(Revised January 17, 2008)
Our current educational
system is based on a system of averages where the average student is a “C”
student.
It also identifies some
students as “A” or “B” students.
The
problem is that for an average there needs to be “D” and “F” students for every
“A” or “B” student.
This system also passes a student onto the next level before they mastered the current skill level. Coming into the next level “B”,”C”, and “D” students are all expected to perform the same as the “A” student. The “A” continues to excel and the rest are left behind.
This system also puts an importance on short term memory. Those students that have a natural ability a quickly comprehend and retain (even for a short period of time) are consider smart, while the rest are just dummies.
My recommendation is a module system based on pass/fail. When you successfully learn the module, you proceed to the next level. The modules would be approximately the length of a chapter in a text book. Progress would be measured in module credits instead of school years.
Smaller classes
We need to build more smaller schools to give students more individual attention.
Truancy
Truancy could be made a Federal crime. Kids that skip school or drop out could then be rounded up and placed in a secure school systems where they will receive the individual attention they need to succeed.
Safety
Our school and university systems currently only have a myth of safety. I've seen systems that do not allow their police officers to carry guns, because they want to portrait the image that their system is so safe that the police don't need guns. It truly amazes me that educated people think this way. Your children are so safe in our system that our police do not carry guns. Your money is so safe in our bank that we don't lock the doors. Ya, right!!!
Many teachers are former military, former or part-time police officers, hunters, etc. Establish a program to train select teachers as police officers. This program won't have to be as intense as regular police training since they won't be enforcing traffic laws, directing traffic, or investigating crimes. The program would cover the juvenile code and allow teacher to issue citations to disorderly students in their classrooms. It would also provide all of the firearms training with recurrency qualifying as regular police officers. This would allow a teacher to protect their class if needed.
Bring gun safety into school by using real looking fake guns to teach firearms safety starting in the preschool years.
Develop a very strong Federal program to eliminate gang activity. Since most gang activity is caused by children, parents will need to be involved in this program. I believe that we could eliminate virtually all gang activity in one aggressive school cycle (12 years).
CERT/CPR/AED/First Aid training
I believe some basic emergency training should be taught in school. Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), CPR/AED, and First Aid already have national standard models for the programs.