Bad teachers didn't cause our educational problems in this country

[Klukie]

Lack of parenting did (and no child left behind has made the problem worse). I will say up front that I am a stay at home mom and this post is in no way meant to piss off parents who both work while raising kids. I fully recognize that there are parents who can handle both responsibilities quite well but those parents need to also recognize that many people cannot. I really believe the root of our educational problem began with both parents choosing or having to go to work.

Our kids need us and it is our job to know our children and to shape them into good responsible people but I have to say that from where I sit that doesn't seem to be happening. I am one of the few moms in my neighborhood that does stay home with the kiddies and I also am the mom that usually has a yard full of neighborhood kids. I know the name of every child in the neighborhood and I know who their parents are. I pay attention when my children are playing with others and I correct them fairly when they are misbehaving. I can't say the same for many of the parents who are both working. From what I have witnessed, many of them are just oblivious to behaviors of their children. They seemed overwhelmed and as a result the children aren't being shaped. Boundaries are not being set and discipline goes to the wayside. These are the children that are being sent to our very under payed teachers to deal with.


I volunteer in my children's school every week and in doing so I have had a great opportunity to view my children in their educational setting. I am able to assess their strengths and weaknesses and in turn assist the teacher in making sure that they do their best. I am also able to view what teachers have to deal with on a daily basis and I would recommend to any parent to take a peek from the inside. I have witnessed many parents who attack the teacher because they refuse to believe that their children are doing something wrong. Instead of listening to the teachers advice they will turn it around and act as if the teacher is bad. I have witnessed it over and over again and now the teacher blame game is gaining traction. Our teachers are not the problem.....we are.