[EnigmaticAnomaly]

The graduation rate is less attributable to the actual TEACHERS as it is to the lack of parenting by the PARENTS. I experience this FIRST HAND on a yearly basis with my 12th grade students. Many don't show up for more than 20 or so days per grading period. They absolutely REFUSE to do work. They screw around all day, and the parents do NOTHING to curb their children's belligerence, but rather applaud it.

Blaming only the teachers is disingenuous at best. Cultural rot is largely to blame for students' declining academic performance.

[driftless2]

"blaming...teachers...disingenous"

I agree totally. I've read enough info about the situation to realize that most problems with teaching inner city children are due to the children themselves and/or their parent(s).

Unfortunately, many conservatives have fallen for the myth that simply putting these students in private or charter schools will turn them into great students. The facts show different.

Certainly, some of the better students will benefit from being pulled out of a chaotic, many times violent school environment. But many bad students can't be saved due to their own, innate failings. That's the unfortunate truth which conservatives would be wise to understand.