One would think with all the money thrown at the distressingly low scores that students score at throughout America, that just about everyone would want to see what could be done to materially improve those scores. Additionally, there is the serious problem, that despite the fact that Brown v. Board of Education was decided way back in 1954, that today’s schools, in many a community, are still segregated, and in particular, those that are segregated in minority communities, are typically the most unequal, with the poorest results for those students that attend these schools.
In a day and age, in which a proper education has serious value in order to catch a ride on any of the various employment jobs, that offer both good pay and solid employment growth, we find that this thus necessitates competency in not only the traditional three R’s of reading, writing, and arithmetic, but also the ability and discipline to think and to discern at an intelligent level. Clearly, those that do not attain basic educational achievements, have placed themselves in a rather poor place in order to prosper and to have a satisfactory life in this nation.
Yet, perhaps there is light at the end of the tunnel, which public schools need to pay serious attention to, which is the fact that the Department of Defense runs schools for children of its miliary members, which are located at various forts throughout America, in which, those students as reported by nytimes.com, in regards to the National Assessment of Educational Progress, which is “a federal exam that is considered the gold standard for comparing states and large districts, the Defense Department’s schools outscored every jurisdiction in math and reading.”
This is an absolutely outstanding achievement, which reflects two important things. The very first thing it reflects is that integrated schools can be quite successful for educational success, so proven by the Defense Department schools. The second thing that it proves is that students can achieve higher test scores when they are placed within schools, that are well organized, well structured, budgeted appropriately, and concentrated upon the success of those students, above all.
It has to be said, that schools that are poorly run, poorly managed, underbudgeted, disruptive, and with students that suffer from the poverty of being food insecure, unstable housing, unsafe neighborhoods, lack of healthcare, and a poor infrastructure, are not going to be conducive to getting the best results for those students, or representing well what teachers need in order to do their part, effectively.
Indeed, the United States needs to take a serious look at its educational system, and if need be, to simply federalize such, for the betterment of this nation, and thereby to take control away from local school boards that are often too divisive and misguided, as well as to thereby oversee and to prioritize that all schools must meet a certain specific level, no matter where they are located, with budgets submitted to meet those demands. In short, this nation owes it to the current generation, as well as the generations to follow, that all of those children, should be provided with the fair opportunity to get themselves properly educated, as well as to have also the sanctuary of a vibrant school system that is invested in their success.