Who's fault is it when schools don't do well? Teachers? Communities? Principals? Students and their parents? I haven't seen the new documentary
Waiting for Superman, but almost every one involved in public education seems to have an opinion on the film.
(Read a quick review of the film here). The California Teachers' Association (CTA), which represents teachers across the state, published an article that was critical of the film.
The author of the article argued that people are playing "the blame game," blaming and bashing teachers when they should be looking at other solutions.
I came across the following comment from a retired teacher, who offered her opinion on why schools and students are not performing as well as we would like. You can read the entire letter
here, but check out the comment below. After you've read the quote, please leave a comment with your thoughts. Then head over to your own blog and write about this topic. Who is to blame when schools fail?
Here's the quote:
"I think the real problem lies in the apathy of the students. When so many students are concerned only with their appearance, their iPods, and their cellphones, it doesn't matter how good the teacher is."
Dear English Answer Man-
ReplyDeleteI personaly think that the kid should be belamed.The kid should be blamed because the lack of work he/she put into the assignment.The teacher can't do the work for them they have to know how to and yes they may ask questions along the way but that teaches kids not to depend on the teacher for all the anwsers so they know what is to be expected in the near or distant future.
-Martinez((:
I believe that everybody is to blame for school failures. Students are not meeting educational standards, parents are letting there kids not put school as a major priority,and teachers and principals are making students hating school instead of liking it. All 3 factors have caused failures in school.
ReplyDeleteI kind of agree with what the teacher says but in a lot of ways i also disagree. I think its both the teachers and the students fault!
ReplyDeleteI would have to say that I say that I agree with the retired teacher. I actually agree with him 99.9%!!!!! Kids are always like asking other girls in the middle of class if the have a mirror so they can fix their make-up! I wear make-up but I (unlike most girls) don't have to fix every second of the day! Students are too worried for their appearance, their new phones, or their iPod! It personally makes me really mad because I care for my education!
ReplyDeleteMonica Rose:))
I think its the child's fault.If the kid would want to learn hey would pay attention, go for tutoring if needed extra help or ask questions.So i agree with the retired teacher.
ReplyDeleteDear English Answer Man,
ReplyDeleteI believe that the students are to blame because no matter how good the teacher is if the student does not want to it is a waste of time. Teachers can't make students learn. Parents can't force them to either they can punish them but, they will just keep doing it.
I disagree because I feel it's the teachers faults. It's the teachers fault because they're probably not teaching the requirements right.
ReplyDeleteThey are also probably not pushing their students enough.
It's nice to see you guys and girls taking an attitude of responsibility--it seems like both teachers and students have a degree of blame when students fail.
ReplyDeleteFrom a teachers' standpoint: There will always be distractions. Does that mean a teacher should just give up until the distractions are gone? Ridiculous! Maybe I'm being a bit harsh, but this teacher sounds like a quitter.
At the same time, students have a responsibility to learn, even if the teacher is absolute garbage.
Dear English Answer Man,
ReplyDeleteI believe students are mostly responsible for how much they learn. It isn't easy to teach someone who doesn't listen or pay attention. But a student won't pay attention if the teacher doesn't want to find away to make them pay attention.
Both need to cooperate in order for the student to get the learning he or she needs. But the student is the one who has most of the responsibility to learn because he or she is obviously the only one who make themselves pay attention whether there is help from a teacher or not.
Dear English Answer Man,
ReplyDeleteI agree with what Patrick's saying. No matter how good the teacher is, if the student's not willing to learn, you can't really do anything about it. I think that it's the students' fault if schools aren't doing well.
Dear English Answer Man ,
ReplyDeleteI believe that it has almost nothing to do with the teachers and only the student are to "blaim".Teachers can't control whether someone will be a failure.You yourself hold that decision in your hands.If you wanna be successful in life you will do your best at school and if you wanna throw it away FAIL.So don't blaim the teachers , parents , and principals you the students must make a decision.
Uncaring students are really the ones to blame for lack of education. If a student does not care enough to learn, they are not going to learn. Though teachers who do not offer sufficient motivation, or try hard enough to teach, are to blame also. It is the teacher's job to teach, and the student's job is to learn. If either side does not do their part, grades will fall.
ReplyDeleteDear Englishanswerman,
ReplyDeleteI think that it is both of there faults. I think it is the teachers fault unless the student does nothing no matter what the teacher does. If the teacher has tried everything and the student still does not try than the teacher cannot do anything but hope that a miracle happens. Then it is all on the student, but until taet happens it is the teachers fault as much as the kids.
Dear Englishanswerman,
ReplyDeleteI would have to say its both the students and the teachers fault because when schools fail teachers always blame the students. When in reality, its there own fault as well. If the students fail a class, its not only because the student listen, but because the teacher didn't help the student either. A good, responsible teacher would bring the kid aside and tell him to stay after school and ask him or help him or her with the things he doesn't understand. So my opinion is the students can be blamed all they want, but the teacher must take the blame as well.
Dear Englishanswerman,
ReplyDeleteHow do students learn?They learn from the teachers and when the students don't do well its the teachers fault.STOP!making up excuses about kids and there distraction's.When do teachers get in trouble. Never ,they always assume that its the students fault.Man up and take some blame because teachers help them learn and when they don't learn its there fault.Come on its obvious.
The blame is in the hands of both the teachers and the students. Many teachers in the Southern California area are teaching for the money and for the vacations they get. Therefore, they do not enjoy teaching and the schools start to fail. The students also are becoming lazy and not willing to work on homework or are blowing off tests.
ReplyDeleteIm on both of the sides, it is the teacher's fault in a way because they should push there students until they do good, and call home, and do whateer tey have to do. Bur also its the students fault because they should be focusing more on class and not worry about anything else, like there social life. Overall teachers should try and do everything they can to keep there students focused, as best as they can.
ReplyDeleteI don't think students or anyone should be blamed. I mean the students aren't always the ones to blame if the teacher can't teach them one way they should keep trying and the same for teachers the students should actually try.
ReplyDeleteI think the blame is 99% of the child's and 1% teachers, usually the children are the ones who mess around or flat out don't pay attention. But there's always that occasion where teachers lose work or don't remember it's turned in. But children are the beholders of their own destiny not the teachers
ReplyDeleteI think it's the ghetto studend's fault because they think it's cool and funny to be stupid. A lot of the school's population is ghetto, too.
ReplyDeletei think its the kids because they usually dont pay attention in class. they get suspended or usually misbaheve. the techers just do there job.
ReplyDeleteIn this blamegame I think its alittle bit of both for the fault. The students are always on phones or music players and some teachers mess up during there teaching. It can be said that its no ones fault but ourselves. That is my opinion on this blamegame.
ReplyDeleteDear English answer man,
ReplyDeleteBoth students are at fault here. Teachers are suppose to try to get though to the children to make them want to succeed, and children are supposed to try to get ahead in life for themselves.
I think it's the student's fault because some students are just lazy and don't care. Buy i guess sometimes it could be the teacher's fault cause they get stressed out by the students and sometimes don't give enough effort. But I still think it's more of the student's fault.
ReplyDeleteI think that teaches are to blame if they would cut the children some slack their students would succeed,because you notice that the fun teachers usually have best class.
ReplyDeleteWell English Anawer man
ReplyDeleteI think that we can actually blame this on the community because the things that happen around the students they take it in cnsideration. The students can actually do good in school depending on how teacher do things. For example Mrs. hynes is a teacher that has all the students like because Mrs Hynes has a sense ofhumor and she connects with the students
I believe that the kids are to blame. That might sound a little hypocritical since I am a kid, but i have seen other kids texting, talking, walking around, doing everything except doing their work. I will admit that some kids do have mental illnesses that keep them from learning, but everyone shouldn't have this excuse.
ReplyDeletethe kids are to blame they are the ones getting help to be somebody in the world and they are just wasting it. the teachers are the helpers and they dont even et payed good for what they do.the students are to blame.
ReplyDeletethat movie sounds kind of cool i think im going to watch it
Dear Englishanswerman,
ReplyDeleteI believe that its is both the students and teachers fault, because yes the teachers shoud not have the responsibility for the students to make sure they do their work, but at the same time, the teachers should make sure that they're explaining things correctly, and in a way for everyone to understand easily. It is also the students fault, because they should always do their best, and ask questions if they do not understand the material fully. So for my opinion, I see it as a half and half statement.Teachers and students will only give as much effort as they are willing to give eachother.
Dear English Answer man,
ReplyDeleteHonestly sometimes its can be both of their fallts at times.Like for example the student may not care at times.While the teacher may not do their job correctly or the way the student may need to learn the subject.So both sides can and should take the blame.
Dear englishanswerman,
ReplyDeleteI think both teachers and students have the fault when schools are failing.I think this is so because sometimes students have the fault because theyy sometimesstart to slack off, or even in some cases there is just bad kids and the same with the teachers.
Dear Englishanswerman,
ReplyDeleteI think it has to do with both teachers and students. The students because they know that they can try hard and listen but they don't. Also the teachers
I agree with the Retired teacher... Most kids don't care about their education so when they don't listen they blame it on the teacher. In most cases the Kids are at fault for not paying attention, or not doing their work. rarely is it the teachers fault. Yes there are some horrible teachers out there and I know one and Yeah it was fun in the beginning not having to do anything the whole class. But know I'm sick of it, yeah she/he makes us read the book for homework, but in class we sit and take notes maybe once a week, then we sometimes get assignments, but she/he still doesn't explain it. Know I'm ready to learn but unfortunately she/he isn't ready to teach. And so I think it's 95% of the child's fault and 5% of the teachers fault. But also the teachers need to discpline the kids more, yes kid's just say I don't care but the teachers just need to start taking their lunch away from them make them have after school cleanup, or hold them back until they listen and if they don't that's the childs fault. obviously they don't care and they may think it's hurting the teacher and it's funny but in reality the child is at risk of not graduating high school, or not going to a good college. The kids who act like that are mainly the ones that grow up to be the bus boy for restaraunts, or the bag boy at the grocery store, cashier at Mcdonalds, the waiter at MiMis, or a bartender. It's your choice to pay attention, you hold the future for yourself not the teacher.
ReplyDelete-Tori
Dear English Answer Man
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with the retired teacher because
their are many students in class who don't pay attention. I mean half of the time you will hear them blame it on their teacher, when it's really their falt. i feel that if they keep on slacking in class they'll regret it someday when they don't have they're dream job. So I guess its really the students turn to take action in their responsibilities if they want to succeed in life.
Dear English Answer Man,
ReplyDeleteI would have to agree with the retired teacher, kids honestly don't care what they do or how they do. They can have a perfect teacher and still do bad. And I know that maybe some teachers might not be the best but if the student would listen and ask a question then the teacher would know for future references. and if the kid doesn't listen then they might endanger their chances of getting into a good college or even passing high school.
I agree with the retired teacher because now in days students do really care about how they look and they like to show off there new cell phones. Students now don't care about going to college, all they just want is to party.
ReplyDeleteI honesty think the students are to blame.It is their fault because they aren't responsible enough to do the work on their own. Teachers should only be a guide,not an snswer key they can just use.Students should learn to do things for themself and give an effort to the growth of their knowledge.
ReplyDeleteGrace Mertz
Mr.V I much like this post.I give it a thumbs up. After all in my opinion if a student is failing in there class that is much of there fault, but if a teacher is not teaching the student the right curriculum, it is much the teachers fault.
ReplyDeleteDear English Answer Man,
ReplyDeleteHonestly parents should be the ones to blam for the students behavior at school. Teachers can't control the habits of a student. Parents should be aware of the things their students do. Students learn most of there knowledge from growing up with their parents telling them what is wrong and right. People that blame the teachers for the ways of students i believe are incorrect.
To be honest with you English Answer Man, I think students should be blamed.I believe this because the students aren't doing there best work either on the test,project,or on their homework.Lastly, some students blame the teacher because they didn't understand the lesson or the problem,well they probably don't understand it because were not paying attention to the lesson or to the explation the teacher gave.
ReplyDeleteDear English Answer Man,
ReplyDeleteI read the quote, and I also think that the students should be blamed. With their ipods, and phones, they pay attention to that more than their actual grades. I bet you that if every single kid had their ipod and phone turned in, they would pay attention more. Because while the teacher is giving an explanation, kids and teens are texting. And when the explanation is done, you can tell that they weren't listening at all because they ask you, " What are we doing again? ".
Dear English answer man, I read the quote and I think that it's the students' fault. Because they are always on their phones and iPods and pay attention to that more than their grades. This gives the teachers a hard time. I bet you that if you took everyones phone away for a day, they would pay attention more. By one of your bloggers, Brian.
ReplyDelete