Palin Opts Out of Effort to Standardize K-12 Education

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Just Droppin By To Show Some LOVE,

Cattrina of 1:18PM July 04, 2009

amazing work have nice day kisses,

Vanevie of 11:03AM July 04, 2009

heyy.,

Sestrunk of 10:52AM July 04, 2009

just checkin up on,

Wymbs of 12:42PM June 27, 2009

amazing! :),

Djura of 11:11PM June 26, 2009

keep in touch.,

Middifeld of 11:00PM June 26, 2009

A standardized educational curriculum accross state lines would only somewhat fix the issue. There are two major problems here that people just don't want to admit or are too blind/ignorant to see... NUMBER ONE is American society and cultural values today: In this day in age, it's not like it was in the 40s or 50s when the man would go to work and bring home the bacon. The wife could afford to stay home and be a full-time mom and take care of the kids. Today, there are divorced families and too often than not kids are being raised by one parent. There are families whose both parents work to make ends meet and they don't have the time and energy after working a fulltime job to come home and discipline and coach their kids. Another problem with society is that MTV and bad tv shows (such as Tila Tequila and her bi-sexual friends, Kim Kardashian, and the Beverly Hills kids) are the ones raising our kids. The kids are picking up all types of bad habits from those shows and not really realizing the true ethics and morals of life. I don't think Tila Tequila is a good mom, do you? NUMBER TWO is the parents: Parents partly don't have the time to be parents any longer (becuase their both working to just stay afloat) and many don't care. Parents aren't involved in their child's behavioral issues as they used to be. Parents today are afraid to spank their child at an early age or do anything that they fear would put them in jail. Discipline is lacking from parents. But most of all, parents are not setting up rules, expectations, and consequences for their children. Children need to learn accountability early (age 7 and 8) not age 18. Age 18 is too late. If your child comes home with a report card that shows an F in Math, take away the video game system. If they turn in D's and F's on their Science tests, take away the computer so their not on Facebook chatting with strangers for 4 hours a day. If you teenager doesn't have a 3.0 avg GPA, don't buy them that brand new BMW or Ford Truck they've been wanting.
It's simple parents, YOU NEED TO PARENT!!! Parents need to teach their kids respect for teachers and the importance for the 12 years of school prior to be set free. How come foreign kids in the Middle East and 3rd World Counties are outperforming our kids? In the Middle East, they learn Algebra in elementary school. Here, it's taught in late middle school and high school for some. Many never get to it. Those Middle Eastern and 3rd World Country children completely outperform ours due to only a few simple things: Parents place accountability in the kids, Parents show them the importance of school, Parents strictly enforce guidelines (can't watch more than 30 minutes of tv per day, can't sleep after 9 pm, can't go out and play with your friends ever during the week). Sounds harsh doesn't it, but that's the way you make a responsible young adult in a prosperous college kid and then into a professional. Parents need to parent!!!

Think4Yurself of CA 6:07PM June 10, 2009

There are lots of things wrong with education in this country. Sure, part of the problem is the parents. But it's not the only problem. As you also say, part of the problem is "Teachers and principals dont have the courage to do the right thing for the student." To this, I would add teachers' unions having too much power, lack of accountability and leadership among school district administrators, lack of research-based instruction and well-trained teachers (particularly in reading instruction), low standards for the achievement of minorities and disabled kids, etc., etc...
Here in my Chicago suburb, parents insist that their kids get into honors classes (gotta have that "honors" bumper sticker!), then are surprised when the kids have poor math, reading, and writing skills after completing high school. Social promotions are against school policy, but are still very common.
An objective national education standard would help to fix the problem at least partially. At least parents would know how their child is REALLY doing.

Carlson of IL 12:34PM June 10, 2009

Of course Gov. Palin would reject the approach to a nation-wide standard for public education. It is not suprising that Alaska, Texas, and Missouri have opted out since these states have poor academic achievements, and the public officials don't want their people to know how bad their states are in comparison to other states. Too often these states are controlled by right wing fundamentalists types who want more faith based education, and they want to let individual school boards set standards for their own schools.

George Thatcher of CA 8:57PM June 08, 2009

This will be very interesting in the measurement process and then the results. It will point out those states who have it together and those who do not. Here is CA the education system is a four star disaster. Myself coming from the midwest, can see that the children are at least 2 yrs behind those in the midwest in what is taught and therefore what is learner. What no state, hack politician or school board dares to say is that the main problem in the education of children is the parents. In areas of the country where parents value education, take an active role in the education of their children, monitor their homework and what is taught, those children do well. In areas where parent don;t really give a crap, like here is CA, the children do poorly and are destined to failure because of their parents. My parents reinforced the value of education in me and I have even more so in my children. Knowledge is power and the more you know the more you are prepared for the world. How do you expect to acquire a quality paying career position when your English and Math skills are at elementary school level. School systems pass on those who should be failed and retaught rather than listen to the parents who complain about having their child repeat a grade. Teachers and principals dont have the courage to do the right thing for the student. The other major issue is the failure of states and the feds in allowing children to drop out of school at 16. Unless there is an extreme financial burden because the child needs to work to help their family, no student should be allowed to drop out and they must get their high school degree. Allowing a student to drop out is dooming that person to a failed life and increase the odds of criminal behavior because of economic problems resulting from a lack of education and employment because they aren't prepared to survive in society due to a lack of skills and knowledge. You cant just throw money at it like the feds want to do. You have to change the mindsets of the parents and society and promote the value of knowledge and education and to blame the parents where necessary. It won't happen though because the local self serving politicians are only worried about getting their worthless carcasses re-elected for the perks and power of being a public diservant.

Tony of CA 4:43PM June 05, 2009