August 21, 2008America: Schools need helpAn annual poll released today shows that Americans think the nation's public school system needs a boost and that the biggest problem is a lack of funding. The Phi Delta Kappa/Gallup Poll polled folks about several hot-button issues facing the nation's school systems like educational standards, federal funding and student achievement. Results included figures like this: Only 22 percent gave American schools an A or B, while 48 percent gave European schools an A or B and 52 percent gave Asian schools an A or B. Also, many polled favored using more federal funds to finance public schools. Here are complete results of the poll , but let me know what you think the biggest issue facing schools in the valley is while you're at it. |
About this blog
Welcome to Chalk Dust! This is your community aimed at exploring education in the New River Valley. I'm Anna Mallory. I went to public schools in West Virginia and now I cover PreK-12 education for the Roanoke Times.
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Comments
[August 26, 2008 12:34 PM]
Rachel ClineI completely agree that one of the biggest problems in the school system is lack of funding. Students and teachers alike want new opportunities to be available in their schools (such as updated technology, new clubs and organizations, more advanced classes, etc.), but there just isn't enough money to go around. (Although I do think that there is money going into programs that may not be completely necessary which could be transferred into another program for the students that would actually be appreciated....)
I think that another problem in school systems today is the lack of involvement and apathy from several people who are involved. It seems like programs like the PTA, for example, are starting to have a hard time getting new members to join because people are just too apathetic to care. Programs like these contribute to the opportunities presented to students (such as field trips, dances, and scholarships), but because no one will join them, they aren't being used to their full advantages. Parents can complain all they want about how out of control the schools are getting and how much it needs to change, but they really can't say anything until they actually step up and get involved to change their child's school.