The RACE to the TOP

After enduring years of frenzy and frustration over the Bush inspired educational reform plan, No Child Left Behind, President Obama, a more athletic President, has given us yet another reform plan called The RACE to the TOP. Now students, whether they were left behind or not, must don their educational running shoes and join the educational version of the Great Race. Of course, as any American with a pulse knows the playing field for this race is not level. One only has to look at the states were money is spent on education and see that students in these states are equipped not only to participate in the race; but to win. On the other hand, states where education has been and remains a financial burden rather than a priority, their students will be out-distanced. Sometimes this disparity even occurs among schools in the same school district because of factors like: parental support, foundations, ethnicity, attendance, student behavior and an array of other socio-economic factors. Is it any surprise that the barefoot runners will face a much more difficult challenge than the well trained and well equipped runners?

No doubt there are many students who know how to "play school" in that they attend school on a regular basis, do their class and homework, have supportive parents, are not behavior problems and understand their duties and responsibilities. On the other hand there are far too many students who, when they do come to school, come to school to play. They are chronically late and/or absent. They do not do their class work nor their homework. Their parents have no control over their behavior in or out of school. Many of these students actively try and usually succeed in disrupting the educational process. By their negative and disruptive behavior they make it difficult for even veteran teachers and almost impossible for new teachers to teach and for the other students to learn. School administrators, instead of removing these disruptive students from the classrooms, expect and demand that teachers accommodate these malcontents in addition to teaching those who really want to learn. Yes, everyone has the right to an education and the rights of the majority should not be compromised by the disruptive behavior of a few.

Finally, there continues to be an absolutely misguided effort to set up school curricula that caters exclusively to the college bound and intentionally ignores the fact that a significant number of our students are not going to college and may not even graduate from high school. There is a significant work force in this country made up of the trades. True, there numbers have declined over the years as a result of out-sourcing; but the fact remains that this country still needs a work force skilled in the trades or the industrial arts. Students who have an interest in these trades have seen their educational opportunities diminish. In a sense, they are being discriminated against in that curricula is now being offered in a one size fits all manner. Unfortunately that size fits only the college bound. Maybe, just maybe the disruptive behavior that is escalating in our schools would begin to subside if programs, classes and curricula were offered for all students, not just the college bound. Do plumbers, mechanics, bakers, carpenters and electricians really need a four year college program to succeed ? On your mark ... get set ... Run !!!