Why are Schools and Children Failing - Research Paper Example

Topic: Why are schools and children failing? Summary: Education is a primary factor in establishing the foundation of a successful and civilized society. Quality education plays an important role in shaping the physical and mental personality of a person. Recently, our schools and the entire education system are faced with different obstacles in providing the quality education to our children. However, on the other hand, students are observed lacking interest in gaining education or earning at least a high school diploma. As a result, the entire structure of our society is collapsing. It is important to understand the factors, causes and consequences of why our schools and children are failing in this time of need when education should be the primary concern of the learned and civilized societies. There are different reasons to understand this rising question; low parental involvement, poor education system, lack of funding, poor focus on the development of teachers, curriculum and lack of interest in students are the emerging factors contributing in low quality education. Similarly, high school dropout rates are mostly the outcome of low parental involvement, keen involvement of students in other social activities, poor understanding of course material, financial issues, problem in understanding the language, social pressure and different psychological disorders. This paper discusses the factors, reasons and consequences of failing of schools and children and how can we overcome such issues as well as this paper also highlights in detail all the components responsible in the failure of our education system and, most importantly why majority of children are losing their interest in studies and how can we overcome this issue in order to strengthen the foundation of the basic pillar of our society. Introduction: From past few years, American public school system is faced with rapid decline and high dropout rates. Public schools are state-run schools or they can be called as government schools which are operated by government agencies. It has been estimated that around 87 percent of the school-aged children attend different public schools in United States. Public schools in United States are faced by the issues of funding, staffing, curriculum and other state or federal mandates. Why Schools Fail? In United States, public schools are faced with the mismanagement of funds and outdated educational policies. Public schools in America are in dire need of proper funding by the related authorities. Secondly, teachers in public schools have to perform different several roles rather than staying in the role of a “traditional teacher.” Teachers are expected to be social workers, substitute parents, nurses and counselors. Schools should enhance few necessary elements in their education system to avoid failing and to gain an edge in providing quality education. According to Kupermintz (2002) this includes: 1- Traditional learning approach: Traditional method of learning enables individuals to gain knowledge and develop basic skills that would facilitate them in the learning process. Teacher plays a center role in the dissemination of knowledge and the all students are required to follow what the teacher tells them to do. The basic aim of traditional learning method is to overcome the weaknesses of the poor and incapable students and to fulfill this purpose; curriculum is made simpler for their understanding. In this method, a student is considered knowledgeable if he successfully produces whatever his teacher has taught him during the study time. This approach is simple in its implementation however; it limits the creativity thinking of the students. 2- Brain based learning: In this method of learning, the basic aim of the teachers and facilitators is to enhance the creative and analytical skills of the students through their active participation rather than just following whatever the teacher asks. This type of learning method develops the interest of the students through different methods such as by taking them on field trips, getting them into experimental methods, reading and writing their own opinions. This helps the students to look beyond the limited horizons and to explore new dimensions for better learning. 3- Professional Development of Teachers: Teachers should be given timely trainings. Their skills should be enhanced and improved. Attending seminars and workshops would enable the teachers to develop basic teaching skills. Teachers should be taught on the importance of traditional learning approach and brain based learning. This would help the teachers to understand the strengths and weaknesses of their students. High School Dropout Rates in America: American education system is faced with high dropout rates. According to estimation, about seven thousand students drop out from schools every day. It is hard for high school dropouts to find a good job for themselves with a bright and promising future. Such individuals make the entire society to suffer because of their irresponsible actions. Education grooms a person; however such individuals lack the basic grooming and personality development skills which can be easily analyzed from their personality and mental approach (FactSheet, 2009). In America graduation rates are the true performance indicator of schools and colleges. The performance of public schools, high schools and colleges is measured on the basis of these rates and government agencies and other authorities continuously monitor the graduation rates on regular basis. As a result, this continuous monitoring of the graduation rates revealed the true yet, grave situation of these schools and colleges. From decades, schools were publishing false graduation rates which failed to get the public attention. As a result, people knew very little about the critical situation of these schools and the reasons behind it. But with the passage of time, research and continuous monitoring by the government authorities has developed awareness regarding the poor performances of schools and the causes of high dropout rates. Who is Dropping Out? It is almost impossible for the students to acquire good quality education. It has been analyzed that majority of the students who fail to graduate with a regular diploma are either faced with low income and other financial issues or they come from minority groups. Such factors can be considered as the major obstacles in their struggle to obtain good education. According to a research by Rumberger (2004), it has been indicated that: Around 1.2 million students fail to graduate from high school. Out of them, half of the students belong to minority groups. Although, 71% of the students somehow manage to obtain their regular diploma on time but among them, half of these students fail to earn their diplomas with their other peers on time. A huge gap has been observed between white and minority graduation rates. This difference of graduation rates between the two groups has raised many concerns regarding the success of education in America. Family background and financial stability play an important role in qualifying a student for graduation. Students coming from financially stable backgrounds are more likely to acquire their degrees earlier as compare to students coming from comparatively financially weaker background. Why do Students Drop Outs? There are different reasons to why students drop out, however according to research it has been analyzed that lack of basic skills, interest, economic conditions, and complicated transitions to high school are few of the main reasons (Rumberger, 2004). Other Reasons and Causes: There can be several other reasons and causes which can contribute together in determining the factors that what pushes a student to leave his school or the college or what factors are responsible in failing of such students . Some of the reasons are: 1- Lack of understanding the amount required: Students fail to understand the amount of work and dedication required by good schools and colleges in order to attain good grades. Majority of students fail to give their maximum time to their studies. 2- Interest in other activities: Majority of the students have been found out with their interest in other activities. Such students ignore the importance academics and its potential role in their lives. As a result, students lose their interest in studies, indulge themselves in other social activities and thus, fail. 3- Poor language skills: Minority or other foreign students may have poor language skills. Such students fail to read and write proper English. As a result, these students fail in almost every subject and finally, they leave school or the college. 4- Working students: Majority of minority students can be found working in different departmental stores or at gas stations to support their families and attain financial stability. However, such group of working students fails to meet their academic requirements and eventually they end up flunking in their schools or colleges. To meet their career goals and to earn financial independence is more important to them as compare to earning a diploma. 5- Psychological disorders: Students may lack interest in studies or may suffer from different psychological disorders. Mental health of a child plays an important role in creating the interest for studies in their minds. 6- Low Parental Involvement: Parents fail to keep a regular check and balance on the activities of their children. Low parental involvement is a primary reason for high dropout rates from school and colleges. Because of this factor, students can be found involved in immoral and unethical activities which may give rise to other criminal activities. Parents prefer leaving everything on their schools or colleges and ultimately blame them on poor academic performances of their children. It is highly important for parents to understand that schools/colleges are not responsible for any activity of their child outside the educational premises. Consequences of Public School Failure and High Dropout Rates: 1-Lack of education can be a basic factor in increased crime rates in the American society. This problem can be overcome, if children are facilitated and guided by their teachers in their course of studies. 2- The lack of high school diploma can give rise to high unemployment rate. This can detrimental the economic structure and will increase the financial burden on the entire American society. 3- Teachers and facilitators may lose their interest in teaching the students which may adversely affect the learning process of the students. Recommendations and Suggestions: Government authorities should focus on leveraging the performance of public schools and to counter the high dropout rates. Active policies should be drawn by the authorities which should be focus on providing quality education to the children without any discrimination. Similarly, equal benefits should be provided to public school teachers in order to motivate them. Teachers should be given training to enhance and improve their teaching skills. Government should induce innovative policies, practices and different learning and teaching techniques to make sure that public schools should provide quality education and to overcome the failures. On the other hand, schools and colleges should improve the standard of their education. Students should be provided with guidance both from their parents and teachers. At the time, minority students should be compensated with flexible school/college schedules, they should be given easy study loans as well as teachers should make sure that they understand the language easily and clearly. Conclusion: Education plays an important role in structuring the framework of a better and developed society. Successful nations emphasize on the need of providing quality education to their citizens. Therefore, countries such as United States and England have established public schools to facilitate the educational needs of their citizens in a proper manner. However, in the past few years American public schools are faced with constant failure due to governmental policies and poor infrastructure. Similarly, a high dropout rate is another contributing factor that has dismantled the entire American education system. Government authorities, facilitators and parents should push the students to at least obtain their high school diploma in order to become productive member of the society and to gain financial freedom. It should be highlighted that schools should not be held responsible for the students’ out-of-school activities which can adversely affect their academic performance. However, teachers may help and guide the students to overcome any problem faced by them during their course of studies. On the other hand, parental involvement also plays a key role in determining the interest of the students. List of References: ‘Causes of Failure in College.’ University of Alabama, Centre for Academic Success [Online] accessed on 24th January, 2012. FactSheet (2009). ‘High School Dropouts in America.’ [Online] accessed on 24th January, 2012. Kupermintz, H. (2002). ‘Value-Added Assessment of Teachers: The Empirical Evidence.’ in School Reform Proposals: The Research Evidence. Alex Molnar, Ed. Greenwich, CT: Information Age Publishing. Pp. 217-234. R. Rumberger, (2004). ‘Why Students Drop Out of School, in Dropouts in America: Confronting the Graduation Rate Crisised.’ Cambridge, MA: Harvard Education Press, 131-155. Read More