Problems and Solutions in American Public Schools

On the flip side, teachers who are not performing at acceptable standards should be reprimanded. Training and retraining programs are necessary if teachers are to properly accomplish the goal of educating students. Perhaps a teacher’s greatest role can be accomplished by motivating students to achieve to their fullest potential through giving them opportunities in which to succeed, by being truly interested in their students and concerned about their education, and by teaching the value of self-discipline. Teachers should be held accountable for ensuring that student test scores are legitimate, as well as be motivated to perform their teaching skills at higher levels. There is no excuse for a student to be allowed to graduate without the fundamental basics of being able to read and write. Schools can also put together programs educating students about the topic of violence.

Expecting higher standards from teachers and students is only one solution. One way to motivate teachers is to offer them incentives for sharpening their teaching skills and for producing students that achieve competence.

Functional illiteracy and low achievement test scores, as evidenced by SAT’s in particular, can be addressed by equipping and encouraging teachers to do a quality job. This would increase student awareness of the problems, and enable them to take positive steps of action to ensure an environment of safety.