jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

I mentioned this before, and decisions have been made. The Board voted to close one school at the end of next year, and another one four years after that. Naturally, the parents are furious. Board elections are just a week away, so the new members could change all that.

The elementary school that is scheduled to close next year has 55 kids and 46 adults - most are non-teachers. If the school is in operation, it needs cafeteria people, custodians, mental health, speech, reading teachers, ESL, etc. Everyone wants lower taxes, but parents want local schools.

Toment Loc: FL, IL

Horny dilemma!

anotherview Loc: California

School boards could simplify matters by returning schools to traditional learning: reading, writing, and arithmetic, with some brief history.

The various social adjustments and other programs could then fall under the scope of the involved agencies, apart from school budgets. Already, as one example, some school districts require proof of vaccination before school admission.

Red6

I tend to agree. Schools could simplify their offerings and reduce the teaching staff by eliminating courses that do not advance the basics. Schools now offer so many "fluff" courses that allow students to skip through primary and high schools lacking competence in the basics such as math, grammar, science, history, and civics. Testing of high school graduates all over the country has shown US students seriously lacking in these crucial areas. Students wishing to take non-essential courses outside of the basics could take them outside the public school system at their own expense.

Many people, young and old, believe today's kids are smarter than previous generations because they can use complex computers, phones, apps etc. However, contrary to popular belief, using social media is NOT a sign of intelligence or advanced learning skills. Many are lacking in basic skills and knowledge in math, science, history, and how our country's government works.

Thankfully, advanced and highly motivated students that do master the basics and gravitate to more advanced work are graduating and going on to college or other highly skilled careers. But many graduate or worse, drop out, leaving school without the skills or education needed to be productive adults.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Some kids leave high school and go to college. Others have trouble finding a job bagging groceries. They attend the same classes with the same teachers. People make choices - both parents and students. You can think school is stupid, "Why do I have to learn this? This is stupid." Or, you can follow the rules and do what you're supposed to do.

If you leave a free all-you-can-eat buffet, and you're still hungry, that's your fault.

DIRTY HARRY Loc: Hartland, Michigan

I don't know of any "elementary schools" that teach "fluff classes". These kids aren't living in the world we grew up in so many classes we took are no longer viable and classes that didn't exist for up are now needed. The real problem is to many parents don't take the time to work with their child, read to/ with them, inquire as to what they are learning or not learning. Schools have the kids, maybe, 6 hours a day for 5 days a week ... you have them the rest of the time. They're your kids don't expect someone else to raise them. My parents, and I'm sure yours as well took an interest in my education and activities.... not just sports either. In addition, knowing kids as they did, if there was a problem at school, they took the time to contact the school and didn't always take my word as the whole truth.

sippyjug104 Loc: Missouri

Jerry, it will come as no surprise that the need for more schools will increase manyfold to accommodate the influx of border-crossers. A problem will be that the languages spoken will be quite varied which will further complicate the need and the expense required to address it. Unless they are all to be home-schooled.

Amielee Loc: Eastern Washington State

Harry I think you are mostly right but there is something else. The basics, if you cannot read it is hard to learn some things,s if you can read learning is much easier. If you know math you can understand some concepts easier and with more clarity. With the basics you can learn much on your own. Civics helps you understand how government works and can keep you out of some trouble. You learn free speech applies to the government and not your neighbor for example. Your neighbor on his property can tell you to stop talking. You are correct about living in a different world however, I am 89 so I am not talking about yesterday. My mother used to say the kids today are so smart and I would tell her they are no smarter than the older generations. They just know different things. I can change a tire on my car but I don't think I could change an iron tire on a covered wagon. I know how to drive a stick shift car but kids today don't have to know that. I asked my mom when your dad butchered a cow on the farm in June or July what did you do to preserve all that meat. I would think smoke it but there must have been other ways to keep meat for months without smoking it. I think if we woke up tomorrow morning and had no refrigeration in six months half the country would be dead. The basics help us go back and learn the things we missed the first time around.

josquin1 Loc: Massachusetts

Teaching is the most important profession in the world. No other profession can exist without its being taught. And yet people constantly complain about teachers being paid too much. Someone had to teach bankers how to bank, doctors how to doctor, musicians how to perform, artist how to draw, and actors how to act. Nothing, nothing exists without its being taught. Pay the teachers a fair wage because all of society exists because of them.

DIRTY HARRY Loc: Hartland, Michigan

THE information is still around. We haven't lost it ... yet, but stripping libraries of books and anything you don't like is not the answer. I may not remember all of the math to put a rocket into orbit or figuring out how to design a rocket nozzle; however, I do know where to find that information and a vague idea of how to use it. I do realize there is some knowledge that will be lost simply because it was never written down even in some of the high tech industries: however, at a grade school level and even high school.. the parents must take more responsibility than I'm seeing most taking. The schools lay the basic ground work... when they are allowed to, and the parents are suppose to reinforce the importance of learning and keeping the kids nose to the grindstone.
When the schools stopped teach how to count back money during a transaction, my wife and I spent time, much to their displeasure, making them learn the process. Years later, all 3 of my kids got jobs simply because they took the time to count back money during an interview and others did not. YOU have to take the time to teach your children.

Chiroman8

Dear Jerry,

All the answers have some merit . All I can say is the times are changing fast!

Stephan G

The first class to teach the grade schoolers is Speed Reading and Comprehension. The second course is the capability to obtain answers through mind-extension. Do away with the answers in back of the text books.

Drbobcameraguy Loc: Eaton Ohio

Teachers where I live in Ohio are paid well for the amount of hours they spend working. They work half a year basically with the holidays and breaks. So the 45 thousand they make a year is actually 90. Which where I live allows you to have a waterfront home in lakengren. Most teachers I know have gigs they do in their off time. Just like my firefighter buddies. They all have a small business they run because they only have to be in the fire station 2 days a week 24 hours a day.

josquin1 Loc: Massachusetts

Again I say nothing can exist without teachers. They pay out of their pocket for supplies that the schools cannot afford because education is so undervalued now. $45,000 is no longer a livable wage in today's world. How does one raise a family on this small amount. See if a DR would agree to such a wage. Then teachers are also required to go back to college and take education courses to stay in touch with the latest ideas. Such a course is at least $2,000 in a private college. $45,000 is insulting.

PhotogHobbyist Loc: Bradford, PA

I saw a small poster with a quote attributed to Albert Einstein, "The only thing you need to know is the location of the library."