I am all in favor of disbanding the Department of Education and returning education to the states.
My three kids all went to public schools and they were good public schools because when we were transferred the #1 priority of where we lived was the school system. I also tutored on a volunteer basis in the elementary schools when my kids were in school. I was a very involved parent and they all three received an excellent education.
Parental involvement is the #1 item that will make schools better IMHO.
My DIL is a teacher and emailed the following: "I told a parent the other day during a conference that it was unfair for them to expect more from me than they were willing to expend for their child."
Amen!
It's as simple as parental A-ttitude, B-ehavior, and C-haracter...
"Parental involvement is the #1 item that will make schools better IMHO."
I agree that parental involvement in children's education is key. However I respectfully disagree with the idea that having parents invest their time in the government schools is the best way to do that. For the amount of time, effort, and resources we put into the government schools, we should be seeing incredible results. But we are not.
Parents should instead focus on the education of their own children. Home education is one alternative that is providing stellar results. Private schools are another alternative. Unfortunately, too many parents who could take advantage of these options do not. The lure of "free" daycare services is just too attractive it would seem.