President Obama’s comments regarding American education sounded like a clarion call from a Republican administration - no request for increased spending, higher pay for teachers or heavy spending on bricks and mortar school projects.
Instead he gave poor marks to the educational system and American parents. He stated with force “we are ninth in math and eleventh in science in the world!” He also pointed out that parents from other nations pushed children (and teachers) in the first grade to learn more English, math and science. Implied, but not stated, is the fact that many school systems and American parents would rather see a young athlete score well in the next game than on the next math, science or English exam.
In one area schools have shown an unrelenting upward trend i.e. the average weight of their graduating students. It is easy to blame the local McDonalds or Burger King or the parents. On the other hand, could epidemic obesity be more directly related to de-emphasis of physical education, health education, and the replacement of in-house cafeterias with the unappetizing offerings of for-profit purveyors? As a result most schools found it necessary to augment the student’s diet with snack machines and drink machines replacing fountain water (that could contain fluoride to strengthen their teeth). The average student can easily tack on 200-400 calories from drinks alone while in school.
Interestingly, he made no recommendations for brick and mortar upgrades. Instead, he recommended curriculum improvement, better teacher education (better teachers), and higher federal and state standards.
To facilitate his goals, we would like to recommend discipline. Homework must be completed before sports practice – be it in after school study halls with teachers that care and encourage especially those poor souls whose parents are problematic or have alcohol, drug or other serious social problems.
[submitted by Charles E. Reier MD Rebecca A. Reier]
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