Comments
Challenges in public schools
By: Lori Harrison-Smith (lorilea) on September 13th, 2010 at 2:26 pm I think one of the biggest things that needs to change is the approach to learning. Teachers are teaching to the middle and the lower- and higher-level students are getting lost in the shuffle. There needs to be engagement at every level. Teachers also need to address the different ways students learn, rather than expecting all children to sit in a seat, quietly, while lessons are taught. Why is it bad if a child doodles during lessons? Why can't kids move around while being taught? Some kids simply can't sit still. Some learn well by listening, others learn better visually. Schools need to rethink the rigidity of today's classroom environments.
Schools are losing funding,
Schools are losing funding, and therefore, class sizes are increasing and resources are dwindling. Teachers are overwhelmed with teaching larger than ever class sizes, meeting the state-mandated standards (which often limits teacher creativity and student-centered instruction), and juggling inclusive classrooms without support (many paraprofessionals have lost their jobs due to funding cuts). My personal experience is that there are many teachers who do care about their students' education, and work their hardest to provide differentiated instruction to accommodate varying learning styles. Think of what these teachers could do for their students if every school hired double the amount of teachers and class sizes lessened from 35 to 17.
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