1. School shouldn't be just a big social machine that sucks you in at age 5 and spits you out at age 18 with hardly enough knowledge to function ideally on all levels of life.2. I agree with DDN's phonics suggestion, all children at the proper age should have their own phonics kit, teacher assisted and/or parent assisted, paid for by the government. Hopefully this will help develop their reading skills tremendously. (I went to a private school for 3 years, and we had an individual phonics class, which I relate to my reading ability today).
3. With all of the problems of school violence these days, maybe its time that school taught some basic universal values (they do exist) without getting into personal religions. Values that should be taught are: its wrong to kill others, its wrong to steal from others, cheating is wrong, etc. on more advanced levels: rape is wrong, humans are NOT immortal as most youth have a false sense of immortality, actions Do have consequences, etc. Every school I have ever attended on the public level doesn't stress personal responsibility of one's actions enough. Example: a fight in school costs a small fine and a 3 day suspension, a fight in somewhere else than school costs possible jail sentence and a substantially larger fine.
4. If schools were so good, we wouldn't need truancy laws. If educational programs were designed to stimulate student input and interest, the students would come to school on their own free will. This one way lecturing and rote learning just isn't doing the trick.
5. Academics over athletics: American schools are becoming so focused on athletics (although physical fitness and sports are an essential part of a well rounded education) that academics are being left in the gutter. No way should an athlete receive higher grades just becaue he/she needs to compete in the game on Friday night. He/she needs the knowledge to play in life more than on a trivial high school athletic game. Academics should be a priority, not a stumbling block for athletes who can't make the grade. If they can't make the grade, no sports until they do make the grade.
6. Everyone should have access to the best education possible, regardless of family income. An inner city school should be just as good as a school located in an affluent suburb.
7. Keep corporations out of schools. Please keep in mind that children are very impressionable people, don't let corporations influence their thinking at such an early age.
8. Every teacher must pass a set of standards, such as grades received in their own education and qualifications.
9. Education should be based on outcomes set at a high standard, not strictly on hours spent in a classroom. If a student can't meet these outcomes, he/she should have access to free intensive tutoring so that he/she can meet these outcomes.
Well I have more but I have some work to do; I'll post them later.
