This is so typical. Research an issue and put out a report. The findings echo everything we already know…parents are dissatisfied with public education. The research was done in New Zealand, but is it any different here? Do we go about things any differently? Here is what the parents want:
Maxim Institute policy manager Nicki Taylor said a majority of parents: want schools to have more freedom; think teachers should be treated like professionals; would like more information about schools; and above all, would like to select the school their child goes to.
Interestingly, other research has found that these are the exact principles that lead to school improvement. The parents couldn’t know what they are talking about, could they? After all, they didn’t spend millions of dollars of tax payer money to figure it out.
Ms Taylor said research showed policies which better reflected the wishes of parents, such as open access to schools or rewarding excellence in teaching, could and do improve schooling and pupil achievement.
So what will New Zealand do with this information? They will view it “as a vital contribution to the debate on education policy in New Zealand.” I think that means they will form a committee, hire some experts, do some research and come out with something totally different. That’s the way we do things here, anyway.
education, school reform
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Could it be that fears about the efficacy of public schools are not just an American phenomenon? I wonder if there are blocs that are attempting to dismantle support for public education, as well?
Thank you for your comment, Ms. Cornelius! Actually, yes, the public’s dissatisfaction with the public school system seems to be a worldwide affair. There is increasing discussion of this in Germany, as well. My answer to the second part of your comment was getting to long and became a post on its own. My short answer would be, “yes.” The largest group I know of responsible for dismantling support of public education would be the NEA itself.
My full answer is here:
http://gottsegnet.blogspot.com/2006/06/efficacy-of-our-education-system.html
Here in Michigan, we have public schools, but also charter school. By default, your kids go to the public school. My wife researched the area charter schools and signed him up. That was five years ago (preschool).
The kids that go to the charter schools have two huge advantages over the public schoool kids. 1) They have a parent who can fill out a few forms (my wife says it was some fifteen pages). And 2) They have a parent who actually did fill out a few forms.
Having a parent who can fill out a few forms means that the kid has an above average parent. This is a huge plus, even if only one parent can do it.
Having a parent who cares enough to actually fill out the forms, means that they have at least one parent who cares about his or her education enough to get involved. I don’t think it is possible to overstate how important this is.
I talked with a public school teacher, who’s main complaint was that the charter schools all had kids with involved parents. That makes it difficult for the public school teacher to compete.
And if they have parents who care enough to exit the system and homeschool, the comparison gets more difficult : )
Parental involvement is key. In fact, it is the number one factor in determining school success…above wealth, teacher training, and any other issue. It’s just that involved parents make their housing decisions based on school quality, involved parents will hire tutors or help with homework, involved parents buy their children educational toys and games, involved parents pressure school officials to meet the needs of their children…