Korean Job Discussion Forums

[zappadelta]

I am zappa's gf and I am writing a paper about the issues and concerns of American education system. I didn't grow up in the US and I don't know anything about it. Can you give me some ideas, please?

[Angelus]

Absolootlee nothing. Americans r da smartist peepull in da world. There da bestest.

[Mr Crowley]

I believe one problem is the program, One Child Left Behind. This allows special education children to attend some regular classes ( not special ed classes). I taught briefly in the US before coming to Korea. Another problem I think is the states have too much power in the education system. With this I mean that it should all be implemented by the federal government. I also think the teacher licenses should be federal, not just in each state.

[shortskirt_longjacket]

What's wrong with education in America is that it isn't valued as much as it should be.

American parents are typically more involved with their child's sport of choice (or, in some cases, the parents' choice of sports *for* the child) than they are with their schooling.

More and more, popular culture in America makes smart and eager students out to be nerds. It's really quite tragic, actually.

[Imbroglio]

What's wrong with it is that it is being dominated and run by liberals.

[dogbert]

Minority students threatening and assaulting teachers with impunity.

[RACETRAITOR]

Intelligence isn't valued. Kids who are smart are afraid for their lives. If you compare the education system to Korea's, this country looks like a haven for nerds.

Oh yeah, and Intelligent Design.

[red headed stranger]

[SOOHWA101]

Aha, the million dollar question. There are many problems with the system but the main issue is mainly society��s attitude towards education. The irony is also displacing. In the poorer areas, you simply aren't "cool" if you apply yourself scholastically. In the more prominent neighborhoods, you are a looser if you to not reach max. potential. Inner city public systems are a joke, often plagued with minorities scrapping it out for redistricting. Not to mention the corruption......that��s all together another topic.

The worst part in the South is the Robin Hood program. As the name preludes, the families that fork out the big bucks for their children��s education are being robbed by the inner city politicians that refuse to allocate the funds towards school supplies and decent teacher wages. We are a capitalistic nation, not to be confused with Canada (not that there is anything wrong with Canada).

[SirFink]

Since public schools get the majority of their funding from local taxes, you have wonderful schools in wealthy neighborhoods, and horrible schools in poor neighborhoods. And I'm sure it's not just the higher pay that attracts the better teachers to the good schools. The desire to not be shot by one of your students probably keeps good teachers away from jobs at poor schools. There was a story on the local news last week about a public school teacher here who was on "assault leave" after one of his students attacked him when he told the student to put his CD player away.

As others have pointed out, being smart and educated isn't seen as "cool" in many communities. I remember kids in my high school hiding their tests when they got an "A." You'd ask them "how'd you do?" and they mumble "okay, I guess" while quickly jamming the test into their backpack.

[canuckistan]

[Bulsajo]

Or to put it another way, the NRA lobby should be pressuring the Bush admin to fund a 'no child's gun left behind' program and make sure every high school student receives a firearm in order to ensure a level playing field.

That's an educational program the administration might actually follow through on.

http://www.opinionjournal.com/editorial/feature.html?id=110004698

[canuckistan]

[Bulsajo]

[SOOHWA101]