Are schools failing our kids? Or is it something else?

Students are failing even if they're passing

There has been a lot of talk about this generation of students lately on social media. How they can't read, write, or even tell time on an analog clock. Which with the latter, some thinking isn't so important. Regardless of your thoughts on the matter; there is some truth to all of this. And to be quite honest this should be worrisome. Students making it to their senior year of high school. Preparing to graduate and be a true adult with true responsibilities. 

To see that a lot, not all of course. Have gotten to that grade with being unable to do the things we actually do every day is to me, crazy. How? Well, I remember a time that if you didn't pass your classes and were unable to do what was required to pass you were held back that grade. Allowing the student to redo that grade allowed them to have more time with that curriculum. 

Giving them the best opportunity to actually learn what they truly needed to learn before moving on to the next grade. The fact that a lot of this is revolving on a essential part of our daily lives is something I wouldn't have thought I would see. With the rise of technology, I thought students would have an easier time learning what we struggled to. But I see now that can be further from the truth. 

Stats don't lie

Some may say that statistics can be manipulated. To that person thinking that, I agree with to an extent. That extent ends when people are actually seeing it consistently every day. Also sharing their experience on social media platforms that align with everyone else's experience. When I hear adults talk about the younger generation. Which to me would be from the ages of 14 to early 20's at this point. Stating that they have no knowledge or understanding of things. 

We can't just take it with a grain of salt. The fact that reading and writing is their week point says a lot. Well to me personally if you ask. Those two things are the basics of our daily lives. Yes, auto correct has been a blessing to a lot, especially if you type really quick and just need a word quickly corrected. 

But having children, students that can't read basic literature is a failure to our society and our countries future. I'm going to leave a graph here for you to review yourself. But based on the simplicity of this, it just indicates that we have failed our students for a long time. 

Why is this happening?

There are numerous reasons for this actually happening. In part it's the government, in other it's the school system, as well as the parents. There really is truly enough blame to go around when it comes to this specifically and we cannot deny that. Having the no child left behind act doesn't really help. Along with schools and teachers passing students that they shouldn't. 

To share a little experience of my own. When I was a sophomore in high school, I was by far not the best student. I used to cut my English 2 class almost every day. In matter in fact, I went to that class probably a total of five times that year. I didn't submit any class work, didn't take any tests, still for whatever reason I passed that class. 

You can imagine my surprised look on my face when I saw a "C" on my report card. Where I went to school it wasn't in the best neighborhood, heck to be honest it wasn't a good neighborhood at all. There were always fights in and out of school. We had actual cops in the front of our school in the beginning of the school day and at dismissal as well.

On top of that my parents were both dropouts. My dad dropping out in the 7th grade, and my mom dropping out her freshman year of high school. They didn't know much, just enough to survive basically. So, when I say there is plenty of blame to go around, I actually mean it. Everything, remember starts at home trickles into school and then the government. 

Yes, the government loves being involved with our children. But we have to remember that it starts with us at home. We have to be able to help our children and lead them. Which if you ask me plenty of parents are no longer doing. But I leave that there for now. I've made a post about that already. 

Conclusion

Somethings have to change. The reality is that our kids are the future. So many generations have fought to get us here to this point. Some maybe weren't good in school but were talented somewhere else in life. But when we fail our kids with the most basic things to survive as an adult. Failure is the more than likeliest of outcome for them. I will leave you with this other chart to ponder over. But tell me what you think down below in the comments. And remember we can agree to disagree respectfully of course.

Category / Indicator	2015 (Peak)	2019 (Pre-Pandemic)	2022	2024	Overall Change
4th Grade Average Scale Score	223	220	217	215	-8 pts from peak (below 1992 baseline of 217)
8th Grade Average Scale Score	265	263	260	258	-7 pts from peak (lowest in 25+ years)
4th Graders "Below Basic"	~32%	34%	37%	40%	+6% increase in struggling readers
8th Graders "Below Basic"	~25%	27%	30%	33%	+6% increase in struggling readers