This is more a reflection of the “families” these kids come from than poor teachers. Eighty percent of black children are out of wedlock and there are no fathers around.
Not to say that the Chicago teachers are doing a great job though.
You are correct, sir. It is more about the parents than the teachers--although some (not all) of the teachers are products of the same environment and are not that bright themselves.
I'll conceade that that is a large part of the problem. But it has consequences and unions aren't doing anything to address that either. The apathy of the students and their parent(s) seems to cause apathy in the teachers (based on conversations with teachers I know). It's a job for most of them. Show up, get through the lessons, check the box. The teachers are powerless to give a $#%&, much less engage the student or family. I once listened to a teacher complain about having to do "lesson plans". I asked, "You mean like organizing your week at work? All professionals do "lesson plans". We are not contractually "required" to do them because we couldn't do our job without "planning" our work. In the private sector, this is an understood necessity, not something your boss has to tell you to do."
There is a diabolical culture problem with the inner city youth. It is a generational degredation of any sense of self respect and/or pride. Parents don't know any better because they didn't do any better as kids and expect even less from their own.
I bet if a kids grades were somehow linked to public assistance, a good many students would start doing better. If a child were to forget their homework or fail a test, the family gets $100 less in subsistance that week? At least the parents might visit the school a time or two.