What our public schools need

Taking off on an idea in a previous topic, I thought I would muse some on things our public schools system needs more off and less of. Here are my first few thoughts. Feel free to join in.

###

NEEDS MORE

Parents who prepare their kids for school. When I compare test scores -- reading in particular -- for particular schools or districts, I get the feeling the scores correlate pretty well with the number of books in a home.

Teachers who really like kids.

Opportunities for kids to grow according to their skills and talents, not on a fixed schedule that meets someone else's convenience. Some kids are supergood at reading but so-so at math. They shouldn't be held back in reading so someone else can catch up to them. Or the math talent should not be held back because he/she is the only kid in the grade who has an exceptional understanding of the subject.

More equipment so kids can truly explore knowledge.

A greater ability to leave the textbook and teach kids more about the world around them.

Giving kids exposure to the different career and life possibilities that are out there in the big, wide world. If a child grows up not knowing that microbiologists, investment bankers and bridge engineers exist, how can he or she consider that as an interest to follow?

NEED LESS OF

Sports. I can't stand the emphasis on sports in our schools. Look at the yearbook. How many photographs of athletes vs. kids who are skilled in the arts or academics? Yes, life has winners or losers, but they're not all on the ballfield or on the basketball court. In fact, the most important winners aren't there.

Bureaucracy. It's a shame that school-level administrative positions are filled as much through the desire to avoid grievance hearings as they are through personal knowledge of who is best to lead a school in a particular neighborhood.

Fundraisers. Don't turn kids into salesmen.

Teachers who are putting in their time until retirement.

###

Having said all this, I do not envy teachers and administrators for their jobs. Teachers and administrators have told me stories about some kids' home lives, and these kids are about as close to a lost cause as you could imagine. The bigger problem, though, is trying to teach kids to excel in an area where excellence is frowned upon, except athletic excellence. I have heard stories of people who don't want their kids to get too much education, because then the kids will move away in search of opportunities. These parents would rather have their kids close by and uneducated.

I thought I would have a better list. Give me a few hours to think about it, and I may post some more ideas. As usual, any other ideas offered in good faith are welcome.