Public education sucks

[an anarchist]

Public education sucks.

I don’t mean as a concept (though, as an anarchist, I believe nothing should be “public”, but that’s beside the point).

I mean the education is of low quality. I know because I spent 13 years in it. (USA by the way).

The schools always put me in the “gifted kids” classes and programs, but those were not stimulating enough for me. I aced all of my classes and was generally very uninterested except when it came to history class.

Don’t get me wrong, I am exceptionally smart. I know this because when I took the military entrance exam, the ASVAB, my score the 94th percentile over all and I got a perfect score on mathematical reasoning section as well as another section which I forget. The Air Force offered me a position in officers college, but my anarchist philosophy was starting to take hold of me, so I declined (What a fool I was! Don’t stick to your morals kids!).

Point is, I am smart (regardless if some of you disagree). And I want to say that our public education system is a complete disservice to those who are intelligent.

I totally wasted a lot of intellectual potential being stuck in public school. I am never going to have kids for several reasons, but if I was, I would 100% homeschool them. I can for sure educate better than the public school system; of this I am confident.

What are your guy’s thoughts on the public education system? How can it be improved?

 

[an anarchist]

Oh… I’ve definitely have lost some smart points over the years… too much time spent partying…

 

[an anarchist]

I say privatize the whole thing and let competition make the quality better!

Of course, that’s my solution to EVERYTHING

 

[amorphous_constellation]

well if you are gifted, I think you probably should have been fast-tracked into something else. I couldn't tell you what kind of program that is, as I am just average myself, or abnormal.. so they say. I was in spec. ed for most of k-12, and was said to have autism before it became a mainstream topic, though I never got diagnosed. I've posted about that before, but anyway

Anyway, I think people do need socialization, and the two (or more) ways that it seems to happen, is via school and via family. And these can clash, and they can be inefficient. They can also probably work together good. For me, it was a bit rough: my dad was a bad alcoholic, and I was bullied in school. And even though I came from a 'good' public school, I recall 2-3 times when I was bullied pretty good, and this seemed to be in the plain sight of teachers during those times

But in any case, I don't think anarchism can really work, in part because not all of us are intelligent enough to make it actually work. And even if the majority of people were gifted, why would they want to do their own thing, as opposed to fortifying our society, (aren't we social animals?) to multiply the good that can come from collaborative output, and also to subject themselves to a wider consensus of what good behavior should be? I assume that you and people like you can still err, or can still use resources inefficiently if it's mainly just you deciding how to use them

 

[Jayhawker Soule]

Public education sucks.

This is arguably true of those public schools that produce pervasively aggrieved and alienate adults that seem over-represented in MAGA land.

I say privatize the whole thing and let competition make the quality better!

And to hell with the kids and the likely impact of socio-economic disparities between communities.

Perhaps, instead, we should adequately fund public education.

 

[Stevicus]

Public education sucks.

I don’t mean as a concept (though, as an anarchist, I believe nothing should be “public”, but that’s beside the point).

I mean the education is of low quality. I know because I spent 13 years in it. (USA by the way).

The schools always put me in the “gifted kids” classes and programs, but those were not stimulating enough for me. I aced all of my classes and was generally very uninterested except when it came to history class.

Don’t get me wrong, I am exceptionally smart. I know this because when I took the military entrance exam, the ASVAB, my score the 94th percentile over all and I got a perfect score on mathematical reasoning section as well as another section which I forget. The Air Force offered me a position in officers college, but my anarchist philosophy was starting to take hold of me, so I declined (What a fool I was! Don’t stick to your morals kids!).

Point is, I am smart (regardless if some of you disagree). And I want to say that our public education system is a complete disservice to those who are intelligent.

I totally wasted a lot of intellectual potential being stuck in public school. I am never going to have kids for several reasons, but if I was, I would 100% homeschool them. I can for sure educate better than the public school system; of this I am confident.

What are your guy’s thoughts on the public education system? How can it be improved?

Well, it's been a few years since I've been in the public school system. We moved around a few times when I was younger, so I went to different schools at various times. I think the school systems were originally designed under the assumption that children would get a significant degree of family/parental support and that parents would actually have their children's best interests at heart. Schools have a minimal expectation that parents will send their children to school fed, rested, and ready to learn. Sometimes, that doesn't happen.

Also, one quibble I might make is that a term like "the public schools" is too generalized, since it varies greatly from state to state and even from district to district. Wealthier, more affluent school districts seem to have much better schools than those which are at the lower end of the economic spectrum.

 

[Quintessence]

Also, one quibble I might make is that a term like "the public schools" is too generalized, since it varies greatly from state to state and even from district to district.

This is huge to keep in mind. The OP reads like a tract from another country entirely when compared to my own experience in the system.

 

[JustGeorge]

Public education sucks.

I don’t mean as a concept (though, as an anarchist, I believe nothing should be “public”, but that’s beside the point).

I mean the education is of low quality. I know because I spent 13 years in it. (USA by the way).

The schools always put me in the “gifted kids” classes and programs, but those were not stimulating enough for me. I aced all of my classes and was generally very uninterested except when it came to history class.

Don’t get me wrong, I am exceptionally smart. I know this because when I took the military entrance exam, the ASVAB, my score the 94th percentile over all and I got a perfect score on mathematical reasoning section as well as another section which I forget. The Air Force offered me a position in officers college, but my anarchist philosophy was starting to take hold of me, so I declined (What a fool I was! Don’t stick to your morals kids!).

Point is, I am smart (regardless if some of you disagree). And I want to say that our public education system is a complete disservice to those who are intelligent.

I totally wasted a lot of intellectual potential being stuck in public school. I am never going to have kids for several reasons, but if I was, I would 100% homeschool them. I can for sure educate better than the public school system; of this I am confident.

What are your guy’s thoughts on the public education system? How can it be improved?

I felt my education was a waste of time. I was chronically bored, and got tired of being told "you should care about this". I didn't. There were things I would have cared to learn, but they weren't taught. What was taught was often lackluster.

I didn't expect to, but I ended up homeschooling two out of three of the kids. They still receive some support from the public school(the older one gets special education services twice a week, and the younger goes to 'specials' daily, things like art/music). I wish my mom had allowed me to be homeschooled. She wouldn't, not because she didn't want to be bothered with it(I could have done it myself by the time I was making the request), but because she suffered through school, she thought I should have to, too(that's what she directly told me).

My oldest went through public schools. I feel he was severely underserved.

What I think, based on his education, and my education, what makes the biggest difference, is the teachers. If the teacher makes the subject come 'alive' or at the very least, become interesting, students are more likely to engage. Some teachers were excellent at their jobs. Others probably would have been better off tending reptiles, or something that doesn't really care to interact with you. Some tried to appeal to all the students. Others turned up their nose at the kids that weren't interested in 'high quality' material, and assumed it was a problem with the student.

What do I think would help? Hire skilled and willing teachers. Hire more of them. Less students per teacher. Group students on skill and ability, rather than just age. Offer a wider variety of material taught. Set up 'stations' as opposed to classrooms at a younger age. Pinpoint what kids need to know in order to succeed in the world we have now, and focus on that first. Let kids have more say in what they learn after that point. More time interacting with the natural world, the social world. Less time on devices.

This would take a lot of money, though. Not going to happen.

 

[Clizby Wampuscat]

Public education sucks.

I don’t mean as a concept (though, as an anarchist, I believe nothing should be “public”, but that’s beside the point).

I mean the education is of low quality. I know because I spent 13 years in it. (USA by the way).

The schools always put me in the “gifted kids” classes and programs, but those were not stimulating enough for me. I aced all of my classes and was generally very uninterested except when it came to history class.

Don’t get me wrong, I am exceptionally smart. I know this because when I took the military entrance exam, the ASVAB, my score the 94th percentile over all and I got a perfect score on mathematical reasoning section as well as another section which I forget. The Air Force offered me a position in officers college, but my anarchist philosophy was starting to take hold of me, so I declined (What a fool I was! Don’t stick to your morals kids!).

Point is, I am smart (regardless if some of you disagree). And I want to say that our public education system is a complete disservice to those who are intelligent.

I totally wasted a lot of intellectual potential being stuck in public school. I am never going to have kids for several reasons, but if I was, I would 100% homeschool them. I can for sure educate better than the public school system; of this I am confident.

What are your guy’s thoughts on the public education system? How can it be improved?

So public education was good in my area until Covid. I had two daughters graduate in 2020 and 2022. They both earned good educations and are doing great because of it. They had to work for it but they received good educations. We have a 13 yo boy and he is now homeschooled for the last two years. We took him out in 2022 because of these reasons:

1. The district was no longer disciplining kids and the classrooms became disruptive.
2. Kids that want to learn and excel were no longer given the opportunity. They catered to the kids that were troubled mainly.
3. The school board became political and decisions were being made that were not about students but based on political ideology.
4. They were being taught things we disagreed with.
5. In Texas they could not make the Covid vaccination mandatory, but they if they could they would have.

I hope it gets better. I am an advocate for public education but this has been my experience.

 

[Secret Chief]

I loved my (state) school and college and uni(s), back in the 20th century. Now here in the 21st (in the UK), I'm working in one and love it. The kids generally seem to enjoy it, are well-behaved and the school performs well against the national averages (not that this is the only consideration). The syllabus is broad and the teachers are by and large good.

 

[bobhikes]

Public education sucks.

I don’t mean as a concept (though, as an anarchist, I believe nothing should be “public”, but that’s beside the point).

I mean the education is of low quality. I know because I spent 13 years in it. (USA by the way).

The schools always put me in the “gifted kids” classes and programs, but those were not stimulating enough for me. I aced all of my classes and was generally very uninterested except when it came to history class.

Don’t get me wrong, I am exceptionally smart. I know this because when I took the military entrance exam, the ASVAB, my score the 94th percentile over all and I got a perfect score on mathematical reasoning section as well as another section which I forget. The Air Force offered me a position in officers college, but my anarchist philosophy was starting to take hold of me, so I declined (What a fool I was! Don’t stick to your morals kids!).

Point is, I am smart (regardless if some of you disagree). And I want to say that our public education system is a complete disservice to those who are intelligent.

I totally wasted a lot of intellectual potential being stuck in public school. I am never going to have kids for several reasons, but if I was, I would 100% homeschool them. I can for sure educate better than the public school system; of this I am confident.

What are your guy’s thoughts on the public education system? How can it be improved?

I believe you are missing the point of public education. It was designed to teach the masses the basics. Higher education was always the path for the gifted. In today's world they are trying to cram more information in the basics and I am not sure if it is successful but this is in addition to the basics. I think public education does fine for the basics.

 

[Audie]

Public education sucks.

I don’t mean as a concept (though, as an anarchist, I believe nothing should be “public”, baut that’s beside the point).

I mean the education is of low quality. I know because I spent 13 years in it. (USA by the way).

The schools always put me in the “gifted kids” classes and programs, but those were not stimulating enough for me. I aced all of my classes and was generally very uninterested except when it came to history class.

Don’t get me wrong, I am exceptionally smart. I know this because when I took the military entrance exam, the ASVAB, my score the 94th percentile over all and I got a perfect score on mathematical reasoning section as well as another section which I forget. The Air Force offered me a position in officers college, but my anarchist philosophy was starting to take hold of me, so I declined (What a fool I was! Don’t stick to your morals kids!).

Point is, I am smart (regardless if some of you disagree). And I want to say that our public education system is a complete disservice to those who are intelligent.

I totally wasted a lot of intellectual potential being stuck in public school. I am never going to have kids for several reasons, but if I was, I would 100% homeschool them. I can for sure educate better than the public school system; of this I am confident.

What are your guy’s thoughts on the public education system? How can it be improved?

Finland, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong,
and Singapore do great.

As do some few others.

It's all of Amrrican society that's at fault, unfortunately.

And its clearly deteriorating.

Good luck. You're going to need it.

 

[Quintessence]

To add, while I don't follow high school education trends super closely since I work in higher ed, I do pay some attention to it because it trickles up to us eventually. One of the things that is being reported on is how the pandemic lead to an uptick in chronic absenteeism. We are seeing this in higher ed too, honestly - students are thinking it is "okay" to just... not go to class and not participate. This is a problem no amount of money can fix. Culturally, significant segments of the U.S. population do not value education.

https://www.npr.org/2023/10/10/1204800597/study-finds-the-school-absenteeism-rate-is-double-what-it-was-before-covid

Students Are Missing School at an Alarming Rate

Schools reopened after the pandemic, but student attendance has not bounced back.

www.nytimes.com

 

[Eddi]

What are your guy’s thoughts on the public education system?

I found it adequate (I'm in the UK)

When I was about 14 years old I turned down the opportunity to apply for a scholarship at a private school, my teachers and mother wanted me to but I didn't want to, I wanted to be true to my origins, the school I was at was an inner-city comprehensive - had I gone down that route and actually got the scholarship then my life would have probably turned out for the better

I don't want kids but if I did and if I had the money I would send them to private schools

However, that said, I think I turned out OK in the end

But looking back I definitely could have done much better had things been different

 

[Heyo]

Public education sucks.

I don’t mean as a concept (though, as an anarchist, I believe nothing should be “public”, but that’s beside the point).

I mean the education is of low quality. I know because I spent 13 years in it. (USA by the way).

The schools always put me in the “gifted kids” classes and programs, but those were not stimulating enough for me. I aced all of my classes and was generally very uninterested except when it came to history class.

Don’t get me wrong, I am exceptionally smart. I know this because when I took the military entrance exam, the ASVAB, my score the 94th percentile over all and I got a perfect score on mathematical reasoning section as well as another section which I forget. The Air Force offered me a position in officers college, but my anarchist philosophy was starting to take hold of me, so I declined (What a fool I was! Don’t stick to your morals kids!).

Point is, I am smart (regardless if some of you disagree). And I want to say that our public education system is a complete disservice to those who are intelligent.

I totally wasted a lot of intellectual potential being stuck in public school. I am never going to have kids for several reasons, but if I was, I would 100% homeschool them. I can for sure educate better than the public school system; of this I am confident.

What are your guy’s thoughts on the public education system? How can it be improved?

According to the PISA study, the US isn't that bad, place 18, while Germany only managed 24.

But that also means we both have room for improvement. In case of financing, Germany is a bit better, as here the states finance the schools, in the US it's the districts. That's a sure-fire way to cement class differences. Grow up in a poor neighbourhood, and you get a bad education, which makes it likely that you won't grow out of poverty. Changing that would be a first step.

Next thing would be to modernize the curricula. Afaik, schools teach pretty much the same today as they did 60 years ago. We don't need rote memorization any more, instead we need media competence and critical thinking abilities.

 

[Shadow Wolf]

This is huge to keep in mind. The OP reads like a tract from another country entirely when compared to my own experience in the system.

Same. Academically my high school was actually pretty good and taught me many things I'd remember years later when I went back to school amd enrolled in a community college, and overall I found the course work and curriculum for that degree to be very comparable to my HS degree.

To add, while I don't follow high school education trends super closely since I work in higher ed, I do pay some attention to it because it trickles up to us eventually. One of the things that is being reported on is how the pandemic lead to an uptick in chronic absenteeism. We are seeing this in higher ed too, honestly - students are thinking it is "okay" to just... not go to class and not participate. This is a problem no amount of money can fix. Culturally, significant segments of the U.S. population do not value education.

https://www.npr.org/2023/10/10/1204800597/study-finds-the-school-absenteeism-rate-is-double-what-it-was-before-covid

Students Are Missing School at an Alarming Rate

Schools reopened after the pandemic, but student attendance has not bounced back.

www.nytimes.com

I regularly missed college classes until they made it so financial aid was tied to attendance. It really should be up to the individual and what class it is. Like math. If you get it, you understand it, it's a waste of time to show up for more than the tests if you just aren't needing help with it. But I had to go so I sat, did my homework and then would read from whatever book I was reading at the time. And because I aced all my tests the teacher didn't have a problem with me not paying attention to his lectures.

 

[IndigoChild5559]

Public education sucks.

I don’t mean as a concept (though, as an anarchist, I believe nothing should be “public”, but that’s beside the point).

I mean the education is of low quality. I know because I spent 13 years in it. (USA by the way).

The schools always put me in the “gifted kids” classes and programs, but those were not stimulating enough for me. I aced all of my classes and was generally very uninterested except when it came to history class.

Don’t get me wrong, I am exceptionally smart. I know this because when I took the military entrance exam, the ASVAB, my score the 94th percentile over all and I got a perfect score on mathematical reasoning section as well as another section which I forget. The Air Force offered me a position in officers college, but my anarchist philosophy was starting to take hold of me, so I declined (What a fool I was! Don’t stick to your morals kids!).

Point is, I am smart (regardless if some of you disagree). And I want to say that our public education system is a complete disservice to those who are intelligent.

I totally wasted a lot of intellectual potential being stuck in public school. I am never going to have kids for several reasons, but if I was, I would 100% homeschool them. I can for sure educate better than the public school system; of this I am confident.

What are your guy’s thoughts on the public education system? How can it be improved?

I have both taught in public schools, and also spent some years home schooling my own kids. Generally speaking, home schooled kids are among the best educated in the nation. However, because they tend to be unregulated, you also have "home schools" that are nothing more than an attempt to isolate and control children, or indoctrinate them with particular religious belief, rather than provide good academics.

I think that homeschoolers and private schools (both religious and secular) need to show that they meet academic requirements of the state.

I think Public Education was a really good idea that just didn't live up to its promise. I'm a staunch advocate of vouchers. This includes vouchers to religious schools as well as to secular schools: if the government supplies funding for a wide variety of religious schools as well as secular schools, it is not favoring any one particular religion, or even religion in general, and thus doesn't run afoul of the constitution.

Kudos to the Parochial schools, who provide a much superior education at half the cost.