Schools are Schools.

When did reading writing and arithmetic's become an all encompassing responsibility. When I went to school, we didn't have a lot of color or words pasted everywhere. When I went to school we still had corporal punishment. Somehow we managed to learn to read, spell, and have proper grammar. We learned how to compute mathematics. We learned history and some of us even liked it. My best teacher was not a man who had colorful words on his walls. He was a man who treated us fairly, yet firmly maintained his control in his classroom. He was a man who challenged his students to be smarter than they wanted to be. Or, felt they needed to be. When I went to school, parents still trusted and respected a teacher, regardless if the children tried to deny an action, or said the teacher doesn't like me. I think the pressure to be "all things" is too great for any government institution. Parents and students alike are responsible for their own academic careers. As would anyone of us be in our own careers. Furthermore, we have our own family relationships to cultivate. As much as I would like to save every kid from poverty I know I can't. So I use the approach of I can show you what I know, but it's up to the student if he or she wants to learn. I have to say, it's been most effective. Five of my seniors are now taking on small repair and not so small jobs and have spoken with other student's about it. Now the kids are starting to realize money can be made! And then they realize, it's up to the individual and his or her aspirations, not the schools responsibility.