Public Education: Does it work?

[Zachalmighty]

Do you think public education works? If it doesn't, who do you lay blame upon?

Let me rephrase: Do they do as they were created to do,

George Washington's goals for public schools were also political and moral. In his first message to Congress, he advocated public schools that would teach students "to value their own rights" and "to distinguish between oppression and the necessary exercise of lawful authority." His farewell address warned that, because public opinion influences policy in a democracy, "it is essential that public opinion should be enlightened" by schools that teach virtue and morality. He wanted to go even further, but his speechwriter (Alexander Hamilton) cut from the farewell address a plea for a national public university that would encourage tolerance of diversity, bringing together students of different backgrounds to show them there is no basis for their "jealousies and prejudices."

[Reality]

Yeah I don't think it does. I blame myself for not having more incentive to try harder in school and I blame the school system who held my hand in every grade.

[Alucard]

More people I know from public schools are doing better than the private school students I know, who are enormously more stupid but have rich parents.

[Joe Redifer]

The answer: Sometimes. Certainly not everyone who attends a public school turns out to be an uneducated moron. But there is no longer a common strive for excellence as seen in the past. From what I hear we no longer teach civics courses in public schools, so student don't get to learn how the government works.

[Paper exe]

George Washington's goals for public schools were also political and moral. In his first message to Congress, he advocated public schools that would teach students "to value their own rights" and "to distinguish between oppression and the necessary exercise of lawful authority." His farewell address warned that, because public opinion influences policy in a democracy, "it is essential that public opinion should be enlightened" by schools that teach virtue and morality. He wanted to go even further, but his speechwriter (Alexander Hamilton) cut from the farewell address a plea for a national public university that would encourage tolerance of diversity, bringing together students of different backgrounds to show them there is no basis for their "jealousies and prejudices."

That is rubbish. Public School excite all over the world. The once made in the us are neither an invintion nor does it have any "special" purpose.

[Soba]

Some schools are good, and some aren't. A lot of it also depends on the individual teachers.

[Daniel4802]

The type of culture that is passed along has a lot to do with it as well. Some faculty members do a better job at instituting a culture of learning than others. Another factor is the involvement and support from the child's parents.

I had public education, and recall that in elementary school, if you failed a subject, you still advanced to the next level. There are many children, because of this, who graduate high school yet possess elementary-level knowledge for those subjects they couldn't master. One of my friends told me he his math skills were that of a 6th grader when he graduated because he kept getting pushed forward thanks to the system. When he entered college, he spent numerous semesters taking remedial courses just to catch up on what he lacked. That has to hurt one's self-esteem knowing they'll likely fail a few times before eventually passing those classes.

[phknrocket1k]

Certain cultures are simply not as pro-education as others.

[Beam]

Originally Posted by Alucard

More people I know from public schools are doing better than the private school students I know, who are enormously more stupid but have rich parents.

you pretty much spoke it the same way i would have. most people i know that went to private schools turned out with more problems than anything and tend to be extremely spoiled.

[spider-prime]

It all matters the kid. Some kids don't care, some do. No matter which school they go to.

I wasn't motivated to do school work till AFTER I was done school, now I wish I actually tried when I first went to high school instead of skipping a lot, I still got good grades, but I could have done better.

Like french class for example, I said fuck it and never went But now, I wish I did learn it more than I know now, cause apparently have I have the education to do high paying government jobs, but they require learning fluent French. DOH!

[eastx]

A kid's attitude towards education (and thus success in school) is largely determined by the parents. If the kid's family doesn't stress education early on and keep doing so throughout high school, there's a much higher chance that the kid will be mentally checked out by high school. I've seen plenty of it.

(And remember I'm a teacher.)

[spider-prime]

school sucks cause the teacher is boring!

[eastx]

Take that back!

[zechin]

Depends on whether the teachers are douche bags. Thankfully i had a teacher in highschool that gave our class life lessons on "the world doesnt give a shit." lolol

[Beam]

^now that was a great teacher!