The reason that a baseball team has nine players is because each member has his strengths. And, weaknesses. There are not many pitchers, generally considered the "star", that can bat well. There are exceptions, of course.
In school, unfortunately, we all too often try to make all the players do everything. Yes, as in baseball...or the Marine Corps..., everyone must master certain skills. But, at some point in time, we must stop holding back students who excel in math or science or literature. In baseball, some are meant to be strong batters or catchers or pitchers. In the Marine Corps, natural talent is developed. Snipers, motor transport, helicopter pilots.
As usual, I was evesdropping. Yes, again. A couple of great educators were discussing the students of today. One, a middle school teacher (what I knew as junior high school) said he started off the day with some basics, and asked the class to tell him the "area of a two-by-four foot" drawing, only to be surprised that several students had no idea. That's okay. Sort of. Not everyone is good at math. The problem comes when we hold the entire class back because "several" students didn't get it.
What happens to those who can do the math? I can answer that. They get bored. They are not challenged.
Earlier in the day, at lunch, I watched an obviously brilliant 4-year old kid read from a lunch menu/placemat as well as a normal, whatever that is, 2nd or 3rd grader. I am not sure how well he handles a math problem, but his reading skills are pretty amazing. Kudos to his parents.
What's gonna happen in the first grade? Or, the second? He will get bored. He will not be challenged at school. Boredom, like an idle mind, is an opportunity missed.
What's the answer? Goodness, I would be pretty close to the last person to have a solution. There are, however, a lot of smart people out there who need to start looking at ways to take advantage of natural talent. Ok, let's say that the four-year old can't tell me how many cubic feet are in a 2x4x3 foot box (thought you had the first one figured ojut, didn't you?). Perhaps he, if challenged, will become an author, an historian, a journalist, a teacher. All honorable professions. Well, let me think about the journalist . Just kidding.
The point is, there's gotta be a better way. Throwing money at a system that ain't working is NOT the way. That seems to be the politically correct thing to do; it's what teachers, principals, school superintendents want. Just look at almost every politician while campaigning. Near, or at, the top of his/her campaign promises, aka Bravao Sierra, is education. For heaven's sake, I would love to hear one, just one, politician tell me "I have a plan of action, and this is how I'll handle the education needs".
Just one.
I don't care that you think we can get better teachers by tossing more money into education. We've tried that. It doesn't work. The teachers, likely, are just fine. The system needs a boot in the butt.
Teachers will not be able to teach any better if you give them a raise.
Let me repeat that.
Teachers will not be able to teach any better if you give them a raise.
They are dedicated professionals, most of them, and they are teaching at their peak potential, given the directions they've been given, and the tools they've been supplied. I am not saying they don't deserve more money. They, and other professionals, certainly do. However, if a teacher, earning whatever he/she is earning today, says he/she can be a better teacher if they get a bigger salary... he/she SHOULD BE FIRED! Why? Simply because that teacher is not working at his/her full potential. If they won't give you 100%, then they do not deserve a raise. They don't even deserve a job. Perhaps teachers, like employees in the private sector, should be judged/evaluated as individuals instead of as a group, when it comes to salary increases. The good ones get the raise, the mediocre ones don't, and the bad ones can look for another job. It's called the incentive plan.
It's up to our elected officials to find advisors who can look at the big picture. Study other states and, indeed, other countries. In North Carolina, we remain near the bottom of the list when it comes to education. Not because of a lack of funding, but...in my opinion...because we are not spending the money earmarked for education wisely.
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