Schools

I am sick and tired of hearing how teacher incompetence is the cause of the failure of our schools. With the recent increase in the cost of a UC college education to $25,000-30,000 per year, who would be so foolish as to invest five years in college only to become incompetent?

The problems in schools are created primarily by the students. Children who listen, behave and apply themselves reach their potential. Those who don't wouldn't be successful if God Himself were their teacher.

And now we come to another basic cause of the breakdown of education. If you have children, look in the mirror; it could be you. Do you send your children to school each day ready to learn? Have you taught them basic decency and respect for others? Have you made sure they have completed their homework? Do you help them to understand their lessons? If you do, I commend you.

Unfortunately, there are millions of parents who don't. Some of these people are the dregs of society. and they won't be reading (or can't read) this post. I would like to talk to those who have been too busy or distracted to be actually engaged in their children's education. You are one-third of the student-teacher-parent education formula. If you don't do your part, the children sense you don't care. Only with your involvement can schools succeed.

Good teachers only present facts; it's up to you, the parents, to interpret them. Teach your values to your children, and maybe, someday some of them will rub off on those poor wretches whose parents have none.