Archives - Education: Page 20
Author: paul carson (Mon Jul 24, 2006 2:45 am)
Title: The Educational System is Still Failing the Poor
Our schools are failing our most at-risk students. Only 30 percent of eighth graders are proficient or advanced in reading, according to the National Assessment of Educational Progress. Math scores are nearly as bad. The No Child Left Behind Act is helping, by focusing attention on our neediest students, but it will succeed only if we recognize that certain children require more resources to educate than others. Most children living in poverty, for example, need longer school days and years, better teachers and materials, and extra services like tutoring.
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grow and be kind
I don't think children need longer days or years to become more educated members of our society. They aren't any slower or less intelligent than students from other areas of the country. They most definitely need better materials and teachers to counter their current situation, but more time in school will only worsen the case. No child wants to be in school for more than 6 hours a day, plus studies show that the mind becomes less absorbent of information after too much teaching. Children still need breaks from education, even if they are poor. If they receive the same opportunities as other students, they will do fine.