Dissociated Thoughts

Education Schmeducation

         While I have absolutely no experience with the British education systems, I do have quite a bit of experience with education in both the public and private sectors in the United States. Public education systems here in the old U.S. vary depending on the state, with many states having the bare minimum of requirements for their students to graduate. Since my experience has solely been in Texas, I will discuss my thoughts and feelings about the Texas Education System, Texas public schools, and some Texas private schools.

         Having taught a core subject (Biology) in a Texas public school and having worked with numerous others teaching the rest of the core classes (English, History, Maths), I and many of my colleagues have come to the conclusion that the state places too much emphasis on students passing the state tests. This has gotten to the point that teachers must teach to the test material, so the students miss out on other valuable areas of the subject that the state has deemed not as crucial. Students are not fully ready upon graduation to enter into higher education. I have also seen the flaw that public schools seldom offer classes in particular trades for those students who have no desire to attend college after graduation.

Class Sizes: Most larger school districts in Texas can have around thirty students in a classroom at one time. This causes far less one-on-one time that students need to adequately learn the topics being discussed. There are also so many students in the classroom that it takes the teacher longer to learn who each student is and the learning abilities of each. Add to that, the inevitable rabble-rousers and class clowns who constantly misbehave during lectures and the actual learning time in a class period is reduced even more.
         In smaller towns, class sizes can be as few as five or six students. I have personally worked for a couple of school systems like this and these are the ones I prefer. While you still have the class clowns, there is far more one-on-one time to help those students who don't seem to be understanding the subject matter and teachers are more quickly able to learn their students abilities and weaknesses to better help those students grasp the material.

Dress Code: In Texas, almost all public schools have a dress code. Some schools have a uniform policy, most of which list colors of polo shirts and pants or skirts allowed to be worn, so it is not a standardized uniform. I personally have no opinion on this as a former teacher. However, as a parent, I was miffed when the school my daughters attended implemented a uniform policy. That meant I had to go out and buy additional clothes for my daughters to wear to school in addition to their away from school clothing.

Private School Sector: Most private schools in Texas have a tuition fee and all I have seen require their students to wear uniforms. Many private schools in Texas are religion based due to the fact students are no longer allowed to pray in public schools as a group or personally. The private school community is more closely knit as well. These were the first differences that I saw when I began teaching at a private school. I also saw that private schools limit class sizes so each student has an optimum amount of personal learning time with their teachers. Private schools also offer a wider array of subject matter for their students and are not required to teach to nor administer core assessments for their students. You also have fewer class clowns to detract from learning time. What was lacking at the private school? Many do not have a band or art classes. I could go on and on about the benefits of private schools as compared to public schools but I won't.

         All in all, if I had it to do all over again, I would have found a way to afford for my daughters to go to a private school. I think they would have had more chance to succeed. But, they are doing well enough with their public school educations - and they're both happy and that's all that matters in the end.

Written for: "Journalistic Intentions"  Entry 4 of 8
Prompt:

LeJenD'Poet - Unapologetically ME.