Bush: What is he good for?
absolutely nothing!
The main problem is the parents and the school systems. It has now become more of a business for schools. If they get kids to get XX grades then the school will get more funding. This requires that the teachers basically teach the state test that measure this all year. Teachers try to teach what we need to know and not just wants on the test but its increasingly difficult.
I have seen this all unfold through the years. I was declared gifted in several academic areas in elementary school. However in the years they changed how this was classified and destroyed the program that helped smarter kids get ahead. Take for example my 9th grade year at high school. My school was given a HUGE grant to try and improve the gap between smart and dumb kids. Unfortunately this is an urban area and race fell along that gap as well. Here is what the school decided to do. Smart kids knew to get a good education away from disruptive students and ones who didn't give a crap about school they had to get in honor classes. School performance reports looked at race and increased pressure to change the gap. So for two classes EVERYBODY was honors. It is failing in so many ways. Thank god its only limited to the 9th grade. This was a clever way to get this extra money (that went nowhere near this project) and to allow the dumb kids to say they took honor classes. Its horrible what these school systems are doing and so many of the smart kids are leaving for private schools. I have discussed with my mom and we are going to look at ones over the summer just to see whats out there.
In the end to help solve this issue, take the incentive for schools to get more funding my improving grades. It corrupts the school system and creates a false image while hurting schools that need the funding at the same time. As for parents, they expect the school system to do their job and complain its the schools fault when kids get fat or exhibit poor choices in life.
