The "problems" with our educational system

[KevinTheOmnivore]

I wanted to start up a thread here about this in light of what just happened to me at work.

Critics of our current public education system, primarily conservative Republicans, argue that funding isn't the issue in public education. The problem, they cite, is that there aren't enough "standards"set-- for both the children and the teachers.

I work at a school district in Texas. This district in particular, much like the rest of Texas, has VERY high testing standards for elementary aged children. It also sets very strict standards for its teachers and faculty. However, at least through my work experience, I have been given the opportunity to see first hand what these "standards"really do. For the teachers, they hold "learning walks," observations, etc. The criteria set inolves the amount of stuff a teacher has up on their walls, how pretty it looks, student ar work, etc. So, the teacher I assist had her observation today. She had me help her make her room look like it's "supposed" to for her observation/walk through. These "standards"are faux, and don't necessarily reflect ANYTHING about the quality of education in my teacher's class. But teachers are kept constantly neurotic, in a state of alarm, worrying more about the crap on their walls then the overall learning environment in their class.

The other issue is the testing. Kids in this state are CONSTANTLY testing. What children are required to know in Kindergarten and first grade TODAY is well beyond what any of us were expected to know. These are more "standards" that somehow make our educational system more substantive and efficient. Yet, these kids all take these demanding tests, and yet statistically, a majority of the children who go to junior high in this district can't read at a 6th grade reading level. A LARGE amount of these kids never even graduate. With all of these standars and testing, how is that possible...? Well, it's simple. Teachers teach to the test. You teach what the tests ask of you, you solve reading and math questions that reflect those on the exams, and you essentially teach kids how to pass one test, rather than teaching children how to learn in a broader sense. These are "standards".

Now, I'm not against setting high standards and expectations for children. I like seeing the bar set high for kids, and I personally try to do it every day with the children I work with. However, setting standards that don't mean anything only hurts the kids in my opinion.

So anyway, since everyone seems to think we have problems in our system, usually for different reasons, then I'd like to know what we can do to improve the status of the system. Anyone like OAO who says something ridiculous like "the public system has failed, abandon it"will be from here on out ignored. I want mature, reasonable people to TRY responding. I think it was Blanco who once said he dislikes anybody who has a quick and easy, one fit solution for education. I think I'm inclined to agree with that.

So what can fix it? What are the problems? I personally don't feel that the solution is Edison schools, or vouchers, or complete abandonment of the public system. I'm certainly not opposed to experimentation, but I feel some people, who are more so infused and drunk with ideology rather than real concern for the young, would like to see the system become more nationalized or even more so privatized. I have come to believe that fixing a leaky faucet by ripping up all of the pipes may not be a wise or effective measure.