Stop trying to place blame on Federal administrations. This was a state decision based on very poor political choices. Aim your outrage where it belongs. We all cried out to the governor for tax cuts. Well we got em and now we are looking at the consequences. This DID NOT have to happen. Wake up! Get angry at the statehouse and take back our education funding.

Besides, teaching them is the easy part. Getting them to learn and value education is a process done 99% outside of the classroom.

You obviously have never worked with disadvantaged youths. Education is putting a band-aid on their shotgun wound.

[standing ovation]

The quality of community commitment to education in SB is far worse than the quality of education.

Too true. The danger in labeling poverty as a cause is that some will use it improperly as an excuse to give up trying. You will never get rid of the problem, but you should never stop trying. The problem comes when you start blaming teachers/admin. for the failure of poverty students. Blame them in part if they give up, but not if they fail while trying (which they will). Giving up means they will fail at a far greater rate.

I think its hilarious when people thumb down a post containing facts. Thumbing down the truth... Especially when they lack the spine to counter it.

Unfortunately, teachers unions are forced to be, because they are used as political pawns. The government should allow local control and keep their hands off. If they did that, the political action would drop.

Thanks for the facts. Great catch.

That being said, I am not a cynic. I have seen many kids from such a background work their tails off to defy the odds. These are very much in the minority though. It all depends on how committed that student is to their education.