American Public Schools: Ephemera?

 

ephemera - noun/plural form of ephemeron - things that exist for a short time

I watch very little programming on "the box," otherwise known as the television. But when I do, I tend to focus in on offerings that stimulate my brain. Albeit controversial, Bill Maher's Real Time is one of my weekly choices. I tend to agree with him on a number of fronts, particularly when it comes to public education, this week's topic for the hour's closing monologue. Talk about hitting the nail on the head when it comes to the state of the nation's schools (and parenting)! Taking advantage of freedom of speech, Bill didn't spare words, not that he usually does anyway. According to Bill, contemporary statistics surely point to the nation's public schools as being an example of impending ephemera if positive change is not enacted immediately.

Just in case you didn't already know, I taught English full time to myriad students in grades 6-12 and substituted for pre-K through five children for 25 years. Four of those years I spent being the only Presbyterian instructor in an all-girls Catholic school, a member of the legions of effective parochial schools Bill mentioned. And yes, it is true that the private schools in the country are doing much better when it comes to meeting educational objectives. Why? For one, they don't put up with smart phone usage in the classroom, something that public educators seem to care less about as they use their devices for personal reasons in class as well (I saw this myself). And of course, the parents are no angels as they insist on being in constant communication with their children and can't wait until they get out of class to ask them how their day is going. (This I witnessed as well.) Teachers who put their foot down and tell the students to put their phones away are either harassed, threatened, or beaten by the unruly natives. Now I will say that the violence is nothing new as in the 1980s, I had a public high school senior, posing as a sophomore, threaten to shoot me because I had told him to stop talking, but I suppose things are getting worse as the culprits known as cell phones are all too ubiquitous and addictive. No wonder there is an 86% teacher vacancy rate in public schools today. Common sense will tell you that no great young minds want to deal with shenanigans like this for barely enough money to meet rent. 

Of course, as Bill stressed as well, not all public schools (and parents) are guilty of carelessness, but too many are. Either positive change needs to occur or the face of education will turn in an alternative direction towards Catholic schools, expensive prep schools, or homeschooling (and who has time for that?). The public school system, founded by Ben Franklin himself, used to be an example of socialism at its best. Now it is transitioning into a bad joke, one that needs to be rewritten into an illuminating parable worthy of remembering. 

Just remember that all things are possible with a bit of effort :). 

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