What is Wrong with our educational system?

After hearing a lot of comments from parents about the normal schools they attended back in other countries and how they are doing great now, I feel like putting this in writing. The common argument is that it doesn't matter which school you attend here also.

Yes, you are right in one way that many of us are from medium families and attended normal Government schools and got into good professional colleges and are doing fine. Then what is the deal about public or private schools and pushing the kids or not?

The basic difference between Asian countries and here is that in Asian countries, education is the number one priority in  life, and here it is not. There, it is a community feeling; parents,teachers, relatives, and  neighbors are all thinking on the same line. Here it is mix of education/dating/sex/work etc. There, teachers can't think about wasting one minute of their time. For them, each student is like their own. If our teachers were not there updating on our performance and caring about our future, how many of you would be in these positions right now? If our teachers told us that wasting time is ok, I don't think we would be this successful. Now try to connect our own  teachers with our kids' teachers right now. How many teachers here do you think carry that same caring  nature and even that much knowledge our teachers used to have? That is the big gap in this country. It is not about budget or other stuff. It is about quality of the teacher's heart and knowledge. It is also  the quality of the curriculum. Go around and talk to a parent from private schools/public schools/Saratoga/Cupertino/Evergreen. It all finally goes back to the teacher. It doesn't matter which school public/private, it is all about teacher quality.

I used to sit in classes of 50 students and learn a lot. Why can't the teachers here do it? Just some simple question to each parent out there: 

How many of your kids are not learning much from school? 

If so, what we can do about it ?

For me, I can't change even one teacher's mind about caring. I tried and failed.

I have experience with both sides of the picture as a teacher and parent.

High achieving area (like our neighborhood):

Parents are spending money outside or teaching the kids at home . Some teachers are just taking advantage of it. You really don't know how much these kids are missing in their education. Just one small example: one kid asked his teacher, "Why are you giving out answers and hints for math tests before each test?" The teacher said,"Otherwise you all will be confused about it." Then what's the point of tests??? He is still confused about the fact that his teacher last year didn't give out any answers but the whole class did great. The simple answer to this is that the last year's teacher really cared about teaching and this year's teacher knows how to play the game of making it good in front of the kids and parents. She is the most favorite teacher for many kids since they are all getting good grades and for parents also since they don't feel the pressure of homework, but are the kids learning anything? NOTHING according to me. For the big SAT and AP tests, they need to read the questions, study the formulas and understand the questions. So why can't they train the kids from the smaller grades? Since the teacher has the tenure and some supporters who don't care about education, we can't do any thing about it. She has all the political answers ready with her. 

Please stop whining about the money and more students in the classes e.t.c. If you have a great heart, you can guide these great students in the right way. You can do it! All you need is a white board, basic books, and some papers and pencils for the kids.

So as parents, we can't fix this big problem in front of you. How can you fix the problems at the Capital?

The other Side:

Low income neighborhood. Parents don't care. Students don't care. Half of the teachers don't care. But the Government cares. Tons of money is pumped into improving the performance score as remedial programs for students who messed up with other kids' lives and who didn't let the teachers teach. So there are many opportunities for bad kids to retake the tests. Nothing is going to happen. We're still wasting all our money on teaching the kids/family who don't care about education. First do some counseling and make them care about education and then start teaching them.

So it is really funny to watch both sides of the picture.

Please feel free to shout at me or support me. I am really frustrated with the educational system  where the lazy teachers and the lazy students are the culprits (not the money part).

Raji Menon

How to pick the Right High school For your kid ?

Let me start with my recent experience in this topic. I work at a school where the API is the lowest in the  District. We are marketing our AP Calculus program because if there is not enough students to take it, we will lose the whole program. Said that, last Friday one of my Calculus students informed me that he got into pre-med at UC Berkeley, UCLA, and UC Davis. He wanted my help in picking the right college. I was really excited and asked him about the details. Then, more surprises were revealed . First of all he is a Junior graduating this year as a senior. Also, he got the college credit for one year too. That means he only needs to do 3 years of Graduate studies at college. Now how did he do it? The moment he joined our 9th grade class he realized that our classes are not challenging. So, he took night classes at community colleges and finished 2 years of course work ahead. He didn't even care about the after school program at our school. So, what is the moral from that? If the child is motivated, we will have opportunities around us.  Also, we should be good at finding those opportunities out.

Now:

Disadvantages of the advanced programs in a low performing school:

Ok, this is an interesting topic to discuss. First of all, academics are not the only factor in your child's high school life. They have to do tons of extra curricular activities outside the school like after school sports, clubs, dances etc. So think of it this way, your kid is taking six to seven advanced periods in a low performing school with highly motivated kids and highly trained teachers. But what happens after that? You can't guarantee that your child is going to be with those highly motivated kids during after school activities. There are a lot of bad things like drugs, sex, gangs, just to name a few. If you think your child is capable of handling these situations then you are fine. High school years are so important for them to build their character, building connections, developing other interests, e.t.c. Also, you need to run around for counseling services, e.t.c. So it is absolutely your call. If your child is like the child in my class, you will be fine. But the risk factors are 50:50. Is your child ready to take that challenge? 

Advantages/Disadvantages of IB/Magnet programs:

This program follows a standardized curriculum and unique curriculum around the world. So, they are great programs in any school. Only highly motivated kids are in those classes, and trained teachers are taking the classes. The student needs to decide which area they are going to graduate to in 9th grade, so that way they are learning specialized subjects in that particular area. As for normal schools, kids can decide on their future even in the twelfth grade. So if a particular student in the IB program decides not to continue in that particular field in his tenth/eleventh grade they have to start over again in the other subject.