The Perfect School

By James A. Tavegia

The issue of the day is what to do about public schools today?  Do we have "bad schools", or is it something else. Something wrong with the buildings? 

 

Is a bad baseball team about a "bad field" that they play on, or is it about a group of under-performing players that make up a team that plays poorly? Tough questions that demand even tougher solutions. I would bet that any of the old Yankee teams with Ruth and Gehrig, they would have played just as well on any field. 

 

Players on a bad team can change their behavior, make better on-field choices, practice harder, play smarter and improve; becoming a better team...or school? Are we willing to be honest about under-performing students and ask the tough questions about why they under-perform? Are we afraid to ask such questions out of fear of hurt feelings? Do we not hold all students to a higher standard of behavior and performance expectations? Do we allow a continuation of the current problem of all too many who think that school is just a social event? What to do with students who put forth little or no effort, fail to pay attention in class, and/or disrespect the teachers and staff? Do we allow such disruption in the work place?  I would say we don't. there are certain accepted standards of behavior we demand in the work place that we don't expect or demand in public school. If we don't change the bad behaviors, then we can't expect schools to improve.

 

10 years ago the U.S. was 21st of the developed nations in Mathematics ability.  In 2020 we are now 32nd. This is a creation of bad behavioir, a lack of attention, and no desire to take school seriously. We have more technology at our disposal to assist students in making learning more enjoyable and easy to accomplish, yet we often misuse this technology and often do other things than the tasks at hand. Cell Phone in school have become a distraction and their appears to be no consensus as to how to deal with said distractions. Teachers should not be expected to beocme "Game Show Hosts" to entertain. 

 

Thie choice is ours to make. Are we going to start making students more accountable for THEIR LEARNING, or just keeping doing the same things and expect a different result. We know the answer to that already. 

 

This is about training them to be able to gain better employment, earn more money, and enjoy a more fulfilling life with the family they choose to have. It is not about increasing the minimum wage it is about preparing them for something other than a minimum wage job. 

• Language: English
• Publisher: James A. Tavegia
• Release date: May 8, 2020
• ISBN: 9781393304326

James A. Tavegia

As a former math teacher in High School, Middle School, and then elementary school, I tried to make Math as much fun as I could, as it is as much a core subject as reading and writing properly. When high school students can't make change from a $5 bill for a $4.72 purchase; or read on grade level; or even write complete sentences, we must discuss what can be changed. Why can students talk for hours on end, but asking them to write 2 pages something to be dismissed as asking too much.  If better behavior and a lack of seriousness cannot be brought back  into the classroom, then I fear our children will not be prepared to enter the work force and secure the job they THINK  they deserve. 

Book preview

Principal Smith sits quietly in his office.  It is 6am and he is trying to enjoy a moment of quiet time as he knows that within 30 minutes the school will start filling up.  Jack has been the principal of Homer High School for over 10 years...it just seemed like 20.

The school was one of the lowest performing schools in the county and there was a growing pressure to get test scores up.  The problem was that there were few new resources coming his way to help. His teaching staff was cut down by 6 teachers and class sizes where nearly 35 per classroom. It was mostly a blue-collar town and only about 50% of the graduates when on to college anywhere.  Motivation was low as the about 15% of the town’s population was on welfare of some sort.

2 or 3 fights as day were the norm and being suspended was almost a badge of honor at Homer. Too many of the students were there only because the state law mandated they be there, and at 16, many just dropped out. The school system tried everything to motivate the lower performing students with no progress.  A poor attitude and a lack of respect for the school and the staff were rampant.  Mr. Smith saw no change coming this year, either.  He was nearly at his wits end.

Mrs. Johnson, his secretary for nearly 9 years walked into his office.

Good morning, Mr. Smith, she said in a cheery voice, just like always.  Why such a long face today, she asked? 

I had to suspend 3 more seniors yesterday and neither they nor their parents could care less, he added. I just don’t know what to do any more, he added dejectedly.  I don’t know how much more I can take.

Well, there is a gentleman to see you in the outer office, she announced.  He is wearing a very nice suit, pretty expensive I would think. I haven’t seen anyone in town dressed like that in a while, she added.  Should I send him in?

Sure, said Principal Smith without looking up.  He was holding his head up with his forehead resting in the palms.  He looked up.  Send him in, if you would.

A tall, elegantly dressed, well-groomed gentleman walked in with a wide smile.  His full head of hair was a beautiful grey and his face was ruggedly handsome and tanned.  Mr. Smith had never seen him before.  The gentleman held out his hand to introduce himself to Mr. Smith.

"Principal Smith, I am Bill Martin.  You don’t know me and it is better that way for now. I know you are feeling quite dejected about your school’s situation right now.  I am here to help, Bill Martin added as he extended his hand to shake with Mr. Smith

Principal Smith rose from his chair and extended his had to great him.  Nice to meet you Mr. Martin, added Mr. Smith. I really wish you could help our school, he added dejectedly. "I wonder if anyone or anything could help us?

Well, Mr. Smith, started Bill, I am with a group of men who are tired of what is going on in public school.  The government won’t fix it, parents too often don’t care enough to do anything, and you and your staff are left holding the bag.  Enough is enough. My associates are here to help motivate your students, he concluded.

How do you intend to do that, asked Principal Smith?

You do not need to know what we intend to do or how we intend to do it, but we will get it done, Martin added matter of factly.  Yours is not the first school we have helped.  You will not be the last, either I assure you.

What is your plan, asked Principal Smith?  What do you need from me?

––––––––

Nothing, added Martin. You just keep doing what you’ve been doing and your staff should do the same.  You are not the problem.  We will take care of that.  Also, this meeting never happened.  I have also made this fully aware to Ms. Johnson as well and she is on board. She really feels sorry for you and your staff and all you have to put up with.

Well, I guess at this point I should be grateful for any help that could come our way, Smith added.  We sure need something different to happen around here.

Leave it up to us, added Martin. You know nothing after I leave here today. I will assure you things will get better around here shortly.

With that Mr. Martin shook Principal Smith’s hand and walked out of the office.  He waved goodbye to Ms. Johnson.  She waved back.

What was about to happen is all that Principal Smith thought about all morning  It would be nice if something good could come of this meeting. 

By 3:30pm only one student was sent to Smith’s office and that was over Josh Milner wanting to start at fight, as usual.  He was sent home with an additional 2 days of out of school suspension. It didn’t really bother Milner.  He was a product of a single parent home. His father worked 2 jobs just to get buy.  Josh was a latch-key child if there ever was