Because we're the only non-third world country that doesn't value bi-lingualism. We only speak English. We should be knowledgeable of at least one other language before graduating from high school. The poorest children in South Africa speak at least 2 other languages - and 3 or more different tribal dialects. Children in Europe speak at least their own language and one or two others. I admit that in the past, we didn't have to speak another language - however the immigrants who came after the two major wars had difficulty until their children helped them with the language. The community colleges in the urban areas are filled with Asians and Hispanics learning how to speak English. And the first hired in many businesses are those who are bi-lingual. We are now in a global business economy - and those who can speak English and another language are usually the first hired. Our American children will be behind their world counterparts - they must be bilingual! A harsh reality.

Nowhere in the constitution does it outline a federal control of the education of our children. By a normal interpretation of the constitution, the 10th amendment would have reserved this for the states or the people. But we are where we are. Complete or near complete local funding sets up unequal spending per child--the rich counties get better educated if one equates money with better education (not applicable in the DC school distict). So now what? If we abolish this oversight, do we actually do better when there is virtually no oversight (NEA controlled)? The voters, as demonstrated by the lack of participation in the Clayton County debacle, cannot be relied upon to police the local schools. And public education was pushed initially as a reaction to Irish parochial schools. Let's not kid ourselves into believing that social engineering has never been in play.

What do you propose? Our standards have fallen to third world levels because our parental involvement has fallen to absurd levels. The culture of a mom staying home and the parents being in charge of their children from 3:00 pm to 9:00 pm seems to be dead in most areas of our country. We have a culture that values adult adolescence over adult responsibilities. X Box Madden Football over Algebra II. How are we going to get better outside of a catastrophic change of culture?

My proposal would begin by drastically cutting back on each of the social programs currently in place. Once realized that that there will be no government check or consistent handout every week or so, necessity will force those reliant upon "Uncle" to get off their collective backsides. Just so we are on the same page, all cuts in social programs are doubled by those cuts made in foreign aid.

A return to the standards of the early 1960's for schools would be next. Should a student become unruly so as to be a hindrance to others, send them home. Hire and retain quality teachers, now that we're saving money from elsewhere we can afford to invest in our children.

Yes, this will hurt many, but in the long run it will force self reliance and responsibility.

Can't send most of these kind of students "Home." Nobody is there, and besides he won't go home.

Keep them at school for the day in isolation, trying to contact family. If none found, then have juvenile delinquency pick them up to find his home and either parent, parents, or grandmother--if any are willing.

If not willing, expel the student, notify responsible family, if any, and the local police.

Now, this isn't likely to happen right now in minority enclaves since they don't do things this way, but it should and can, if the right people are elected and hired.

It may not even be likely to happen in Peachtree City, depending upon just who the student is!

We allow "slack" for reasons! Usually immediately.

Hire and retain quality teachers,

Excellent! But first we have to adequately prepare those who teach to insure that they have the tools to motivate their students to become lifelong learners. We need to improve our teacher education program - so that teachers thoroughly understand how to teach. A teacher should be highly regarded in their community. Teaching is 60% gift and 40% skill. Not everyone who has a MA is a 'master' teacher.

Should a student become unruly so as to be a hindrance to others, send them home.

In the '60's, most students had a 'home' to go to. Many unruly students come from dysfunctional homes. Sad.

I agree with most of what you have been saying on this topic, but I'd like to make a couple of points. (sorry I'm coming into this discussion a little late)

First of all, I agree with Wedge's comment at the beginning of this discussion that most of the problems in our school systems are caused by a lack of parental involvement in their own kids' education. The kids show up to school unmotivated, because their parents are disinterested and uninvolved. Kids will generally follow the example of their parents; and it's what the parents do, not what they say that matters.

It's very hard to teach kids who are unmotivated. The question that I hear most often is "When are we ever going to use this?" I have repeatedly explained that success in school will lead to a doubling or tripling of their lifetime incomes, but teenagers don't really see their future as a reality, just a vague, far-off dream. Most of them have a very unrealistic image of adult life, so my argument carries little weight with them, as they are focused on immediate gratification and the "here-and-now". That's where parents come in. It's the parents' job to motivate their kids that success in school is vitally important to them. Heck, if logic doesn't work, try bribery. Give cash or some other reward for good grades. Whatever it takes!!

My other point is that we are already hiring quality teachers, for the most part. What we need to do is support them better, especially in regards to classroom discipline. As it is now, if a student acts up, the teacher is expected to handle it in the classroom, without involving the administration, except in rare cases. The problem with that is that teachers often have their hands tied behind their back as to what sort of discipline they can use, and the result is a tendency to tolerate moderate levels of misbehavior. This results in a less-effective classroom environment, as the students learn that teachers are mostly "shooting blanks" in their attempts to enforce rules.

I don't think that raising teacher salaries would make much difference, as the best teachers are the ones who feel it is their calling, not the ones who are in it for the money. The way to attract and retain the best and brightest is to make the teaching environment more conducive to letting them teach, not babysit.

By the way, Davids Mom, I owe you an apology. About a year ago, I accused you of being a "one-issue" blogger. Since then, you have proved me wrong on numerous occasions. Keep it up!!

welcome back! I hope your family has a very healthy New Year!

I couldn't agree MORE with your "What we need to do is support them better, especially in regards to classroom discipline. As it is now, if a student acts up, the teacher is expected to handle it in the classroom, without involving the administration, except in rare cases. The problem with that is that teachers often have their hands tied behind their back as to what sort of discipline they can use, and the result is a tendency to tolerate moderate levels of misbehavior. This results in a less-effective classroom environment, as the students learn that teachers are mostly "shooting blanks" in their attempts to enforce rules."

The students with behavioral "issues" know only so much can be done to discipline them. It's common for those students to return from an Assistant Principal's office smiling from ear to ear while having received NO discipline at all. It's a sad state when the teachers, students, substitute teachers, custodians, misc. staff, etc. all know the Assistant Principals don't back up their teachers with discipline. I'm not referring to instances of loud talking or not being able to sit in their desk, but in starting a classroom fight or cursing a teacher. This undermines the teacher's classroom authority, while also leading to major dissatisfaction and burnout with them toward their jobs.

Your friends at WHS miss you!! Things are still the same (you know what I mean). The new math is proving to be quite a challenge!!

Glad to hear from you--and Cyclist too! I have a confession to make. Things are not as much different here as I was hoping. At least we don't have a principal telling us to "drag 'em across the line, whatever it takes", but there's still pressure to pass kids who didn't quite make the cut. And lots of student apathy.

I don't envy you at all, regarding the new math curriculum. However, we DO need to raise the bar and hold kids to a higher standard than we have been. Otherwise, we'll end up like Clayton County. Not just the schools, but the overall quality of life.

Well, take care!

Happy New Year. Hope everything is well in "Okiehoma"!!!!
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Caution - The Surgeon General has determined that constant blogging is an addiction that can cause a sedentary life style.

The hiring and retention of quality teachers is a must. This could be accomplished by the riddance of overstuffed "administrative" positions within the Departments and Boards of education-placing the required emphasis on the classroom vice the overhead.

Regarding the sending student home issue, I contend that if that they are sent home it becomes a familial responsibility, not one of society. Life is not fair, some are just going to have to get over it.

I do not dismiss your ideas at all, I believe that we are close on this issue. What standards were in place in the 1960's-federal, state, local?

I just see us moving closer to the federal nanny state, not further away. I am pessimistic about the direction of our country (both political parties).

Maybe it's time to make the 'political' will the will of the people. I hope we become a government of the people, for the people, and by the people - and not the politicians. They've done enough! Both parties.

IS THE REASON FOR THIS GREAT NATION, FOR WITHOUT IT WE WOULD CEASE TO EXIST. REVOLUTION SET THE GUIDE LINES FOR THE CONSTITUTION OF THIS GREAT NATION, GOVERNMENT FOR THE PEOPLE BY THE PEOPLE, MAY WE ALL PRAY, THAT THE CHILDREN OF TODAY, CAN TAKE THIS TO HEART, AND SEE THROUGH ALL THE MISDIRECTION, THAT THE SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS IN WASHINGTON HAVE, SUCCEDED IN CONTROLLING OUR CONGRESS AND SENATE, TO WHERE THE ONE ELECTED OFFICIAL THAT IS CHOOSEN BY THE PEOPLE HAS NO CONTROL OVER, SHAME ON OUR GENERATION FOR LETTING THIS HAPPEN WHILE WERE TOO BUSY TAKING OUR CHILDREN TO SOCCER PRACTICE, OR RUSHING TO STARBUCKS, OR FILLING UP THE HUMMER. ALL OUR GENERATION WILL BE REMEBERED FOR IS WORRYING ABOUT ITS STATUS. HOW WILL WE ANSWER FOR THIS WHEN THEY ASK, HOW COULD WE HAVE LET THIS HAPPEN. FOR OUR CHILDREN OUR THE ONES WHO WILL PAY THE ULTIMATE PRICE FOR OUR IGNORANCE, WHILE WE HIDE UNDER THE BED WITH OUR GREY HAIR CANE IN HAND, THEY WILL BE THE ONES MARCHING ON WASHINGTON..AS THEY DECLARE "REVOLUTION" FOR THAT MAY BE THE ONLY WAY TO SAVE THE "WILL OF THE PEOPLE....GOD BLESS US ALL...

The only way kids will march will be if you hold a burger and fries in front of them. They just did a news story about how fat our kids are on dateline or 20/20. They like to sit around watch TV and play computer games.

Kids marching?? They don't even walk to school or make their own beds. LOL, that was a good one kids marching.....
I see your point, but our fat kids who only care about computer games marching just cracked me up.

Its unfortunate to bestow this responsibility on our children, because we were too concerned with our comfort and status. I guess while we were filling our hummers up at $5.00 a gallon,, on the way to soccer practice, we stopped by starbucks to get our $5.00 latte, then it was off to subway to get the kids a $5.00 footlong, making sure on the way home to ride by all of our friends houses, so they could see our status. All while our houses are in foreclosure, and the phone has been disconnected, who wants to hear from the bill collectors anyway. We will be remembered as GENERATION $5.OO. How cheap and petty. I guess next time gas will have to get to $10.00 a gallon before we get off our kiesters, who knows we may still be young enough to walk next to our children as we walk to WASHINGTON, and since we will be homeless anyway by that time, as we walk we can all chant in harmonious rythym, "IM THINKING ARBYS."..GOD BLESS...P.S. THANKS FOR THE VISUAL SKY I NEEDED A GOOD LAUGH TOO, NICE TURBINE MALLARD, WE COULD CARRY A LOT OF BURGERS AND FRIES TO DROP TO THE KIDS AS THEY MARCH...LOL

They like to sit around watch TV and play computer games.

And us bloggers sit around and play on our computers as well. Perhaps a "new year" resolution; less time in front of the "smart box". I'm off to the gym.
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Caution - The Surgeon General has determined that constant blogging is an addiction that can cause a sedentary life style.

The kids will vote to quit funding Social Security and Medicare.

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It is one thing to show a man that he is in an error, and another to put him in possession of the truth. John Locke

They've already begun their march by their historical vote. Don't give up on these 'kids' - they're observant and hopefully will remain involved and won't allow what happened in the past to happen again.

KUDOS Davids mom, you win the big prize! Children are the future. Lets hope some of them will put the Wii, down long enough to wake up from the trance, that most parents want to keep them in, so mommy and daddy can run off and do as they please. If only we had more parents like you ...GOD BLESS

.. .must be at the core of all successful education offerings for our students. I've read too many school improvement programs that included parent ed on paper - but after investigation - had very little meaningful participation by parents. School districts in this country must incorporate a program that insures that parents understand their responsibility in the educational process. We've lost about two generations! I think it's going to take us 'old' gizzers to insist that this happens. I have a feeling that the 20-40 year old generation is on the right track in taking parenthood seriously. I understand your doubt though. Sad.

To many parents today are nothing more than kids themselves, the resulting product of the latch key kids of the 80,s. when they came home from school no one was home to see to them, most of these kids never even recieved so much as a good old fashioned bottom tanning. 85 percent of them never had the honor of serving this great nation in the armed forces, as should be a requisite of all youth. therefore never had any disicipline at all. They were raised on the sole principal, that image is everything, that people judge you by your status, the things you have, not the character that you are. Fortunately there were a few of us raised the old fashioned way, by the switch as youngsters, and by the boot as teens. Then as civilians we had earned the respect and privilidge to walk as men and women. and to be acknowledged for who we are not what we have. This is the battle that is in front of us to instill responsibility and honor in not only the children of the future but, to hope that when the parents lose all of their status, then we will begin the process of reeducating them as well, for that is where the problem is, all anyone has to do is go to WAL-MART on saturday to get the pulse and condition of society..GOD BLESS..

Mysteryman, you have hit the nail on the head. This is what I have always said about my generation....they all want what took their parents 40 years to achieve....but they want it NOW! When my husband and I got married, he made $7.00 an hour and I was still in college. Our sofa was a hand-me-down from a frat house, we had cardboard boxes covered with a towel that served as end tables, and those white plastic stackable shelves served as a book shelf and a coffee table. After 12 years of marriage, we've come a long way - through hard work. But too many of our friends got married, bought the big house, charged furniture at Pier 1, registered for china patterns (ridiculous), etc....

We don't own a wii, but our kids do have a play station (something my parents bought them - because even though they did not believe in spoiling me - they sure do spoil MY kids). We use the Play Station for family entertainment, we usually play the Tiger Woods golf game together. The Play Station is an addition to our other board games, not a replacement for them. We often play Clue, Sorry, Yahtzee, Candy Land, Chinese Checkers, etc. as a family.

My husband and I were recently discussing how glad we are that we have two kids that would rather play outside than be inside. They often build forts, climb trees, ride bikes, and start up a neighborhood kick ball game in our yard. There is one kid on our street, however, that never comes out to play - he stays inside to play his Xbox, Play Station, Guitar Hero, Wii, etc.... I feel sorry for this kid.

My leisure time as a kid was divided between sandlot baseball, "playing army," and building forts in trees and underground.

When I was about 12, my neighborhood was spotted with kids who, like me, aspired to be great baseball players, and it was pretty easy to get up a great sandlot game on a Saturday morning--even if it meant pitcher's hand, ghost runners and a closed right field. I'll tell you now, some 40 years later, that I got really, really good on those sandlot fields, as a long ball hitter, pitcher and fielder. It simply defined me in those days.

We also divided up and "played Army" in our neighborhood. I'll never forget crawling through the bushes of our neighbors who never suspected that South Florida might have been under attack by Nazis and thus in need of my trained response.

We had far less than my grandkids today have to work with, but I suspect that our collective imagination was over the top by today's standards. I would not trade it for anything.

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"Puddleglum" by Weatherwax (one of the Muddlings).

Jeeves to the Rescue

It is good to remember those things occasionally. Old people are accused of day-dreaming when they do that but it isn't so. here you are at middle age doing it and I think it is good for the soul. Just don't do it in front of 20-30 somethings!

Mine was on a farm with large barns and hay lofts to play in (throw hard, wet cobs at each other) and mountains to climb and marvel at nature as we went---watching for rattlers and copperheads also.
Fishing in a small creek for horny-heads ans suckers--using craw-dad tails as bait and sometimes a safety pin for a hook!
If that didn't work, get out the old grab-hook--a hook of many prongs!
Snare em!
We had cowboy and bandit fights--sometimes with real B-B guns! Swung on wild grape vines like Tarzan, and yes, worked very hard in the corn and hay fields, sometimes. Raised nearly everything we ate, also.
...and played hay-field baseball with the stubbles! I was also a star pitcher and a great slugger with a taped up split bat! The ball was wrapped in electrical tape! I found out in high school that I wasn't so good.

and

Lord knows, after watching who knows how many episodes of Combat, staring Vic Morrow, we all knew exactly what to do in any situation that came up.

I yam what I yam....Popeye

You know the other day while visiting with my my folks for christmas, i took a walk down by the lake that my grandfather had built after returning home from WORLD WAR II. As i walked through the woods that i played in with my friends as a kid, i was looking for signs of life so to say I:E footpaths, tree houses, forts the things you mention in your post, For when i was a kid eventhough i had the infamous atari, it was reserved for rainy days or winter. For i lived to come home from school and hit the woods to play with my friends. very seldom did we stay inside and if we did, we were on our best behavoir, for if we stayed to long we were told to go outside. I walked several miles that day surveying some of the old trees which we used to climb as well as the remanants of some of the old forts which we had constructed. but no new trails new forts signs of life, on the way back to the house, i happened to venture back out on the road, to walk back, along the way on christmas day i only encountred one child riding his new bicycle, he had seen me emerge from the woods and asked me what was back there. A tear started to form in my eye, for all i could say was PARADISE at your backdoor.. It was a sign of the times...GOD BLESS

Wow - I now realize a possible age difference here . My kids were introduced to Atari - as I was introduced as a kid to television. Most of my genertation first watched TV in the local store window. My dad broke down and bought a TV when I was about 10. (Fortunately I had already developed a love affair with books - so after watching the permitted shows - I curled up with a good book and let my imagination run away with me. I get together once a year with friends from my LA school days and we reminisce about the fun we had playing tag; mother may I; hopscotch; pretending we were Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers; etc., etc., etc. The wonderful aspect to growing up in LA was that you were less than an hour from the beach - and about an hour away from the nearest ski slope. Economics made 'free' entertainment a must - and I'm so grateful for the memories. You know - maybe it's some kind of 'plan' that is making us adults turn from 'paid' amusement to enjoying what has been made available to us for free!

Riding my bicycle down to King Harbor and catching Bonito off the breakwater. Sailing my little Sabot in LA Harbor. Spending time at Catalina Island. Riding the waves at Dockweiler Beach. Playing shortstop on my baseball team. Didn't need a video game. I wouldn't have time for it.
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Caution - The Surgeon General has determined that constant blogging is an addiction that can cause a sedentary life style.

Ah, the good ole days.

I remember well, my cousin and I finding some bones in the woods. We brushed off the ants, placed all the bones in the basket on her bicycle, and took them home - we thought we'd found dinosaur bones and we were archeologists. My aunt was extremely disturbed to find what was the bones of some dead animal (probably a cat or dog) in her kitchen sink!

We thought every rock that had a hard point to it must be an arrowhead, any rock that was rounded and somewhat heavy was probably a musket shot left over from the Civil War, and found 'clues' (because we were detectives) every where we went.

We picked crab apples from my grandmothers tree, sucked on the sweet nectar of honeysuckle in June, picked blackberrys until our fingers were purple, and ate persimmons until we puked. Grandma always kept a supply of Calomine lotion for the poison oak, although I've never had it - must be immune. I remember well, my cousins laughing at me the time I got caught in a brier patch - the more I moved, the worse I was caught - and grandaddy had to come rescue me, cutting his way to me and carrying me out.

I spent my early childhood in the 70's. We were not scared of the 'boogie man' that my grandfather spoke of - we were scared of Helter Skelter (Charles Manson). We told each other stories of Helter Skelter and my older cousin Carrie would terrify me by telling me that Helter Skelter was 'coming for me'. We thought he was the devil!

Childhood should be an adventure, full of pirates, dinosaurs, honeysuckle, tree houses and anything that inspires the imagination. Modern toys that move on their own and make noises on their own leave nothing for children to create or invent for themselves. If my son's firetruck has all the bells and whistles, then he doesn't even have to make the siren sounds - how very sad!!!

AMEN!

I wanted to mention, too, that the parents who advocate year-round school for our children simply want free day care in the summer. Taking the summer experience away from our kids would do them a tremendous disservice.

There is much to learn that can not be taught in books or in a classroom. For example:

1. When given the task to chose your own switch - don't ever, under any circumstance, chose the small skinny switch ....Ouch!

2. Leaves of three - let it be. If you're going to use the bathroom in the woods, because you can't make it to the house, be careful which leaf you use!!

3. Make sure that when you build your tree house not to chose a tree that's dead - the branches won't hold!

4. Those things flying around the shed late in the evening are not birds - they're bats.

The list goes on.....

Summer break meant a time for discovery and adventure, i never will forget the time pops loaded up the canoe, and some gear and told me and my best friend to hop in. we drove a short distance down to woolsey and parked on the side of the road by the river. We could not wait to get the canoe down off the truck! We spent a whole two day,s on the water and set up camp on a shoal just below the hwy 36 bridge, at the end of the first days run. We thought we were discovering a new world, full of wonder. Every year since we always get up a trip down the flint, but when i ask some of my neighbors with children would like to join us, they look at me as if im crazy. and say we might get snake bit, or stung by a bee.. I want to reply you,ve got as much of a chance getting killed walking the doggy. pathetic.. Anyway if we had year round school, most kids and theyre folks would never have the opportuniy for these types of adventures, let them be kids for a while before they have to hit the grindstone..GOD BLESS

My dear - write a book, share the joy and the wisdom!