In light of all the news lately about federal budgets, state budgets, unions, etc... the two sides are actually fighting over the same thing but don't realize it. The budget leaders see that it costs way too much to educated children today. It is too much of a chunk of the state budget. When standardized test scores are low, these are the people that say fire the bad teachers and make it easier to do so.
On the other side, are teachers who are highly educated, highly trained, and qualify according to the NCLB act (or now knows as the Reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act) as "highly qualified" as they are trained professionals and experts at teaching methods, classroom management, individualized instruction, an project based learning to name a few. These teachers are also frustrated at the low test scores because no matter how good of a teacher they are, no matter how much time they put in for free over and above their paid salary hours, no matter how much continuin education they have, some students still don't perform well on standardized test, still don't pass classes, still don't do homework or study for tests, still don't listen in class, still don't participate in projects, and still don't adhere to classroom management policies and structures put in place.
Don't you see it? Education is too much of the state budgets because it costs too much on average per child. It costs too much per child because of all the extra interventions and supports that are necessary, not because most students actually need those (as do students with disabilities), but because most of the students that struggle and fail do so by choice.
Any child without a learning, mental, or physical disability can choose to learn. Every child CAN learn, but only if they want to. The question becomes, how do we make them want to learn? Spend more money? Hire more teachers? Require even more professional training for teachers?
You see, the legislators and teachers actually agree. The teachers agree that they are trying their damnedest, yet some students still struggle. They shouldn't be fired for that. They are not bad teachers. The legislators agree that spending must come under control.
So, I have the solution! Rather than point the finger at the teachers, rather than pour more money at a system that isn't working, look at the families.
Research shows that one of the most influential factors in student achievement is families. Who is responsible? The families. Who should be rewarded when students do well? The families. So, I recommend a change in the tax system. No more giving a straight tax credit for having children. No more throwing money at the problem in more and more interventions in schools.
Instead, give tax credit based on standardized achievement. But wait, this will give more money to the rich and less to the poor because wealthy kids on average do much better than low socio-economic students. So make tax brackets where incentives for lower brackets are higher percentages of tax credit and factor into the formula improvement. Weigh improving from a 2 (lowest) to a 3 higher than from a 4 to a 5. This will financially encourage parents to get on top of their kids. And for kids in those lower socio-economic brackets, and for kids who score 1 or a 2 (which are below proficient scores), require supplemental programs that will help them increase their scores.
See, it's still schools teaching kids. It's still teachers getting jobs. It's still interventions put in place. But with a twist. A financial incentive that makes parents want to be involved, because it rewards them for making sure their child is attending, is doing the work, is paying attention, is on time, is motivated. The parent is making sure the child is motivated! For parents of students who choose to not work, to not listen in class, to not want to learn, pay for their "personal day off work" so that they can attend school with their son or daughter and continue to motivate their child further.
You mean if I don't do well in school, the state will pay for my mom or dad to take the day off work and escort me to class and make sure I am attentive, on task, and motivated? I think I'll just do well instead. I don't want my parent at school.
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