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City Schools

City schools in the USA are sometimes some of the worst educational institutions in the country for many reasons such as poor facilities, low pass rate, etc. What do you think is the major reason?

Schools City

That seems to be mostly a US problem as in Trinidad the opposite is true where city schools are some of the best. Maybe the isolation of a certain class in the US cities causes this problem? I always hear the teachers and students complaining about not getting the right books. The teachers complain about the students having so many issues in their life that they cannot concentrate on studying.

City Schools UFO & Writing Art Education Sciences

You guys are going to ban me from the education board.

For a lot of places, it's a vicious, double edged sword. In order for a school to hire good, qualified teachers, they need to be able to afford them. Schools that have higher, overall averages get more money from the states. Those that get more money, can higher better teachers. It's a cycle that is constantly turning.

There are so many urban schools that cannot get more money from the state because they're test scores are so low; however, they're test scores are low because they cannot hire the more qualified teachers.

As much as the U.S. says that there is equality of education, there really isn't. If you go to a richer neighborhood, you'll see the better schools. It's unfair to so many children all over the United States who are being cheated out of an education, and it's beyond their control to do anything.

In regards to teachers complaining about the situations in student's lives, it blows my mind. How many of those teachers have tried to help their students out with the problems? How many of them have made themselves available to help those students? After so many years of teaching, a lot of teachers become calloused towards things like that.

I really want to work in an urban school. The past year, after learning more and more about them, I have been so fired up about working in one. Yes, the pay may be less, but I think that the rewards are much greater. It's a mission field.

Schools City

Well, in Massachusetts, it isn't how well a school is doing in tests that determines the amount of money a school gets. Some of it is based strictly on need and some of it is based upon how much that school district spends of its own revenues per child.

I think a big reason urban schools in the US don't do as well is because most good teachers don't want to live in the urban areas themselves. They prefer to live and raise their families in the suburbs. I can't blame them. This is where I choose to live as well, so why wouldn't teachers make that same choice?

Another reason is probably that there is a higher concentration of poor people living in the cities. For whatever reason, this is the group of people who don't do as well academically. In general, their peers aren't placing the same importance on education as the peers on those living in the 'burbs. Also, there is a higher percentage of new immigrants in the cities. They don't speak english as well, so naturally then are going to struggle in a school where everything is taught in english. In addition, their parents can't help them with their school work, because the often can't read english themselves.

I think it is a very complex issue. There are public schools in cities that do well, but generally only the best students are allowed to attend. In Boston there are two such high schools of which I am aware. Generally, the kids go to private school until high school. This prepares them for the entrance exams. They then take the entrance exam so that they can go to one of these high schools and save their families the expense of continuing to pay for private schools during their high school years. The kids who spend k-8 in the public schools aren't prepared the same way for these tests.

Schools City

Wow. That must be a blessing. I desperately wish the state of Florida paid more attention to a school's need as opposed to the scores.

I completely understand about teachers wanting to raise families and live in the nice part of town. I grew up in one of those neighborhoods that looks as if it came straight out of a 50s movie. I just think it's sad that children get cheated out of an education because they're parents can't afford to live in a nicer neighborhood.

City Schools

It's also like that in Palo Alto. they pay attention more to the test score, but they're generally good here, so our school gets more money. I still believe, though, that the system of rewarding schools that are doing better with more money. It should be the opposite, if at all. Those who don't get the better scores, need more money to improve, don't you think?

City Schools

I fully believe that schools whose students do produce high scores should be rewarded. If it's money, that's fine. It becomes a problem, though, when the lower schools are being neglected. They're run down. They don't have the right equipment. They don't have decent staff members.

Erg. This is one of my soap boxes.

City Schools Sciences Education Art Writing & UFO

Also in the inner-city schools there is a lot of violence, drug abuse, gang activity, sexual activity, and even violence against teachers and other staff members. If you're going there, Ambria, I salute you for your courage. (I hope you know what you're getting into!)

One of the things that annoys me about public school in general is the attitude of a lot of teachers who complain about their low pay and long days working. Well, excuse me, but teachers get paid more than I do (in California, in general) and have more time off. How much do they think they need to be paid? And if they don't like the pay scale, why did they choose public education in the first place? They knew what they were getting into when they chose that career.

I know it's a big job to teach kids and keep them interested, but I also know that the really *good* teachers are *really* hard to find.

IMO
Roz