While I was in school, I was a part of a guinea pig generation. Each year there was a different percentage we had to reach, a new state test, less funding for the arts, music and more.
Students, parents and teachers will continue to struggle if things don't turn around for the better, so here are just 10 ways to improve our public education system:
1. Reduce the reliance of property tax revenue and increase state funding.
In Washington State, we spend roughly an average of $9,383 per student which is less than the national average. Our state was sued in 2007 with the McCleary lawsuit, which the state Supreme Court ruled in 2012 that the "way Washington pays for education is unconstitutional because of an over reliance on local dollars."
Property taxes cause an inequity in the quality of education. The richer the school district, the better the facilities, college preparation, programs, and volunteer organizations like the PTA and Booster Club. Each student should have the same opportunities no matter their district.
2. Start teaching multiple languages in elementary school.
There are over 350 languages spoken in the United States, and it is a shame that we are taught only taught to be fluent in one. Students should learn other languages like Spanish, ASL, Japanese and more to be able to communicate and compete in our ever-evolving world.
3. Ban funding for abstinence-only education, and have a safe-sex education curriculum that is the same in ALL schools.
Students have the right to know about their bodies, safe sex practices, birth control, consent, sexually transmitted diseases, and how to have healthy relationships.
President Obama proposed to cut $10 million dollars in funding for abstinence-only education for the federal budget in 2017. According to study in 2007, sexual health researcher Douglas Kirby found that these programs did not reduce sexual transmitted diseases or sexual partners.
4. Make school healthier for students.
Students need more sleep and exercise, and better food choices. A solution to this would be to have schools start later, implement more variety of PE classes, and offer healthier food choices than rubbery pizza, chips, and canned fruit.
5. Reduce state testing and evaluations based on scores.
Teaching students to take a test doesn't allow for creativity or depth or valuable discussions. Instead, precious time is wasted teaching students how to write DBQs and how to answer multiple choice and fill in the blanks.
And using student test scores as a reflection of a teacher's ability to do their job is not only a serious amount of pressure but also an imbalanced rating system. A teacher could have students with low test scores but he/she could have inspired her students to go to college or read bigger books. There is more to education than percentiles.
6. Hold students back if they do not understand the material.
I once volunteered for a tutoring program for disadvantaged kids at my local elementary school. One of the girls I was tutoring was a sixth grader who did not know how to multiply or divide very well. And with the way our education system is set up right now, she probably went on to junior high and fell further behind. The "No Child Left Behind" philosophy of "social promotion" has pushed students to move on to the next grade, even when they haven't mastered certain concepts or skills.
7. Expand the idea of STEM to STEAM.
With public schools ramping up STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) classes and expectations, the arts are falling to the wayside. Budgets for art, music, theater and other classes have been squeezed since 2002. Students should have equal access to the fine arts and be able to strengthen their creative muscles.
8. More "real world" classes.
Students need to learn "real world" knowledge in addition to AP Physics. Schools should bring back Home Economics so students learn how to sew, cook, clean laundry properly, budget etc. I also believe it is high time to get more practical financial classes about taxes, loans, credit, mortgages, investing in the stock market, how to start a business etc. This would prepare students far better for the future than the SATs.
9. Pay teachers more.
Teachers work more than 8 hours a day, and they have to deal with bratty kids/teenagers and take their work home with them. It's time to give teachers a raise not only in salarybut also a raise in our societal perspective.
10. Provide more qualified counselors and advisors.
One of the biggest complaints among high school students is the lack of (competent) advisors. For example, there were over 650 seniors in my graduating class, and only four advisors that we were supposed to help with our schedules, waivers, career advice, and more. It would be a win-win for both students and staff if there were more people available to meet the needs of every student.
There should also be a qualified counselors at each school, especially for those who have test anxiety, struggles with mental health, or family/relationship problems. Addressing and helping students with strategies to succeed academically and personally would make a great improvement.
