I don't buy the assumption that the biggest problem is teacher quality. Hasn't it been repeatedly shown that, statistically, the factors that most strongly predict a child's academic success are far and away related to their family, not their school?
Of course, getting up in public to say "these kids are failing school--and it's their parents' fault" doesn't really advance anyone's political agenda.
"I don't buy the assumption that the biggest problem is teacher quality."
Me either. The biggest problem is the institution (embodied to an extent by administration.) Most teachers are qualified, hard-working. They suffer under 'overhead' like most of us do.
The last thing educators need is a 'solution' from the WSJ.
I don't buy the assumption that the biggest problem is teacher quality.
It's half and half. My wife has a 2nd and 4th block, same material, same environment, except the latter has such a poor group dynamic that they significantly underperform the other class. Variables here are time, teacher fatigue, blood sugar, and the students. I feel that the last factor has the greatest effect.
And I totally agree with the fact that there's an abdication of responsibility from the parent/guardian(s) in that they feel the intrinsic motivation for the student ought to be provided by the state.
But then we have teachers who have tenure that play videos all day. Good times.
Variables here are time, teacher fatigue, blood sugar, and the students.
I'd say that, at least up to some age, any problems attributable to "the students" are really the failing of the parents, though maybe that's what you were getting at.
I agree that some teachers aren't really helping matters any, but without good parental influence I don't think improving teacher quality is going to accomplish all that much.
Of course, getting up in public to say "these kids are failing school--and it's their parents' fault" doesn't really advance anyone's political agenda.