Submitted by Angela M. Alexander, Dec 9, 2007 09:45

As an educator, I believe there must be some form of discrimination in order for schools to perform at their best. The first would be to screen students (their performance is what determines how well the school does), before they enter a school. Yes, I do believe the teacher is responsible; however, the mentalities and attitudes of parents and students MUST change in order to see improvement. It's very unfortunate, but society operates on a diffusion of responsibility. This is what has been reaped; now it's being sown. Parents have literally "washed their hands" from educating the child before he or she even steps foot in a school system. These children come into the schools with little to no basic skills, whatsoever. The onus has been placed on the teacher to be "everything" to the student. I am a former New Yorker, now residing in Georgia, and the problem is here as well. People who have resided in the state of New York, have been moving elsewhere; in hopes of finding a well performing school. The schools lose prestige and credibility when students with poor learning attitudes and skills enter them. Improvement starts in the HOME!

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