200 words : On Education

200 words :  On Education from Loch David Crane

Question: Would you send your child to public school? What are the problems and how would you solve them?

   Of course I’d send my children  to the public schools because I know that they can receive appropriate education when I as a parent pursue it.  The key is always parent involvement or  absence.  You have to participate in your child’s education the get the available services!   The Mayor and City Council should set an example of  leadership, frugality, or self control for the City Schools. . .but they haven’t yet! 

    The problems of student violence, boredom, vandalism, drop outs, and many other non-medical problems can be solved with appropriate individualized counseling and smaller class sizes.  Unless you involve the student’s wishes and career, the parents’ ability and willingness to help, and the State’s requirements–failure will result.  Laying off expensive administrators lowers class size, allowing that individualized attention. Magnet schools show that when students enjoy learning, they attend and excel!  Success can be studied and learned.

      Students need to be motivated toward trades, labor, and management–not just academic careers.  A properly led construction class could help maintain the school and show student skills; vandals should clean up their own graffiti; artists could maintain the classrooms; gardening classes could raise salable flowers or edible food; computer classes could consult online.