It would be fascinating to conduct an experiment where the students from a wealthy, suburban school swap schools with a failing, violence plagued, inner city school, for a school year. The teachers and administrators would stay at their own schools. (Is there a reality show here, “School Swap”?)
I'd be willing to be that the behavior and test scores of the inner city kids would not improve that much and the behavior and test scores of the suburban kids would not decline much.
The main problem, IMO, is not the school buildings, teachers, books, computers, etc., but the students and their parents, and the clueless and corrupt local officials and school board members they elect. Unless parents prioritize their children's’ education and encourage and push them to work hard and do well, the best teachers and facilities will not make much difference.
I agree 100%. Apathy begets ignorance. Ignorance begets poverty and violence. That’s where the dems and their nanny state ethos come in to play. Too uneducated to find a job? Here’s a check. Here’s your healthcare. Like giving crack to an addict to feel “normal” for a little while, it only perpetuates the problem.