There is a lot going on with America’s education system and to say the least, we should all be concerned.
I’m ringing this alarm because the problem is huge, yet it seems as if there is no real sense of urgency regarding finding plausible solutions. I often reflect on how Americans currently compete with people from other countries in an effort to land a job that will get them one step closer to living (or maintaining) that good ol’ American dream. I shudder to think how tough that competition will be for students who are currently in school … especially considering the problems with our education system.
Here’s a quick breakdown of some of the main problems I believe our schools are experiencing and the grave impact it can have on our society in the not-too-distant future:
Low teacher pay
It’s no secret that teachers are paid significantly less than what they deserve, especially given the tremendous magnitude of their jobs. Next to parents and a child’s close circle of family, teachers play one of the most significant roles in the lives of students. In essence, teachers are entrusted with the potential livelihood of a child. With that said, they should be getting paid more.
It frustrates me to see NFL officials and professional athletes “negotiating” over millions and millions of dollars when people like educators – people who directly impact the lives of children every day, are paid wages disproportionate to their vast job responsibilities. Low teacher pay hurts our children today and will do so even more in the future because fewer people will pursue careers in the field.
The health industry is a perfect example of such an issue with its nursing shortage. There is so much research, preparation and time that goes into teaching nursing, yet the pay isn’t commensurate, so people are opting out of the profession all together.
Less qualified teachers
Remember the saying “You get what you pay for?” Well, it’s true in education, too. If the highly-qualified teachers who have the skill set and also the passion to teach are not getting the pay they deserve, then they won’t work in the education field. But who will teach our children?
Here’s where the “you get what you pay for” part comes in. Since school districts all over the country are continuously cutting costs, they will only hire individuals at a particular pay scale. If the qualified and passionate wanna-be teachers don’t take the positions because of the dismal pay, somebody has to do the job. Those somebodies are generally underperforming teachers currently in many of America’s schools. When you have underperforming teachers, you have underperforming students. Underperformance will make it impossible to compete globally.
High college costs
The cost of college tuition is rising at rates that even the most ambitious analyst didn’t predict. The increased rates in addition to reduced government funding means that fewer students have access to college. If fewer kids go to college then their ability to compete in the global marketplace for a quality job is limited. Something has to be done to better assist students who may not have access to money that could go towards college. Naysayers might suggest scholarships, but there are many students who don’t qualify for the scholarships that can really reduce their collegiate debt.
Is it fair to limit the potential of someone because they have less access to capital or may not be the class valedictorian? I think not. Everyone deserves access to a quality education … even if they are poor with a C-average.
Hopefully, now you understand why I believe we should all be seriously concerned about our education system; why we have to ring the alarm. Of course the above-stated points are merely my opinion. I would like to hear what you think.
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