A recent article published in The Guardian put it well: “Schooling without learning is just time served.” There is an alarming trend taking place in our schools today. Though our children spend record amounts of time in the classroom, it seems they aren’t any better for it. Over the years, numerous changes have been made to teaching styles and curricula, all intended to help children acquire the skills needed to secure good jobs and live independently in today’s society. Teachers strive to identify each child’s unique learning style and encourage their individual gifts. With such a customized approach to education, one might assume that kids are growing intellectually by leaps and bounds. Yet, this is not the case. Quite the opposite.
Today’s children seem to retain little of what they learn. Worse, with school systems refusing to “fail” any child who doesn’t meet age and grade criteria, they instill a false sense of entitlement—teaching that children can expect things without earning them. Schools are producing “graduates” who lack even the most basic skills. The ability to read, write, and perform basic mathematical equations is no longer a given.
There’s no other way to say it: our education system is broken.
The Blame Game: Who is Responsible?
In today’s “no fault” society, people seem to be looking for a scapegoat. If a child isn’t learning, it’s not their fault—or Little Johnny’s, for that matter. After all, he spends six hours a day in a classroom with a professional educator. Surely, he should be well on his way to becoming the next Stephen Hawking?
If the system is broken—and it is—there is definitely someone responsible. But it might not be who you think. In the hierarchy of the education system, teachers fall quite low on the totem pole. They are often overburdened, and most of their power has been taken away. Teachers have little control over what happens in their classrooms. They’re forced to bend to unrealistic expectations and decisions imposed by people with the least knowledge of their profession. Tried-and-true teaching methods are tossed aside in favor of fads and unproven approaches.
The truth is, teachers are not the problem. They are merely cogs in a faulty system that victimizes more people than it helps.
Recent studies on teacher mental health reveal staggering results. Research conducted by USA Today concluded that more than 50 percent of teachers report that their mental health is far from optimal. A staggering 58 percent of those polled described their mental health as “not good.”
An online survey of over 5,000 educators found that 86 percent feel disrespected by school officials. Perhaps even more troubling is that 61 percent of teachers and school support staff report that their daily work is a constant source of stress. With stress weighing so heavily on today’s educators, it’s no wonder that only 18 percent report getting a proper night’s sleep on a regular basis.
If our teachers are stressed, disrespected, and deprived of sufficient rest, they can’t function at their best. And let’s face it: children are trying. It takes a tremendous amount of patience to deal with your own child when he’s in a bad mood. Now imagine trying to manage 30 Little Johnnys, all having simultaneous meltdowns.
This raises a critical question: if teachers are doing the best they can with the cards they’ve been dealt, who is responsible for the fact that our children aren’t learning?
While government officials and high-ranking education authorities play a large role in the problem, parents and teachers share some of the blame as well. A significant part of the dilemma stems from a relationship that should be a partnership to ensure a child’s success. Unfortunately, instead of working together, teachers and parents sometimes view each other as adversaries. Each assumes the other is responsible for certain things, and instead of communicating to make sure all areas are covered, they end up blaming each other for “gaps” in the student’s social and educational development. Both are at fault.
When teachers and parents collaborate, it’s a beautiful thing that leads to success. It truly takes a village to raise and educate a child. Teachers present the material and provide support within the classroom, but for learning to truly take place, they need backup from parents at home. Together, they can form a powerful alliance that even a government bent on ineffectual change cannot thwart. The key is working together.
What Are the Obstacles to Learning?
The facts are clear. More than ever, schools are graduating students who are ill-equipped to make their way in the world. It’s time for an educational overhaul to address the problem.
The first step in repairing a broken system is to assess what stands in the way of progress. Below is a list of obstacles preventing effective learning in classrooms today:
Excessive class sizes
While we know that one-on-one classroom instruction is unrealistic in today’s educational environment, extremely large class sizes mean children often fall through the cracks. Kids who need extra help understanding basic concepts can easily be overlooked in favor of children with more urgent needs. This ultimately leads to a much larger percentage of students who lack a solid grasp of the fundamental skills needed to move forward.
When class sizes are too large and teachers lack the necessary support and resources, everyone suffers. But it’s the children who suffer the most.
Family problems
Families experiencing upheaval due to divorce, health issues, or job loss often struggle to keep their problems from affecting their children. While parents may try to hide their stresses, children are perceptive and can pick up on changes in mood and behavior. This impacts their ability to focus.
Homes lacking stability often lead to children who struggle with concentration. Since concentration is key to learning, instability at home affects a child’s ability to process and absorb information, no matter how well it’s presented.
Routine and stability are vital to a child’s ability to learn and grow, but maintaining them can be challenging in today’s turbulent family climate.
Technology dependence
Technology addiction is a real problem today, and unfortunately, it’s affecting our children. In a Quartz article titled “It’s not a drug, but it may as well be: Expert opinions on whether kids are addicted to tech,” the author states that research shows “screen time interferes with fundamental factors in healthy child development: sleep, healthy eating, and so-called ‘serve and return’ moments between parents and children.”
In essence, an overabundance of screen time is hindering our children’s ability to learn properly. It affects attention spans, makes it difficult to focus, and creates challenges with impulse control—factors that are detrimental to producing a generation prepared to enter the workforce.
While technology plays an important role, it is crucial that children learn to use it responsibly. Parents must be involved to establish boundaries, teaching children to use technology wisely while learning to thrive without constant entertainment.
Bullying in schools
According to the National Center for Education Statistics, as many as one-third of students aged 12 to 18 reported being frequently bullied in 2007. Bullying has reached epidemic proportions.
Victims suffer a range of issues, including poor self-image, trust issues, passivity, aggression, anger problems, and social isolation. All of these factors lead to a reduced capacity to learn. School environments should be safe havens where children can thrive academically.
Poor attitude
Discipline has become a controversial topic in today’s society. However, permissiveness and excessive freedom of choice often lead to children who are out of control. Children need boundaries to thrive. As they mature, they develop the ability to make wise decisions. Giving them too much freedom too soon can turn them into ticking time bombs.
It’s vital that children learn respect for authority. While equality is important, it’s crucial that children understand they cannot adopt any attitude they like and expect it to be accepted. Respect for others and proper manners are essential in all areas of life.
Emphasis on testing
Not all children test well. Traditionally, testing has been written-based, and children who struggle with this format often don’t perform well, even if they understand the material. Testing anxiety can also contribute to poor performance. To assess knowledge effectively, a variety of methods should be used.
While some stress is necessary to prepare children for the adult world, adequate support must also be provided. Children need to be exposed to real-world conditions, but at a pace that encourages growth, not stifles it.
Lack of parental influence
In today’s society, where two incomes are necessary for families to survive, children are often left to their own devices. While some children may be responsible enough to prepare their own meals, they still need parental support to complete homework tasks. Unfortunately, many parents are caught up in the “rat race,” trying to make ends meet. It’s a tragic cycle with no easy solution.
Budgetary restrictions
Budget cuts are significantly affecting what teachers can offer our children. Gone are the days of music, art, and even gym in some schools. These subjects help enrich young minds, yet schools claim they can no longer afford the professionals needed to teach them. These classes are seen as “frivolous” compared to core academic subjects like math and science.
Moreover, budget cuts often mean the elimination of teacher aides. With large class sizes and diverse learning levels, teachers need all the help they can get. Sadly, the resources simply aren’t available.
Classroom coddling
While sensitivity to others is essential, we have swung too far in the other direction in today’s classrooms. Overreaction has become the norm. Schools now cater to the minority rather than the majority. While it’s important to ensure student safety, we must also teach children tolerance and respect for others’ needs and wants.
“No child left behind”
President Bush’s education bill may not reflect this exact sentiment, but the tendency to pass every child to the next grade—regardless of their actual ability—is harming our children. Although it’s painful to be held back, it’s a far lesser evil than advancing without the foundational skills needed to succeed in future grades.
Ineffectual teaching methods
The old adage is true: if it’s not broken, don’t fix it. Many proven teaching methods have been abandoned in favor of untested innovations. While new approaches can be valuable, it’s unwise to discard what has worked for the majority of students over the years.
Teacher burnout
With limited resources and teachers overstretched, we’re losing some of our best educators to burnout. This leaves us with inexperienced teachers who are ill-equipped to handle the excessive workload. As a result, everyone suffers—but most of all, our children.
There is no doubt that our education system needs reform. While teachers may not be the cause of the problem, they also aren’t receiving the support they need to help our children succeed. It’s time for change. Our children deserve it.
