Our Educational System is Failing Our Children!

When I was a child and in school we learned of the basic general courses and also had other courses that would prepare us for the real world once we graduated and were on our own. We may not have liked all of it; but we appreciated the school, its teachers and our superiors. After working in a high school for over the last 5 years I have seen that the schools are more worried about their funding and the No Child Left Behind testing then they are in teaching the children what they need to know for the real world.

Teachers complain of this testing program because it is more work for them and they have to alter their schedules to accommodate the testing. IF testing is coming up then children are taken from regular classes and prepped with many practice test ad more test! Is this fair to our children? Is this fair to the outcome of their future? Schools get the funding but do not apply it to the basics of education. Children need more than reading and math to function, prosper and fulfill their dreams once they have graduated.

When testing begins to affect the child's performance in regular educational classes that are needed to graduate then there is a problem. Our school took away the Special Educational "extra work class"/extended study hall where they could get most of their help because these kids needed to go and study for reading and math. This in turn made many begin to fail their other classes because they could not get the extra help needed to complete their assignments. Many schools assume that every family has a computer, well many do not. Many children do not have parents that can help them with their classes and they need this extra time to complete their work. But the schools do not care, all they care about is the NCLB Act and getting their funding.

Our school also lost many wonderful teachers due to upper educational staff members and because they did not believe in the way things were being done. Schools, even ours, has found reasons to get rid of staff and teachers to save on fees for themselves. This is not the way to run a school and it is not the way to make fine outstanding citizens. Parents need to speak up when they can and if there are problems with the way things are being done then talk to the principle or school board, do not let it go unattended or it will only accelerate.

Parents also need to make sure they talk to their kids about events at school, homework, papers due, extra classes their children are in, who is helping them the most and what classes are beneficial to them. Allowing children to participate in school events when they are failing is not right either, as they are being taken out of too many classes all ready or schedules being completely rerouted, let alone missing days when they are failing and need to be there. Parents need to take responsibility as well and not think it is all the schools responsibility. Relying on the school to "take care of your children" is not the best thing to do, they are only worried about funding and tests that will benefit them, not the kids. Yes, this extra testing is good but when it comes to neglect in other areas it is not.

I feel that the schools need to be supported and funded for their contributions to their future community, their students and safety first...not some test that not all kids are capable of doing in the first place and some kids, even myself, are not good test takers they do better on daily work and one on one when possible. So it should not come down to a couple of test if schools get their funding and schools should not be forced to alter the rights of a true education for children because of these test.

So parents be sure to communicate with your kids and stay updated on how many schools are losing funding because of this testing and make sure that your child is getting the proper education he or she deserves and not being pushed into some room for testing that is taking their other class time. Be responsive and help your children be responsible as well. They will benefit so much better for it because the schools can not be held accountable any longer.