For the past few years, I have followed the steps of my father and have served as a part-time educator when I am not traveling across the country as a guest speaker or appearing on various television or radio shows as a guest expert on Generation Y. During this experience as an educator, I have been given the opportunity to teach at many different schools in Southern California. Most of these schools have been inner city high schools and middle schools, but a few have been suburban schools in some affluent areas within Southern California.
Like most people would probably expect, I witnessed more problems with inner city schools than the suburban schools, but I must say that money and resource was not the determining factor on why most suburban schools seem to be better than most inner city schools. I also must say that students and teachers were not the main reason why most suburban schools were better, but rather it was many other factors that go far beyond the money, teachers, and students of an inner city high school.
For instance, I found that most schools that were successful in the inner city and affluent areas of Southern California strong community support, strict discipline from administration, strong leadership from the principles that did irritate some teachers, and high standards and expectations for the students and faculty on campus. I also found that most successful schools had amazing organizations on their campus, tremendous student activities and programs that empowered their students for success, and of course, strong parental support.
As a young man that strongly believes in the educational future of our youth and is very concerned about current state of education in America, instead of focusing on how you can choose the best local school for your child, I want to deliver five key solutions that can be done by parents, teachers, administrators, or organizations to help strengthen the education of your students that attend a local high school nearby.
Set High Standards for the Students
Setting high standards for your student’s means that as a parent, teacher, or administrator, you are setting high goals for the student and you are refusing for the student to do anything less than excellence in their classwork, extra curricular activities, and discipline as a student. When I deal with excellence, I am not saying that everyone must be perfect, but I am saying that you are challenging the student to do his/her best and become the best possible on a daily basis. I do not believe that this principle will save all children, but I can guarantee that several more students will be impacted by this one solution to the education crisis in America.
Go the Extra Mile For Students
For years I have watched several movies and saw many teachers from different economical backgrounds do extremely well with their students in the classroom. I have found that one of the reasons that these teachers have been so effective with their student or child is because they have made it a point to go the extra mile with their student, which means that you are doing more as a teacher for the student than what is required. This is the one solution that I believe is key for teachers to transform the education system and key to know whether or not you are truly called to be a teacher.
Develop Programs that are Fun and Educational
I specifically stated this solution third because in order to be effective with programs that are fun and educational, you must first set high standards and be willing to go the extra mile for your students. Developing these fun and educational programs for students may cost some money, but can be done for very economical prices. For instance, take students to a specific business or organization that’s outside your local area to learn about the real world, challenge students to participate in community service projects that help build your community, bring in guest speakers that are willing to give there time for the local high school, create leadership programs on campus that are fun, educational, and enjoyable, and most importantly, make sure the programs are something that really interests the students on your campus. One of the greatest problems I see with educational leaders is that they create fun and educational programs, and the programs created may seem fun to the leader, but not the students, and because of that, there is no impact that occurs which makes the program a waste of time. Make sure the program interests your students before you decide to do something special.
Involve yourself with Education Decisions from District Leaders
I wanted to conclude with this solution as my final point to the problems within our public school system because its probably the biggest problem that’s rarely addressed. Although I believe there are many intelligent people running school districts, the decisions that come down from various school districts are sometimes decided upon with no true understanding of the campus culture. A perfect example of this concept from the highest level in Washington was the No Child Left Behind law that has done much more bad than good for several schools. At times, many people blame leaders of various school districts or political officers, but at times I believe it occurs because various people from the school do not take the time to learn about the issues and have their voice heard on certain situations. If there is going to be positive change within our public education system, involvement with educational decisions from highest officials will be extremely important.
I understand that there are many more solutions to the education crisis in America, but these four key solutions applied by various parents, teachers, and administrators can be key to transforming our public school system in a positive way and making sure that every child is given a great education.
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