A lesson plan: It's time to confront reality of what holds students back

Education.

It is what everyone is talking about these days.

Everyone has a theory. Everyone has a comment.

Few people have real solutions.

The new attack plan includes pronouncements.

"Every third-grader will know how to read before he or she moves on to the next level."

You have heard that one before, we are sure.

But there is more to it than just saying it -- and getting to that point is not really about just books and good teachers.

It is about understanding where the underperforming students come from and what it will really take to get their attention, to give them the direction they need and to help clear the way to the path they need to take to make their way to graduation.

And the sad truth is, we will lose some -- to poor home environments, to bad choices and to poverty and hopelessness. That is the harsh reality.

But what it will take to minimize those numbers, and how teachers who see young
people for a few hours during a school day can even hope to overcome the distractions and forks in the road that turn students into statistics, are complicated questions that deserve more than just chants and protest signs. And, unfortunately, they cannot be solved with just money.

Education should be one of the top priorities in this state. It is critical to setting young people on the right path and keeps them productive members of society. It opens up opportunities, creates a viable work force and, ultimately, cuts down on prison populations.

It must be managed properly and those who are charged with that job should be constantly watching for places where money could be spent more wisely or where funds could be moved to classrooms, programs, more teachers and materials.

Education is the doorway to a future -- and we need to open it for as many young people as we can, while attacking some of the social ills that keep them down.

And that is one tall order.

Perhaps we need to talk -- really -- about the challenges that students face and the real work that goes into teaching them how to overcome them.

Perhaps we need to look at government pronouncements that are long on promises and backseat driving, but short on funds to accomplish them. Maybe, also, while we are at it, we could cut back on paperwork that makes bureaucrats and legislators feel good, but that takes time away from what teachers do best -- teaching.

And perhaps we could remember that just as in any profession, there are good teachers and bad teachers, some who should be asked to retire or to choose another profession and others who simply are battling every day to do the best they can with the cards they are dealt.

If we are serious about improving education, we cannot just look at the campaign slogans. We have to look at the reality -- the conditions of our schools, the real obstacles our teachers face and the social reality that is making it harder and harder to educate students and to get them to productive careers.

And until we do, the rest is just more talk -- and politics, pure and simple.

Published in Editorials on August 9, 2013 10:25 AM