<font color="purple">I fel like I'm getting totally ripped off! I mean, our country isn't doing that bad but it's waaaay behind other industrialised countries as well. I want to be the smartest person I can be while I'm at the stage of absorbing all information like a sponge, but it's like I'm never going to reach my potential like the kids my age in Europe and Asia (etc.)

I mean, I've been studying Spanish for 5 YEARS now and were still doing only what I call the basic stuff. It's so frustratingly slow!

Oh, and did I mentoin that I live in New York, which has some of the highest standards for education in the country? (Vermont apparently has the baest though) Gee, it makes me wonder what the rest of the country is like... </font>

[thelostone]

it is the result of "no child left behind". while i agree that they need to keep watch for the kids who need the extra help, not push them through the system and let them graduate illiterate, the average kid is getting bored, and the gifted kids are getting even more so. they used to test kids every year or 2 to see where they were, and the testing showed those who were way ahead of the rest. now they simply teach to and test for keeping everyone at grade level. kids don't all come from the same mold and our school system sucks. my daughter has had 3 years of spanish and she can count to 100 and cuss someone out.

lost

[(JD)]

Oh, I went past frustration YEARS ago. With the text books that alter history and even geography, not to mention science... I gave up hope for the youth of today long ago. Brainwashing abounds.

While I'm at it, I also am against the supposed exercises to teach them to "think" ...like the one where there's only one life raft and it only holds a certain number to survive... WHICH ONE do you kill??? Whatever happened to let everyone live for the time being, why does anyone think they have the right to choose someone (assuming other than self?) It supposedly makes people value people, disabled and old versus young and able... This stuff is rotten to the core and comes from a non-moral society.

Ok. Rant over

<font color="purple">I don't think I'm gifted enough to be in all of the advanced classes (or maybe that's just the low self esteem talking?) I just comprehend the information given to me VERY quickly, and remember it very well. The one exception to this is Math, and for Spanish I'm a little in-between between learning easily and learning difficultly.

On the PLAN test I scored within the 95-98 percentile for must subject but Math, but that was still in the 65 percentile so I'm guessing it must be something when I score higher on a test then 98% of the country.</font>

</font><blockquote><div id="quote"><font class="small">Quote:</font>
_Sky said:
While I'm at it, I also am against the supposed exercises to teach them to "think" ...like the one where there's only one life raft and it only holds a certain number to survive... WHICH ONE do you kill??? Whatever happened to let everyone live for the time being, why does anyone think they have the right to choose someone (assuming other than self?) It supposedly makes people value people, disabled and old versus young and able... This stuff is rotten to the core and comes from a non-moral society.

</div></font></blockquote><font class="post">

<font color="purple"> Actualy, we were never presented thinking questions like that, but in 7th grade there was a riddle that nearly killed our brains:

A lonley middle-aged man looks at a picture on the tabble and mutters to himself: "Brothers and sisters I have none, but that man's father is my father's son..."

now which one is it?

a. his father
b. himself
c. his son </font>

[thelostone]

</font><blockquote><div id="quote"><font class="small">Quote:</font>
_Sky said:
Oh, I went past frustration YEARS ago. With the text books that alter history and even geography, not to mention science... I gave up hope for the youth of today long ago. Brainwashing abounds.

While I'm at it, I also am against the supposed exercises to teach them to "think" ...like the one where there's only one life raft and it only holds a certain number to survive... WHICH ONE do you kill??? Whatever happened to let everyone live for the time being, why does anyone think they have the right to choose someone (assuming other than self?) It supposedly makes people value people, disabled and old versus young and able... This stuff is rotten to the core and comes from a non-moral society.

Ok. Rant over

</div></font></blockquote><font class="post">

i agree with you 100% they are trying to legislate and teach in our schools morality. what happened to learning that at home. i know i taught my kids.

and kaika, you sound very bright. 98% is fantastic and most likely very gifted. i hope you can find a GOOD teacher somewhere in your travels that sees what you are capable of and challenges you.

lost

[(JD)]

That man's father is my father's son.

His father's son is himself,
he is that's man's father
so it's HIS son's picture.

[TaintedGoth1]

</font><blockquote><div id="quote"><font class="small">Quote:</font>
Kaika said:
A lonley middle-aged man looks at a picture on the tabble and mutters to himself: "Brothers and sisters I have none, but that man's father is my father's son..."

now which one is it?

a. his father
b. himself
c. his son

</div></font></blockquote><font class="post">



That's just way beyond my thinking! I got confused when I read that! Maybe that explains why I didn't do very well with problem solving in school, eh?

Hey...have you thought about those learning programs on tv...I think it's called the Rosetta Stone software. That way you could just fly by in class while learning ahead of everyone....then you would be learning more.

[kelllie]

with my reply let me let you know i am a public middle school teacher in an urban area. I love teaching and wish more people could actually go into schools and see the good things that are happening there.

Quality of Schools:
While it is true that No Child Left Behind has altered the way things are done, the reality is you get out of education what you put into it. If you do the bare minimum, like simply go to class, do assignments, and take assessments, expect the minimum education. Taking advanced classes, doing extracurricular projects and activities which are available in most high schools, or asking for extra projects that you can do under supervision or a teacher are all ways to enhance your education. If you need ideas, pick a teacher that you feel will listen to you or go see your guidance councilor and ask for help. Some schools even have opportunities for top students to attend local colleges for free for a course or two.

Teaching Morality:
As for the thinking activity proposed with the boat - activities like that are not necessarily to teach morality, they are to encourage students to work and talk together to solve a problem with many - and differing-solutions - the reality of the world. The skills from activities such as these often not able to be taught at home, since it requires the presence of equal peers. We are not allowed to teach them morality or values. Aren't compromising, negotiating, and problem solving skills things this world could use a bit more of?

Honestly, the programs i have seen get replaced the most were the ones with social goals in order to clear the time for academics. Being in the inner city, I always miss these programs. They provided the best lessons my kids could ever use.

Why can't things get taught at home?
1: sometimes kids don't listen to their parents (I know that is surprising)

2: some parents don't have the skills themselves - who will teach those children?

3: Schools can't run smoothly without a certain amount of social skills in its students. There is no teaching going on if students can't keep from arguing, yelling, fighting etc. or if they feel threatened or are on drugs or are on house arrest or are more interested in the baby they are expecting. Teaching or reinforcing social skills makes teaching academics possible.

[discolove]

kellie: your post is pretty true. some teachers do end up babysitting students instead of teaching.

[bebop]

there is a school here in Ga and last week the principle actually told the teachers there would be no F's this semester. what???? so no child got an F. teachers had to issue a grade that was not failing so the school did not lose funding.

[(JD)]

Yes, the reality of the socialist world, decide who to dispose of so you can live, who is expendable and is bogging your life down, those are who to rid the world of... sounds like planned parenthood in disguise? (And a poor disguise at that.)

The reason the students don't pay respect to teachers is because they aren't being taught ethics and morals, and they don't learn it from home because there were no teachers who taught their parents either. Not speaking about you, btw, but many school systems fill their posts with those who not only don't model good examples of citizenship, but are the very opposite of good examples. Take Hillsborough County FL as a poor example.

Our students are behind the rest of the world because we dumbed education down. Those students who needed more were ferreted out to special programs where they sat without any general education coursework and for which the school was able to collect "learning disabled student" funds: much more than the fee per regular student paid. Once the rest of their class had risen to their level, usually 2 years, they were placed back into the general class.

Without textbooks and teachers to teach the truth of history and science, there is no reason for any student to try and better the world, they have nothing to compare what could be and is with what was.

Under the guise of not teaching morality, immorality is taught.

Teachers are not being taught what they need to know while in college. The cycle's deterioration began long ago...in the 70s when I published a thesis warning the Christians about isolating their children from the public school, and how that would cause the public school to become even less Godly than it already was becoming then. Was it only rumor that the colleges themselves are working to go to a 5 year basic program because so many high school graduates don't even enter college with the once good level of education and they feel they must educate them, thus the added year?

That the Ten Commandments are not allowed in the school system is bosh too... "For fear that a student might read them day after day and actually hold to them" was the report of excuse. Yes, God forbid that our children should not murder, commit adultery, or fear a higher power than themselves.

Hmmm thought my rant was over, but I guess not

My lesser degrees are in education, btw. So I do not speak from ignorance.

I appreciate all teachers who are in there trying to educate our youth of today. Unfortunately, they can't do it alone, and until we go back to respecting each other, and teaching respect, and modeling respect, I doubt any major changes will take place.

The computer age has contributed to this. It's truly the ME generation with a twist: it's ME RIGHT NOW! So many spend hours on a computer with instant gratification that they are incapable of being patient and waiting. (Think road rage.) They deserve this and that and they deserve it right now. Parents have bought into this lie also. So you have whiney child who is just plain lazy and isn't learning how to learn, controlling his parent who in turn feels injustice has been done to her child and heaps coals onto the fire under the teacher. The principal, also inept at managing such a raging epidemic of ignorance, spends their time keeping groups and others who could help the situation out of their school, and attending seminars proclaiming the state of the child. And the children spend hours on a computer and still can't figure out how to google a question. Ask them how to upload a naughty picture onto Myspace though, and they'll aptly show you.

There's no reason for any rational person to become upset over the school system now, for we have truly been silenced. We no longer know what is good for our children and grandchildren, only the State knows that...and because parents are generally incompetent, the State is going to try and make you place your child into the educational system at age 3 or right as soon as you have potty trained them. Perhaps they will hire college flunkies to do that for us in the future too.

I am convincing myself of the good of homeschooling as I type. Be well!

[BrnEyedGrl]

</font><blockquote><div id="quote"><font class="small">Quote:</font>
kelllie said:
with my reply let me let you know i am a public middle school teacher in an urban area. I love teaching and wish more people could actually go into schools and see the good things that are happening there.

Quality of Schools:
While it is true that No Child Left Behind has altered the way things are done, the reality is you get out of education what you put into it. If you do the bare minimum, like simply go to class, do assignments, and take assessments, expect the minimum education. Taking advanced classes, doing extracurricular projects and activities which are available in most high schools, or asking for extra projects that you can do under supervision or a teacher are all ways to enhance your education. If you need ideas, pick a teacher that you feel will listen to you or go see your guidance councilor and ask for help. Some schools even have opportunities for top students to attend local colleges for free for a course or two.

Teaching Morality:
As for the thinking activity proposed with the boat - activities like that are not necessarily to teach morality, they are to encourage students to work and talk together to solve a problem with many - and differing-solutions - the reality of the world. The skills from activities such as these often not able to be taught at home, since it requires the presence of equal peers. We are not allowed to teach them morality or values. Aren't compromising, negotiating, and problem solving skills things this world could use a bit more of?

Honestly, the programs i have seen get replaced the most were the ones with social goals in order to clear the time for academics. Being in the inner city, I always miss these programs. They provided the best lessons my kids could ever use.

Why can't things get taught at home?
1: sometimes kids don't listen to their parents (I know that is surprising)

2: some parents don't have the skills themselves - who will teach those children?

3: Schools can't run smoothly without a certain amount of social skills in its students. There is no teaching going on if students can't keep from arguing, yelling, fighting etc. or if they feel threatened or are on drugs or are on house arrest or are more interested in the baby they are expecting. Teaching or reinforcing social skills makes teaching academics possible.

</div></font></blockquote><font class="post">

Well put Kelllie,

This is a tough subject all around. I think we all want what is best for our children though. My son is starting K in the fall and Im sure I will see both positive and negatives at his school. (Hopefully more positive!)

I will speak to this issue from the perspective of what happens in colleges. Most students come to college with absolutely NO interest in learning or thinking.
Don't look in awe!
The students want to get a degree to get them a job that pays them $50,000 a year so they can buy things and have fun.

They have no respect for education and no respect for the professors trying to teach them something. They don't come to class, they text message and eat throughout class, they talk through class, they don't purchase the textbooks, etc, etc, etc. And this is happening EVERYWHERE.

We have put so few requirements and standards that students want to do nothing but the minimum. "Just get me out of here"
Some classes give credit and grades for EFFORT, not for QUALITY.

This EFFORT issue comes from earlier learning situations and is a ridiculous concept. I don't get a paycheck for my EFFORT of getting out of bed and getting to work. I get a paychek for doing my work with high quality.

I have had students yell at me, threaten me, etc over grades, but yet they do not come to class or do the work. They want a grade for any thing they define as effort. They want a grade because they have paid to come to college. I have had parents of these students call me to try and "make deals." (WHAT THE HECK IS THIS TEACHING THEIR KIDS?)

I believe wholeheartedly in helping students succeed, but I question what we are teaching them in the US school system. Because when they get to college, it seems that all they have learned is how to perform at the bare minimum, be abusive and disrepectful, and manipulate their fellow classmates and facutly. It is a true shame.

Many faculty today would rather focus on research or clinical work than deal with students....This is sad.
So the best faculty are leaving the students to be taught be foreign teaching assistants or low-level instructors.

Dumbing down in the american college system is here.. Until something gets done to put value and standards on education in high schools, college will suffer as well.

I see it everyday.

[(JD)]

Ethical Dilemma: The Over-Crowded Lifeboat http://www.unsolvedmysteries.com/usm485731.html

This should be fun, yes? OK I took introduction to ethics last semester and we had to think about ethical dilemma every class. The one we altered the most was the overcrowded lifeboat dilemma. I'm always curious as to how other people choose to answer, so I bring it to you. The dilemma:

A boat is sinking and the lifeboat only can seat 20 people, but there are 22 passengers, yourself included. Who gets on the lifeboat and how do you choose? Who should be sacrificed? Should the Captain always go down with the ship?

Now, before you start to reply, take this into account. The water is too cold for someone to 'hang onto the side'. A person needs to be out of the water and drying off without being re-submerged to survive. Plus, hanging onto the side while rowing to some destination wouldn't work either. One cannot swim to shore, they would die before they made it halfway. Nor could you fit more than 20 people in the lifeboat or it will sink. No ifs, ands, or buts. Those are just the facts and you cannot question them or you miss the point of the exercise.

the point in ethical dilemma exercises is to decide based on the choices you have. You cannot make up other possible choices, they do not exist and nothing else is possible. They are designed so that you are forced to challenge your morals and make a decision on "what would you do."

Now, give your answer.

[b] The above was created as an ETHICAL situation. The options are limited

[(JD)]

Not to be too OT, I hope: But this type of "exercise" has no place in the regular school system. It gives no right nor wrong answer, and the main thing is for you, yourself to survive. Choosing who dies IS wrong. By not being allowed to come up with a viable solution, it limits the true sense of ethics and morals, imo.

Ethical Dilemma: The Over-Crowded Lifeboat http://www.unsolvedmysteries.com/usm485731.html

This should be fun, yes? OK I took introduction to ethics last semester and we had to think about ethical dilemma every class. The one we altered the most was the overcrowded lifeboat dilemma. I'm always curious as to how other people choose to answer, so I bring it to you. The dilemma:

A boat is sinking and the lifeboat only can seat 20 people, but there are 22 passengers, yourself included. Who gets on the lifeboat and how do you choose? Who should be sacrificed? Should the Captain always go down with the ship?

Now, before you start to reply, take this into account. The water is too cold for someone to 'hang onto the side'. A person needs to be out of the water and drying off without being re-submerged to survive. Plus, hanging onto the side while rowing to some destination wouldn't work either. One cannot swim to shore, they would die before they made it halfway. Nor could you fit more than 20 people in the lifeboat or it will sink. No ifs, ands, or buts. Those are just the facts and you cannot question them or you miss the point of the exercise.

the point in ethical dilemma exercises is to decide based on the choices you have. You cannot make up other possible choices, they do not exist and nothing else is possible. They are designed so that you are forced to challenge your morals and make a decision on "what would you do."

Now, give your answer.

[b] The above was created as an ETHICAL situation. The options are limited by the author. Forcing people to play God only reinforces their selfishness and gives them a sense of power they do not have, nor deserve.

[Kiya]

yep...i ust started working in schools - i've got 8th graders who can't read 2nd grade level. None can spell well at all. I'm quite worried about the future for these kids. Heh, i had a 1st grader chew me out today - after yelling at everyone else. told me to stop talking (when I asked her to do her work and leave other people alone). I didn't know if i should laugh or cry.

[Timgt5]

This education issue ticks me off:

First I absolutely think it is NOT the fault of teachers. The vast majority of which are doing their honest best with improperly raised kids, government bureaucracy, and a school system that was essentially designed by robber barons of the late ninteenth century to churn out factory workers and of course a stubburn teacher's union that fights any real improvments or accountability tooth and nail.

Western Europe is successful in educating their kids for a number of reasons, but some some things are quite suprising.

1. They spend LESS per child. Per capita expenditures in most of the countries of Western Europe is much less than the US. in fact in some countries its only about half per child.

2. They have larger class sizes

3. They have in many cases less technology.

The one thing that they do have however is SCHOOL CHOICE. Suprised huh? That is the dirty secret out there the teacher's union does not want anyone here to know.

Thanks to their investment in public transportation Euro parents can pick any school within reasonable distantance of where they live without penalty. The result is that over time low performing schools go away and only good ones are left operating, just like the marketplace.

If you think I am full of it, consumer advocate John Stossel has done exhaustive research on this subject. He sights the Belgian system as an example in his book, "Myths, Lies and Stupidity, Get out the Shovel, why everything you think you know is Wrong" In the book he speaks to a local district superindent who bluntly states that school choice is partly responsible for the superior performance of their kids. Funny how liberals want to import Universal Health Care but do not want to inport Europe's methods of education which have proven results.

It not a matter of throwing more money at the problem. Our system needs a redesign from the ground up.

1. We need a system that is geared toward the marketing and information economy of the 21st century. The manufacturing economy is going, and no amount of ranting by Lou Dobbs or Rust Belt pols is bringing it back.

2. Parents need resources for being able to chose schools within a resonable distance, public or private. We need the equivalent of a G.I. bill for kids to level the playing field. Whenever any organization has a captive audience, it has NO incentive to do its best. Parents must become the customers and learn more about alternatives such as home schooling etc.

3. Education must be truly learner driven and we all need to become life long learners.

I know people will disagree with me, and thats fine. I would also suggest reading various books by Alvin and Heidi Toffler, and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich who has written extensively on this subject.

In the end trying to pour money into the same outdated model will continue to fail. We need a radical rethink of how we educate kids and adults in this country.

[Peanuts]

5 years of Spanish and you are hungry for more .. that is fantastic. A suggestion is to approach your teacher and brainstorm for a project that will stretch you intellectually and provide the challenge you are seeking. Often, a gifted student must think outside the box or rather outside the cookie-cutter curriculum. I would imagine that most teachers would be thrilled to have a student such as yourself who is interested in going further.

All the best !

[Peanuts]

I don't agree with school choice. Public schools by law MUST accept all children regardless of ability. Private schools can selectively accept students so that you have a homogenous population of students. An autistic child would not be eligible to attend a private school .. only the public school is required by law to provide a free and appropriate education.

I feel very strongly that instead of crippling our public schools by taking scarce resources away and giving to private schools .. communities need to get involved and help make our schools stronger and better places for our children to learn and grow into responsible adults. Public schools need community leaders, parents, professionals to step up and volunteer time. Money is important but I think that the sharing of knowledge is what is desperately needed within many of our public school districts.

Volunteer time to help out on the playground, bring a bucket of chalk and some tennis balls with you. Help a group of elementary students learn how to cooperatively play a game. Volunteer to stop in and read to students during lunch or even at recess. Volunteer to participate in the many committees that are part of public schools - help out the after-prom committee and help plan activities that will ensure our young people make good choices during the graduation/prom season.

Its easy to give up and walk away from difficult students .. it takes dedication and grit to jump in and make a difference. Children do not pick / select their parents .. it is not a child's fault whatever shortcomings their parents present. And there are a lot of parents out there that are just not doing right by their children - not even close. But we cannot throw those children away because they have the misfortune of being born to immature parents who can't take care of themselves let alone a child.

Supporting our public schools by volunteering, getting involved, plus voting for appropriate funding is what will position this country for the future. I really believe this.

[(JD)]

Good points all, imo.

Florida has good funding, they just don't spend it right. We were given the option of voting in the Lottery with the proceeds going to Education. Even though our State Constitution prohibited us doing that, it was voted in. What did the legislature do? Took the lottery monies and reduced the normal spending from the general fund by that same amount! They cheated us. Ok, so we adjust the lottery and it makes more money...and now they've cut our educational budget ..the BUDGET mind you, because of the Federal cuts. And so we're stuck with no enough money, a pitiful budget for education, AND the costs of those spending monies they can't afford to lose, on playing a gambling game.

I'm all for parents moving their children to schools that educate! It's one way they can have a voice. I don't support the idea that african, european, or latino students have to be stuck in any ghetto school with a lower budget than other schools just because of the location. Everyone deserves the best education available, and if the only way to vote on it is to move schools so the local schools go under, so be it! More power to them!

I've always been leery as I said, of removing Christian and other faith students entirely from the system. Now that the USA is bending over backwards to accommodate the Muslim students, perhaps it's a good time for Jewish and Christian students to rejoin the mainstream system and also receive like accommodations? It won't eliminate all the violence and ganging but it will certain;y give a better level of civility for all to use as a goal.

I also think students and parents should be allowed to express their voices by quarterly evaluating the teachers...on paper! Any time I give a seminar, or educate those who do, I make sure a critique is part of the course. If such concern makes a difference on a week-long or even a one day course, surely it's more important to receive the feedback from the parents for a year-long adventure! IMO. Any teacher should welcome feedback. You toss the ones over the top praise, and those that are only complaints (if either category only has a few) and go with the average comments. Perhaps the ones against this are those slackers who know they are cheating the students?

If a student hasn't learned, the teacher hasn't taught. Pure and simple.

[Timgt5]

Amen sister, amen.

[sabby]

Hi Folks,

Please lets keep in mind our guidelines when posting....re: political and/or religious comments. While I understand that our education system is not perfect and everyone has some pretty strong feelings about this, we really need to keep the postings within guidelines.

Thanks so much!


sabby

NOTE: My Caps are not "Yelling," just stressing some points!

</font><blockquote><div id="quote"><font class="small">Quote:</font>
_Sky said:

I also think students and parents should be allowed to express their voices by quarterly evaluating the teachers...on paper! Any time I give a seminar, or educate those who do, I make sure a critique is part of the course. If such concern makes a difference on a week-long or even a one day course, surely it's more important to receive the feedback from the parents for a year-long adventure! IMO. Any teacher should welcome feedback. You toss the ones over the top praise, and those that are only complaints (if either category only has a few) and go with the average comments. Perhaps the ones against this are those slackers who know they are cheating the students?

If a student hasn't learned, the teacher hasn't taught. Pure and simple.

</div></font></blockquote><font class="post">

I am not sure what level you are talking about in allowing evaluations of the teachers, highschool, college, all?

Literature has shown time and time again that "personal characteristics" such as professor's appearance, professors color or race or gender, and STUDENT's belief of the grade they are getting have a MAJOR influence on faculty evaluations.

In fact, many universities are no longer using these as evaluations as "performance of teaching" because many come back with things like "I want to ***** the professor" "I hated the professor's shoes" "This class was so much work", etc, etc. Instead of critical comments and evaluations about the class, the methods or style of teaching and the learning experience.

QUOTE: "If a student has not learned, it is the teacher's fault"

I wholeheartedly disagree with this. I was a foster kid, a trouble maker. I did horrible in school. Teacher's tried, but my lifestyle did not allow for me to learn. Being moved, having horrible bio-parents, and my mental health issues all made an impact in the classroom. I was one of those kids in 8th grade reading at a 3rd grade level, no fault of the teachers, because they could only do so much. They taught, I could not learn. Their fault was continuing to pass me through....and looking the other way about my level of education. Allowing me to "slip through the cracks."

BUT when my life got stable and I remained in one home for the rest of my childhood, when I had a "family" that had an interest in my development and well-being, then it was at this point that I was able to learn what was being taught. I was not having to worry about being abused, not having food, not having caring, not having clothes, I could focus on learning because I no longer had to worry about surviving.

Do I blame all those earlier teachers? No. I blame the other people who should have been supportative of my development.
At the middle school/high school level, kids can't learn if their lives are hell. And hell could be anything from undiagnosed learning disabilities to family problems to mental illness to ???
KIDS CAN NOT LEARN WELL IF THEY ARE SUFFERING INNER TURMOIL AND PAIN.
It simply takes too much energy and effort to deal with pain, so there is not much left to learn.

I think that there is failure at both the SCHOOL level and SOCIETY level. Society has broken down so much that families are not important anymore. Kids are left to be raised in the school system. How can teacher's be expected to teach and baby-sit and deal with problem behaviors. They can't. So, something fails..........the behavior of the children is allowed to be disrepectful, the student's learn less, etc. and it just snowballs.

I personally think it is a disaster. Families want the teachers to fix it and teachers want the families to fix it. The people that should be taking the responsibility for giving stability in a child's life is the family unit. But because the way society has changed, the family unit does not exist. Parents are over-worked and have to, to be able to maintain the material things they feel they need. Instead of spending time with the children, they give the children "things" to entertain them. (Hence this entitled feeling that many college students have)

IMHO....money won't change the problem.....fixing the family unit will.

[AAAAA]

The problems is that the schools don't have the funding for the TAG programs.

One of my children attends a virtual school. It's awesome, all classes are at his level. His classes are HONORS classes which would not be available in our local school district.

As the virtual school becomes more popular, the teacher's union filed suit against the major virtual school in Madison, trying to force our students back to traditional school.

Many of my son's classmates are living all over the world. Many traditional schools will allow you to attend these classes, talk to your guidance councelor.