FORMULA FOR THE SUCCESS OF STUDENTS IN OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Following yesterday’s post about my school medals in Cuba, it occurs to me to propose a formula for the success of students in our public schools. Such formula would be successful in private schools also, but most of these do not need my advice. Because private schools are expensive, they either find ways to teach children well or close after losing out to the competition.

This is the formula: GOOD CONDUCT + GOOD APPLICATION = ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE.

If we (the School Board, school administrators, teachers, and parents) demand and enforce good conduct and good application from all students, the result will be academic excellence. Granted, not every student will be an Einstein, but our children will learn to read, think, and study well. Most will become productive members of society.

There can be no compromise to anything less than the demand and enforcement of good conduct and good application. Establish disciplinary measures to control (and suspend, if necessary) problem students. We cannot allow the many to suffer and fail due to the actions of the few. If parents cannot educate and discipline their children as required, both should suffer the consequences. A learning institution is not a place for spoiled or disrespectful children. It is a place for those who want to learn and behave accordingly.

The American Heritage dictionary defines “conduct” as “the way one acts; behavior.” Good conduct on the part of a student, therefore, requires that he or she acts and behaves well. I do not think expanding on that thought is necessary. We should all understand what good conduct means, even those who like to act stupid to get away with murder.

Regarding “application,” the word has different definitions in the dictionary. Two of those concern us here. The first one defines “application” as “the act of putting something to a special use.” The “something” in this context is the human brain of a student, and the “special use” is learning. One goes to school to learn. The duty of grownups is to work in order to earn a living. The duty of a student is to learn, so that someday he or she can go to work and earn a living, period.

The second definition of “application” is “close attention; diligence,” as in “shows application to his or her work.” The idea is quite simple. In the classroom, the teacher is the man or the woman (a godlike figure if you wish). The duty of a student is to pay attention, ask questions and follow instructions as commanded. If the teacher says, “Do this now,” the student does this now. If the teacher says, “You have the following homework...” the student makes a note of it, goes home, and does the assigned homework as required. It is almost a perfect system, if only teachers taught well (I am not letting them off the hook, by any means) and students showed good application.

To motivate students, have an end-of-year event at the school auditorium. Give out medals in the categories of “conduct,” “application,” and “academic excellence” to the top three or four students in each class. Ask parents to be present. Publish a list of the winners on a yearbook. If possible, ask the local newspaper to do the same. They could print and include an insert in one of their daily runs. I am sure other incentives are possible, like giving the winners free tickets to Disney World or other goodies corporate sponsors are willing to donate.

In my opinion and that of many other observers, discipline is sorely lacking in public schools. Without discipline, the learning environment suffers greatly. Teaching becomes an impossible task. That is the reason public schools need to adopt a formula for success. Demanding and enforcing good conduct and good application from students is that formula. If we apply it, there is no doubt in my mind academic excellence will follow.

Recommended Reading: Ercian Testament - Part II, chapter 12 “Leaps of Knowledge.”