[Luvvarkansas]

Originally Posted by Robert_J

The same basic things are taught in all of the schools. It's up to the students (and their parents) if the teaching has an impact on them.

I graduated back in '87 from one of the lowest performing high schools (Dermott) in the state. I was a regular on the dean's list in college and went on to get my MBA. That has led me to a successful career in information technolgy. Some of my other successful classmates are CPA's, teachers and even a newscaster in Orlando, FL. I also have some classmates who are still serving time in prison for drugs and even murder. We all sat in the same classes and were taught the same things. The successful ones took advantage of the opportunities given to them.

-Robert

I agree. It's not the school's responsibility to make sure the kids study and apply themselves, it's the parents'. It's also the parents' responsibility to set a good example of personal responsibility and hard work for their children. The breakdown of the family is the main reason education is having such problems, not the educational system itself. Just another case of people not taking personal responsibility for their actions and blaming some institution.

And to top it all off, some people are just plain old stupid, and no amount of money thrown at the educational system is going to fix that. Let the ones who can't or won't learn get out of the way and make more room for those who do. Somebody's got to dig ditches and pick up garbage, right? Where would we be if there were no one to do those sorts of things?

[Stormcrow73]

Originally Posted by Luvvarkansas

I agree. It's not the school's responsibility to make sure the kids study and apply themselves, it's the parents'. It's also the parents' responsibility to set a good example of personal responsibility and hard work for their children. The breakdown of the family is the main reason education is having such problems, not the educational system itself. Just another case of people not taking personal responsibility for their actions and blaming some institution.

And to top it all off, some people are just plain old stupid, and no amount of money thrown at the educational system is going to fix that. Let the ones who can't or won't learn get out of the way and make more room for those who do. Somebody's got to dig ditches and pick up garbage, right? Where would we be if there were no one to do those sorts of things?

While I do agree it's the child and parents' responsibility to see to it the education system in place is utilized to it's greatest extent, it's also the responsibility of our leadership to see to it that our schools provide adequate opportunities for education on par with other states so our children with the acumen, desire, and capability can succeed to their full potential. That I think is the real problem with schools in Arkansas (and quite a few other states as well.) We have leadership at both local and state level misplacing their priorities and thus misdirecting funds. Sports are important...but not at the expense of books and adequate facilities. That really is a problem. We have many sharp students in rural schools who could make all manner of things of themselves. I've seen that firsthand. But because they don't have ANY access to advanced placement courses or even adequate materials to learn the general curriculum because the basketball team needed to go to the state tournament last year, they aren't adequately prepared for college and wind up dropping out after a couple of semesters. Not because they didn't have the ability, but because they weren't prepared to handle the calculus or some other necessary aspect of their chosen course of study right out of the gate. If your school doesn't offer calculus, and many still don't, you'd be hardpressed to make it in any technical field in college. If your school doesn't have up to date computer facilities, guess you can forget about going into IT because you're going to be so far behind when you hit the university doors you'll never catch up. Some schools can spare plenty of cash for new football helmets and jerseys each year but not a few licenses of a student version of a CAD package, accounting, or scheduling software or even the computers capable of running those. Any of those kids could be engineers, accountants, or business professionals, but almost none will make a living on a sports field. Now that's a disgrace and it truly is letting our children down.

[Luvvarkansas]

Originally Posted by Stormcrow73

We have leadership at both local and state level misplacing their priorities and thus misdirecting funds. Sports are important...but not at the expense of books and adequate facilities. That really is a problem. .

I agree about the misplaced priorities concerning the sports. It's perfectly ridiculous.

[PurpleLove08]

Originally Posted by Luvvarkansas

I agree. It's not the school's responsibility to make sure the kids study and apply themselves, it's the parents'. It's also the parents' responsibility to set a good example of personal responsibility and hard work for their children. The breakdown of the family is the main reason education is having such problems, not the educational system itself. Just another case of people not taking personal responsibility for their actions and blaming some institution.

And to top it all off, some people are just plain old stupid, and no amount of money thrown at the educational system is going to fix that. Let the ones who can't or won't learn get out of the way and make more room for those who do. Somebody's got to dig ditches and pick up garbage, right? Where would we be if there were no one to do those sorts of things?

I wouldn't say that those who dig ditches or pick up garbage are stupid or the ones who couldn't or wouldn't learn. At the end of the day, it's all about if you're happy with your job and believe it or not, there are some ditch diggers and garbage men/women who are happy with their job.
There are some people who teach in the classrooms but can be professors at some nice colleges.

In any case, I recently read Arkansas does pretty poor in educating children who are at or below poverty level. Considering Arkansas has a large percentage of citizens who live at or below the poverty level...let's just say a lot of kids are not receiving an adequate education.

Sure you can give the kids a nice breakfast at school and a nice lunch but some kids are so focused on if they will have a home to go to, if they will or will not be abused when they get home, if they will have dinner tonight, etc,etc that they cannot focus at school. I know some of these issues can be addressed but some cannot.

I agree that parents need to take a more active role in their education and it would be nice if ALL parents cared about their kids education. There are also parents who are just plain ignorant and it's a shame they had kids to begin with since they're doing them SUCH a disservice.

I don't think just because one is financially wealthy they will do well and I'm not saying those who live at or below poverty will do well but I think socioeconomic status plays a huge role in how well students do.

One of my history teachers said that there is SO much the schools are expected to do that it's a wonder they don't just require kids to live at school.

I don't think throwing money at the problem of education in the state is the best idea but an increase in funds can help some schools while in others just expecting more out of the students, increasing morale in students and staff, making more efficient use of the funding that is there, etc. It's surprising how much waste I saw in my own school district. It was a great/is a great school district but there is PLENTY of room for improvement.

We are the taxpayers and writing our legislators, attending school board meetings, taking a more active role in our communities, etc can help.

[Aporkalypse]

I think one of the biggest problems here is that we need consolidation of small, terrible-performing schools into larger ones. That's no an issue as much in Central Ark or NWA but it's a big issue in more rural areas of the state. Schools with graduating classes of less than 50 or even 30 seem to have few kids eventually get 4-year degrees. They just don't have the resources to prepare kids for college.

[mspond1]

I can only speak for the NLR and Conway schools--where I've been a substitute teacher. I'm from Connecticut, supposedly one of the "best" states for schools. The caliber of teachers that I've seen in Arkansas is just as high, if not higher, than the ones I saw in Connecticut. The textbooks are from the same publisher, and they are up to date. Teachers are required to do lesson plans with the benchmark and strand notation on a daily basis. The teachers I've subbed for have been well organized and have maintained discipline in their classes.

I've found the parents to be more "teacher friendly" than in Connecticut, where if you mention any problem at all, most parents will blame the teacher for it rather than think that their son/daughter might have an issue.

All in all, I'd rather teach here. BTW, I put my daughter in a parochial school in Connecticut--didn't want her in a high school of 1,400 with gangs. My son went to the public high school because he needed substantial special education services. He had a 1 to 1 aide, so he had no problems with any gang members.

The special education services here are comparable. One thing I've seen in Arkansas that I didn't see in Connecticut is a gifted and talented program in many school systems. In Connecticut, these kids have to be identified, but no special programming is required. Here they actually do something for these kids...and look at all the scholarship opportunities!

Education in Arkansas has come a very long way in the last 20 years. It will take a little longer to get the test scores where we want them, but the tools are in place.
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[Luvvarkansas]

Originally Posted by LiveTodayLez08

I wouldn't say that those who dig ditches or pick up garbage are stupid or the ones who couldn't or wouldn't learn. At the end of the day, it's all about if you're happy with your job and believe it or not, there are some ditch diggers and garbage men/women who are happy with their job.
.

You know some personally? And they're really smart people?

[RogMar]

Originally Posted by Luvvarkansas

You know some personally? And they're really smart people?

Billy Bob Thornton, from Hot Springs, was laying asphalt for the AR D.O.T. when he decided to explore.

Now.........if ya can get by the "vials of blood" thing with him and Angelina......

OK......OK....that's pushing it..I admit.

[DC at the Ridge]

Originally Posted by Luvvarkansas

You know some personally? And they're really smart people?

Actually, I do.

One I know is exceptionally bright, spends most of his off time reading. He's had some problems with drugs (not meth) and it's made his employment opportunities limited. Some people don't get a lot of breaks in life, and some people make mistakes when they are young that they can't break free of. And some people just like a job where the pressure is minimal, everyday is a physical workout, and they get to be outside a lot. Judging someone based on what they do to pay the bills is a pretty shallow basis.

[RogMar]

[quote=DC at the Ridge; Judging someone based on what they do to pay the bills is a pretty shallow basis.[/quote]


My wife, who is degreed, worked a high profile, very well paying occupation for many years.

When we moved here, after about 3 months, she said she wanted a part time job. I said, "Hey....I don't think you're gonna have a problem. There's this...and this..".

She said she wanted to be "Off the radar" as far as possible, as she put it. She took a job as a cashier at Wal Mart.

After they got over the "What are you doing here?" phase, she found herself happier than she'd ever been at work. She *looks forward* to going to work.

A lot of people have bailed from professional occupations to take up a less complicated lifestyle.

Money ain't everything.