Of course, a good education requires kids who actually want to learn. And parents who actually care. But no politician will ever go there.
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You are so right about that. And it helps if the teacher knows how to stimulate them to learn, keeps their interest and encourages them. It is a team effort.
I've been a college professor for about 10 years now (computer science). It seems every year the work habits of the students degrade just a little bit more. You'd be amazed at how many kids don't work and still expect to pass. The below video seems like a parody, but is representative of discussions I've had with many students:
I'm Worried About My Grade - YouTube