[Pugchief]

The good news: FL is the second best in the nation. Bad news: The entire country has failing schools.

Why is this such a problem? Why are today's youth unable to read or do math at grade level? I know Covid caused a setback, but this was going on prior, and continues after.

[Bogie Shooter]

Book banning?

[fdpaq0580]

Originally Posted by Bogie Shooter

Book banning?

Partly. But, I think many, if not most, kids are more interested in being internet sensations and influencers. Why work at anything when videoing everything that you see and posting it brings rewards with every view. Everybody wants to be a star in one way or another, as long as it doesn't mean you have to work too hard for it.

[manaboutown]

It is my understanding SAT scores peaked out in 1965. It has been downhill ever since which prompted the test being dumbed down.

History of the SAT - Wikipedia

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Book banning, de-emphasis on quality public education and shifted emphasis to "school choice," which means poorer schools get even less funding. Lower teaching standards with more paperwork for teachers which results in higher turnover rate, burnout, and shortages. Higher costs for teachers to get educated and quality to BE teachers - but their pay doesn't cover the loans, so fewer people are actually becoming teachers even if they have the degree for it. Parents choosing not to emphasize the importance of a high school diploma, communities choosing to prep kids for things like agriculture, technology, and plumbing and not for the sciences and humanities (why should they need to learn how to read and write English, if they're going to spend the rest of their lives fixing toilets, networking computers, or landscaping?) I personally blame Texas Instruments for the math failures. Kids don't have to know how to do mathematics. Their computers do all the work for them.

[Stu from NYC]

School systems who think what is happening is ok and want to dumb down education.

Once upon a time kids could be left back and were encouraged to compete.

[manaboutown]

Originally Posted by Pugchief

The good news: FL is the second best in the nation. Bad news: The entire country has failing schools.

Why is this such a problem? Why are today's youth unable to read or do math at grade level? I know Covid caused a setback, but this was going on prior, and continues after.

I just noticed (no surprise), that New Mexico at 21% had the lowest reading competency of all 50 states. Last I read only about 65% of children there graduate high school. I am saddened because it is my home state as I grew up there. I also still own and operate a business in NM so am firsthand all too familiar with the illiteracy and terrible crime rate.

[JoMar]

Originally Posted by OrangeBlossomBaby

Book banning, de-emphasis on quality public education and shifted emphasis to "school choice," which means poorer schools get even less funding. Lower teaching standards with more paperwork for teachers which results in higher turnover rate, burnout, and shortages. Higher costs for teachers to get educated and quality to BE teachers - but their pay doesn't cover the loans, so fewer people are actually becoming teachers even if they have the degree for it. Parents choosing not to emphasize the importance of a high school diploma, communities choosing to prep kids for things like agriculture, technology, and plumbing and not for the sciences and humanities (why should they need to learn how to read and write English, if they're going to spend the rest of their lives fixing toilets, networking computers, or landscaping?) I personally blame Texas Instruments for the math failures. Kids don't have to know how to do mathematics. Their computers do all the work for them.

I suspect that people looking for success have figured it out, they will have a rising income fixing toilets, networking computers and maybe even landscaping as they contribute to the needs of the population. The humanities may provide personal satisfaction but are not profitable carrers for the majority and usually end up going backwards or holding multiple jobs. I believe the sciences are doing well as we educate the world on the sciences. Kids knowing how to do math is no longer required. If it comes down to picking the person that knows how to do math or knows how to operate technology guess who wins. Even slide rules are now in museums.

[Aces4]

Originally Posted by OrangeBlossomBaby

Book banning, de-emphasis on quality public education and shifted emphasis to "school choice," which means poorer schools get even less funding. Lower teaching standards with more paperwork for teachers which results in higher turnover rate, burnout, and shortages. Higher costs for teachers to get educated and quality to BE teachers - but their pay doesn't cover the loans, so fewer people are actually becoming teachers even if they have the degree for it. Parents choosing not to emphasize the importance of a high school diploma, communities choosing to prep kids for things like agriculture, technology, and plumbing and not for the sciences and humanities (why should they need to learn how to read and write English, if they're going to spend the rest of their lives fixing toilets, networking computers, or landscaping?) I personally blame Texas Instruments for the math failures. Kids don't have to know how to do mathematics. Their computers do all the work for them.

By all means, children who are not able to read 8 to 10 selected books before the age of 18 definitely causes ignorance and illiteracy. No wonder education is failing.

I love the panning of the trades which are crucial to the health of our country and most computer operators, administrators and security personnel are able to run circles around college graduates. One needs to come in contact with these employees outside the Florida environment. They are hardworking, bright people who deal with the real world and not tainted by a college environment where many classes are taught by a TA.

First question I have, are all of the children tested American citizens, speak English and have a dedicated home/household to which they return at night? If broad testing is being performed on all children at all levels, the results could be very skewed. A clarification would be welcome.

The majority of children are being raised in an overindulgent home life where everything is provided, chores aren't required, there isn't a dedicated homework time, sports come first and the kids faces are glued to cellphones. Reading isn't encouraged and a trip to the library is a very last priority.

[villager7591]

Reading, writing and arithmetic should be the focus...not which pronoun to use, gender reassignment, etc.

[Bogie Shooter]

Originally Posted by aces4

by all means, children who are not able to read 8 to 10 selected books before the age of 18 definitely causes ignorance and illiteracy. No wonder education is failing.

I love the panning of the trades which are crucial to the health of our country and most computer operators, administrators and security personnel are able to run circles around college graduates. One needs to come in contact with these employees outside the florida environment. They are hardworking, bright people who deal with the real world and not tainted by a college environment where many classes are taught by a ta.

first question i have, are all of the children tested american citizens, speak english and have a dedicated home/household to which they return at night? if broad testing is being performed on all children at all levels, the results could be very skewed. A clarification would be welcome.

The majority of children are being raised in an overindulgent home life where everything is provided, chores aren't required, there isn't a dedicated homework time, sports come first and the kids faces are glued to cellphones. Reading isn't encouraged and a trip to the library is a very last priority.

wow.!
(Send them to the camps)

[Topspinmo]

Originally Posted by Bogie Shooter

Book banning?

Laugh of the day.

[Topspinmo]

Wow you means the billions of dollars spent public schools has failed taxpayers. O wait that not enough is it. More money will solve that problem. O wait the lottery was supposed to solve public schools funding, o wait 90% get siphoned off. Yep, more money will solve that problem, sure it will. Several reasons why public education failing and IMO the biggest federal government and teachers unions. Parents ways down the list.

[Aces4]

Originally Posted by Bogie Shooter

wow.!
(Send them to the camps)

Critical thinking is so important and so many are missing those skills... we're talking about statistics and how these may be skewed by many factors.

It's a waste of time trying to read anything more into it than that and it is not germane to the subject.

[jimbomaybe]

Originally Posted by Topspinmo

Wow you means the billions of dollars spent public schools has failed taxpayers. O wait that not enough is it. More money will solve that problem. O wait the lottery was supposed to solve public schools funding, o wait 90% get siphoned off. Yep, more money will solve that problem, sure it will. Several reasons why public education failing and IMO the biggest federal government and teachers unions. Parents ways down the list.

Many private schools are an out growth of religious organizations, teachers who see teaching as a calling. Parental involvement. School choice and selective enrollment that the teachers unions have no use for, it puts school performance under scrutiny. My son went through a selective enrollment high school a place with both parents and student had a very deferent attitude from the usual public high school . The Washington post has an article on how GPAs were up and SAT scores were down, that is the answer of the public school systems dominated by the teacher unions.