, the more gates close on them. It is a shame many relegate themselves to low paying jobs considering they had the opportunity to shine in High School.

Response by Maj Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 24 at 2015 12:24 PM

2015-10-24T12:24:49-04:00

Wait, so the liberals are impregnation kids, starting gangs, and giving kids drugs?

Maybe it's that our government as a whole has been taking so much from our education system and paying our teachers crap. When teachers don't care, students don't care. Let's not forget about parents not doing their job.

Liberals and conservatives shouldn't be the punch line to every problem in this country.

Response by SFC Mark Merino made Oct 24 at 2015 1:56 PM

2015-10-24T13:56:36-04:00

The overall quality f education is circling the bowl as well. My dad was taught Latin and Greek and studied philosophy. I learned German and French and studied critical thinking. Kids today are lucky to graduate and when they go to jr college they have to start with classes like remedial math and reading and expect a trophy for every minor accomplishment.

Response by SSG Michael Hartsfield made Oct 24 at 2015 2:36 PM

2015-10-24T14:36:40-04:00

Well first, as an educator, you SHOULD know better than to assign blame to any one group or instance, especially when your assertion is unfounded and misrepresented. Second, as an educator, you (should) know that the reason American education is being decimated is because of our representatives' willingness to underfund or completely do away with funding public education in favor of having it privatized. Lastly, as an educator, I'm surprised that you could whittle the failure of the American Public School System down to one group instead of acknowledging where the responsibility truly lies.
Perhaps you have been away far too long.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 24 at 2015 4:03 PM

2015-10-24T16:03:47-04:00

1. They took prayer out of schools. 2. They take The Pledge of Allegiance out of schools. 3. They burn school books. 4. They stop teaching Civics in school. 5. They stop teaching American History. 6. They start changing Historical Facts. 7. The majority of school age "kids" don't know about the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Faulklands, let alone that that the "stars and bars" was only a battle flag, that the Civil War was about succession, and slavery was the excuse.

Most of these "kids" don't know their home address (exasperated), but ask them their IP address or what came first Atari or Nintendo, whose Steve Jobs, try who's Woodrow Wilson (oops!)

This isn't just a new thing...it's been happening for quite awhile. It's easier to learn how to clean a weapon than clean their room.

Who's responsible for this education or lack of? Who's responsible for for direction of our "kids"? Liberals or conservatives? Democrats or Republicans? Parents, grandparents? Whoever it is, it's been going on for a generation. Who's willing to take responsibility/accountability? SFC Richard Haugh

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made May 14 at 2017 11:09 PM

2017-05-14T23:09:09-04:00

SFC Haugh,
Attached is a Letter to the Editor I submitted, which was published in the Opinion section of the Daily Press on 13MAY2017. This addresses one of the concerns as to why American Students are behind. It starts with funding, which has repercussions when not properly allocated and progresses from there.

Very Respectfully,
CPT Krohn