Our schools do need reform, but not in the way we are going about it.

[white_wolf]

I've heard a lot about school reform "Race to the top" "No child left behind" and I have to say these suck. As someone who was in 6th grade when Bush got elected, I know how well his "No Child Left Behind" policy worked. It didn't. Teaching students to take standardized tests don't help them learn,or critically think, it merely teaches route memorization. Here are my basic proposals for school reform.

1. We need to raise teachers salaries and benefits so that the people who teach our children get just compensation for their very important work.
2. We need to reduce class room sizes. I've heard some class rooms have as many as 50 students. That is insane, I think classes should be kept to around 15-20 students. Thirty at the most.
3. Stop grading teachers by how well their students do on standardized tests. I personally think we should reform the very way we teach in this country. Instead of having teachers get up in front of the students and lecture at them, which a lot of teachers do simply because it is the only way to ensure students know what to do on the national tests, the teachers should be taught to engage the students and discuss with them. Use the Socratic Method, challenge the students, make them think critically and logically. That will benefit them a lot more than know some obscure dates.
4. All teachers need to be allowed to form Unions.
6. Foreign languages should be taught in Elementary schools, that is the best time to learn new languages. High school and college age make it very difficult to learn.
7. This one I'm not sure about, but I'll throw it out here for discussion. but if Juniors in High School decide they really don't want to go to college maybe we should have special classes designed to teach them skills, the equivalent of an Associates Degree, perhaps? The only reason I'm not sure about this is I don't want schools turned into training grounds for corporations.
8. Teach Civics.
9. Have I mentioned the Socratic Method? I have, good.

[baldguy]

1. For #7: America used to have trade schools to do just that.

When we had a manufacturing base.

[MichiganVote]

2. Now you have for profit colleges and student loans are ballooning.

[white_wolf]

3. On that topic, enjoy:

http://www.cracked.com/article_18660_why-you-should-beware-schools-from-late-night-tv-ads.html