Our Failing Education System Who is at Fault

The Education in this country is in bad shape. Other countries score better on test and seem to have a higher value for education. Why is this? I want to know so I did my own little survey on a local level.   I have dealt with school systems in 2 different states, Tennessee and Georgia, in different cities with in each of those states. The question is why is inner city schools have a higher drop out rate, failure rate, and just do not seem to be teaching the kids enough math to give change at the local McDonalds, enough English so they can fill out an application so that it makes sense or even better yet read the application to fill it out. 

Here are some prime examples of what I am talking about. This survey was conducted by Kathy Douglas, Tyler Clay, Joan Clay, and my self over 6 months, 3 summer months and 3 while school was in months. 1 visit a week for a total of 25 visits.

 Scenario 1: High School Students at the Wendy’s on Gallatin Road in East Nashville VS  the High School Students at the Wendy’s on Main Street in Hendersonville, TN. The order Double with no Chesses, 6 Chesses Sticks, A single with Chesses, and a Chicken Club. Gallatin Road got the order wrong 90% of the time, the food was also cold, and the drink order was wrong 65% of the time. The employs were not friendly, they were not rude, but did act like they were doing you a favor. Main Street got the order right 98% of the time, and served it with a smile and a thank you, the food was all ways hot and the drink order was correct 100% of the time.  I know what you are thinking this has nothing to do with education just poor work ethic. I beg to differ, and here is why; for some reason a hamburger has chesses on it so if you order one with out chesses they print out a grill ticket, the cooks at Gallatin Road could not read the ticket. The 6 Chesses sticks were wrong 75% of the time, the count was off by, 1 we either got 7 or 5 this is math folks, simple counting. That my friend has to do with education, these kids in Nashville are not getting the basics.

 Scenario 2: Cashiers at the HG Hills on Gallatin Road in East Nashville VS The Cashiers at HG Hills Main Street, Hendersonville. The purchase Bunny Bread, 6 pack of HG Hill brand coke, 1 pound of ground beef, and 1 pound of coffee. The total with tax was $15.82 cents. The cashier was given a $20.00, once she entered the $20.00 as Amount Tendered we came up with .02 to give her, the results:

Nashville cashier got the change wrong 65% of the time, Hendersonville got the change right 100% of the time. The Nashville Cashiers could not calculate in their heads what difference the .02 cents made. This may be why a National Test put Tennessee schools near the bottom when it comes to Math Proficieny.

 I am have more cases like the time while in Newnan a mother bought her soon in to apply for a job. He had on short pants, sandals, and a base ball hat. I ask if he had transportation and his mother said yes I just bought him today to help he fill out the application, he can not read to well.

 The Numbers for the State of Tennessee

• 28,000 Dropped out of High School in 2008
• Approximately 1.2 Million adults over 18 have no High School Diploma
• 67% of Hope Scholarship recipients fall to keep it for 4 years
• 4^th Graders ranked 44^th in Math
• 8^th Graders ranked 37^th in Math
• 8^th Graders have a Non-Proficient rate of 77% in Math and 75% in Reading
• In spending the average in Tennessee is $8,022 Per Pupil, The National Per Pupil Rate is $9,963, with the Southeast Region at $8,969
• Teacher Salary average 33^rd, with Starting pay ranked at 22^nd
• Students per teacher average is 15.5

Now the break down between the 2 counties Davidson vs. Sumner

• Sumner County Per Pupil Rate $6313, with a 2% High School drop out rate in 2005
• Davidson County Per Pupil Rate 8,188, with a 6% High School drop out rate in 2005

 Bill Frist has addressed this issue just this week.

What do the numbers tell us? More money for education; education is about the only thing I would agree on for higher taxes. However that does not seem to be an issue in Sumner County as they are spending less than Davidson County with a lower drop out rate. Maybe it is the teachers they need more money after all we are ranked 33^rd in teacher salary. I agree the teachers need more money, but so does everyone else. I have several Facebook friends who are teachers, 1 daughter that is a teacher, 2 daughters in school to become teachers, a sister-n-law that is a teacher and an x mother-n-law that is a teacher.  Teachers are like Fireman and Police Officers It takes a special breed of person to be in one of these professions. Teachers have more passion for what they do than most people have about there job. Sure some are not that good but in every group you have some bad apples. Well if it is not the teachers it must be the kids, the kids in inner city schools just can not learn as well as those in other schools. There is no scientific study that will back that up, sure some kids have a learning disability, but guess what you have special teachers for them, I know one and she has the biggest heart and loves to help. Who is at blame here, we got to blame someone? The PARENTS are to blame that is right you and I.  In order for a teacher to teach she must have the undivided attention of the class, if you have students who have no respect for authority it becomes difficult. The biggest distraction to a student is other students. Where did the children learn such disrespect? A child imitates there parent/parents; no if ands or buts. Single parents get off the kick that coming from a broken home is an excuse, it is not. My parents were divorced, and now I am I single parent, sure it is hard but there is now reason why you can not teach your child manners, self respect, self control, and discipline. You should want more for your child than you had. 

Here are some thoughts on how to get parents more involved in the lives and education of there children.

• If your child skips school with so many unexcused absents, the parent is fined so much per day after the limit of days has been meet.
• If your child (Under the age of 18) is picked up for skipping school the parent will be fined for everyday, can not pay the fine and/or jail time
• Your child breaks the law, The parent does the time with the child.
• Your child is disruptive in class the parent pays a fine and/or jail time

With all theses fines the school system could generate more money. But I think if we impose these new laws it would not take long for things to change.

 The Religious Side

I also am a firm believer that we should have never taken God out of schools, If you do not like to pray do not pray, if you want to pray to false god go ahead, But let those who believe in the True God pray at the beginning of the day, maybe once the other kids see this and see that theses kids have something they do not God will intervene. What is wrong with saying the Pledge of Allegiance, if you take God out you have one nation under. I have heard some people say that this is anti-god, because you are pledging your allegiance to someone other that God. That is bull crap.  What does the bible say about the bringing up of children? Let us pull from the Book of Proverbs these teachings about the subject.

New King James Version

•  He who spares his rod hates his son, But he who loves him disciplines him promptly.
  Proverbs 13:23-25
• Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it.
  Proverbs 22:5-7
• Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child; The rod of correction will drive it far from him.
  Proverbs 22:14-16
• Do not withhold correction from a child, For if you beat him with a rod, he will not die.
  Proverbs 23:12-14
• You shall beat him with a rod, And deliver his soul from hell.
  Proverbs 23:13-15
• The rod and rebuke give wisdom, But a child left to himself brings shame to his mother.
  Proverbs 29:14-16

 Let us take responsibility for our children; after all they are the future of this world.

All I really Want is to go 2 miles up the road and order a double with no cheesse and it be correct!

Referances:

Bible Verses from http://www.biblegateway.com/

Teachers Salaries and rankings from http://teacherportal.com/

Sumner and Davidson Stats from:

 http://www.education.com/schoolfinder/us/tennessee/district/sumner-county-school-district/

http://www.education.com/schoolfinder/us/tennessee/district/nashville-davidson-county-school-district/

All other Stats from:

http://www.timesfreepress.com/home/

http://www.wkrn.com/