Public education good or bad?

Donald Caravalho: I think America has failed public education. The "No Child Left Behind" has screwed up funding and the average teaching methods for years to come. It wasn't exactly perfect before, but it was a hell of a lot better than it is now.

Myriam Hetjonk: public education is ALWAYS in crisis, and will always BE in crisis, because every parent thinks their little darling is better than average, and most of them aren't. Since that can't possibly be the PARENTS' fault, it must be the SCHOOLS. No matter what the schools do, no matter how much money is thrown at education, no matter how many worthless "no child left behind" tests, it will never be enough; they will always be in a state of perpetual failure, this century as well as the next. Public education is actually plenty good at some things and miserable at others, just like every kid ever born. After 12 years teaching elementary school, my wife decided to home-school our kids, and we both think it best f! or them.........Show more

Chastity Doderer: No, I believe a person can still get out of it what they put into it. Many "public school" people have gone on to do great things. However I do believe there are too many fingers in the pie so to speak. You just start a learning track and someone comes along and changes course. Then the issue of parents interfering with the system and the few dead beat teachers just getting their pay. (most are very good at their jobs)I do wonder if they simply got back to basics, if the learning curve might go up. The repeating of the same data for 12 years in some classes is not progress....Show more

Arnoldo Budzynski: Unfortunatly you will get opinions and not many facts with this question. I am a teacher and I believe that I am forced to be accountable and prepare our students for what's to come. Public Education is not perfect but it's help accountable. No Child Left Behind has a positive premise but just crummy application. Eve! ry district is different but I believe demographics (race, fre! e and reduced lunch status) has more to do with the results we see than with no child left behind or the teachers themselves....Show more