Education in America has never been a priority.  Many years ago, it was illegal to educate Blacks.  Sometimes when I look around my classroom and keep getting directives about 'mandates' that have to be given, I often think to myself, am I truly wasting my time.

Many of the public schools in America are set up for minority students (especially Black and Latino children) to fail.  When I look at the demographics in most urban/inner cities, the schools are predominately one race.  It saddens me to think that Brown v the Board of Education was a total waste.  Most public schools in America are still SEPARATE AND UNEQUAL! How can people continue to claim that we (America) have progressed when we truly have not?

There are so many issues as to why the school system needs to be a top priority, I don't know where to begin.  Some of these issues are inadequate facilities, poor pay, culturally biased test, and class size.  Now, I don't have enough time or space to devote to all of the issues, but I do want to shed light on some that are of high importance. 

Once again I refer back to Brown v the Board of Education for my first point; schools in America have always been separate and unequal.  It makes no sense for teachers in certain communities to have to spend their own money to have the supplies necessary to teach.  When I worked in corporate, I never had to bring a fax machine, copier, paper, ink/toner and sometimes a computer.  Now, why do teachers have to do this?  The bad part is, in spite of this, teachers still do this because they truly want to make a difference.  It makes no sense that a school in Illinois (New Trier) was approved to have renovations that will cost millions (if not billions) to complete.  I know part of the money is coming from the State of Illinois.  Now if there is moneyfor renovations in this school district, why are some teachers scraping to get the things needed for their class?

My next concern is poor pay.  The average base salary for teachers is 33k.  Now, refer back to my first point where we have to spend a good portion of our salary to function.  It makes no sense to start teachers out with such minimal pay and then administrators get upset when the schools are not performing well.  Have you ever thought about compensating teachers for what they are truly worth?  I am an educator, mother, nurse, counselor, friend, and everything else.  While I wear these various hats, I have to worry about my personal finances.  It's unbelievable. 

When most students enter high school, they are performing way below their grade level.  Oftentimes there is a 4 or 5 grade level difference.  For example, if they are in the 9th grade, many of them are on a 4th grade level.  How am I supposed to increase test performance in nine months especially when a lot of students have poor attendance and poor to no study habits.  When these students don't do well, the teachers are often to blame.  I just got these students when they were 14 or 15 years of age.  I have no control over what happened in the past with these students and I try to do the best I can given the circumstances.  Why/how these students graduated from the 8th grade is something I can't even begin to fathom. 

These are the same students who are required to take tests that may be culturally biased.  A lot of my students don't see the importance in taking these test because they don't plan on going to college.  If they have the desire to go to college, they don't have the means.  Many of my students are too busy trying to survive.  If they were given a test on survival skills they'd ace it.  I think many administrators and legislators are too busy greasing palms that they forget about the students.  (Another issue and another time.)

My final concern is class size.  The average class size for most public schools is 28.  There are usually 8-10 students with special needs in each class.  It is impossible for a teacher to teach all of these students when the 8-10 students have an Individual Education Plan (IEP) which often calls for modifications in the lesson.  Sometimes there are Special Education providers available to assist, but a lot of times they are not very helpful.  A lot of schools don't have the providers working with one specific discipline, so it is possible for a provider to be in a math, English and science class.  I think moving the provider around does not help the student at all.  Who's to say the provider is very knowledgeable in these areas? 

I know there are many other issues that America is facing; however, I think if the educational system is priority then everything else will fall into place.  If we are expecting younger generations to be the people to lead this country, we are doing a horrible job of preparing them for this task.  There could be a future doctor or scientist in my class that could find a cure for some incurable disease and they won't be able to maximize their potential because they grew up in the wrong zip code with the wrong parents.  I pray that Mr. Obama understands that he has the means to send his children to the best private schools.  Even if he didn't the means, he definitely has the connections to get them into the top public schools.  My students don't have either.  I want them to feel good about their school and the quality of education they will receive.