Lately, there’s been a litany of commentary and news articles on education, its status, and what, if anything, can be done to improve one of the most public and important aspects of our society. As a teacher, I welcome the scrutiny, because as a person on the front lines, I agree that there are many problems for which we desperately need solutions. However, before everyone gets into a total frenzy, let me at least comfort you with this: the state of education in Oregon is simply a reflection of our society’s values.
One of the biggest problems people complain about is the drop in state test scores and graduation rates. While the numbers are alarming, the decline can be correlated with a general increase in students that are not fluent in English as well as the number of students that live in, near, or just above the poverty line. Students that aren’t fluent in English are obviously not going to achieve at the same level as their fluent counterparts, and students that have to worry about access to basic necessities such as food, clothing, shelter, and medicine are at a well documented disadvantage in the classroom. The decline of the middle class, as well as the increase in illegal immigration, in other words, has a lot more to do with low test scores and graduation rates than the quality of teachers or the success of administrative programs.
Moreover, look at the shape of our society. Nearly every student has a cell phone. Nearly every home has a high definition television. At the same time, involvement in community organizations is down. People spend less time reading, and more time in front of a computer or television screen. We are by far a more self-indulgent, self centered, alienated society than we ever have been.
On top of all this, responsible parenting has fallen by the wayside. At the school I work at, it is not uncommon for a student to have excused absences for more than 20 or 30 days of the year—and these are the kids with parents who are responsible enough to call the school. It says nothing of the unbelievable number of students who skip class on a daily basis, for whom, apparently, there is no penalty (the school makes automated calls home for every recorded unexcused absence). More amazing is that many of my students say that they don’t make it to class because they can’t wake up in the morning, which always makes me wonder: where are the parents? Ultimately, whether the excuse is that they’re at work, they’re sleeping, or they’re too busy, kids need responsible parents to be successful in school, and for a lot of my students, that is simply not the case.
The fact is, by and large, administrators and teachers are far more educated and well trained than they ever have been. Most teachers in Oregon earn their masters degree in teaching before they ever get inside a classroom, and the few that don’t have to earn it within 5 years. On top of this, every district in the state has regular mandatory professional development programs, and some districts, like Salem-Keizer, have mentor programs that pair experienced educators with new teachers to ensure students receive quality instruction.
While it is convenient to blame schools, teachers, and administrators for the lack of student success, ultimately, we must reconcile ourselves with the fact that our schools are merely a reflection of the direction that our society is headed. We live in a society where the middle class is being destroyed by unemployment, underemployment, and the rising cost of living, especially healthcare. In addition, the plain truth is that we are an increasingly alienated people plagued by self-indulgence, instant gratification, and a tendency to pass the buck rather than accept personal responsibility for our problems. Schools can certainly do better, but if we’re going to turn our schools around, we’re going to have to make drastic changes—not only to our schools, but to the larger society which they serve.
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