US educational system?

[CigarGuy]

What do you guys think about the educational system in the USA when compared to the rest of the world?

[Oneironaut]

I can't really say, having never gone to school overseas, but the fact that we're seriously debating in this country whether or not to teach evolution as a fact says a lot about the quality of our educational system here. I mean, if so many people want to see us reject the foundational theory of the whole science of biology in our biology classes, I don't really see much hope for us, at least as far as science education goes.

[Diary of a Madman]

I know that the US dumps more money into their educational system than any other country on earth, so throwing money at the problem wont help it.

You have to start at home by beating the shit out of your kids.

[rebgirl420]

Well I think school is great and its not the schools fault kids are fucking stupid its the fact that kids rarely ever take it seriously. All they care about is their popularity. Thank god I started cyber school when I was in 11th grade. Best thing ever. I couldn't stand the stupidity and weakness of my peers. With online schooling I got to take all of my advanced classes...so awsome...And now that im in college (PITT) I do all my classes online also. I'm becoming a history teacher. I think public schooling is in shambles though, parents should be able to choose whatever school they want instead of what they HAVE to go to.

[HeallyRi]

Our education system is flawed, in many ways.
High School Diploma = Failure to use your brain.
Pursue further education or learn a trade.

When I was in 10th grade, I was doing math/history/english work that I had learned in 5th/6th. It was a joke.

IMO: Schooling up to 9th grade should be basic education, and 10th-12th should be about developing skills for jobs and maybe common sense if it is possible to be taught.

[Pipe Dreams]

US education is one big truckload of bullshit and dumbasses. Im sending my kids to Japan.

[CigarGuy]

I was over seas in Japan, South America, and the Caribbean doing some research for my masters degree, and I was freaking shocked. Kids in middle school knew more math then some math majors in college. Not to mention that they are damn well behaved in most countries (except japan). In Chile and Brazil I saw most kids in the 8th and 9th grade doing Calculus and they were damn good at it. What the hell is happening in the USA. These are considered Less Developed Countries and yet their kids could beat could out smart our kids any day of the week. I know I am not the only pot head realizing this, so why the hell does the USA not do a damn thing about it?

[JaggedEdge]

Well I think school is great and its not the schools fault kids are fucking stupid its the fact that kids rarely ever take it seriously. All they care about is their popularity. Thank god I started cyber school when I was in 11th grade. Best thing ever. I couldn't stand the stupidity and weakness of my peers. With online schooling I got to take all of my advanced classes...so awsome...And now that im in college (PITT) I do all my classes online also. I'm becoming a history teacher. I think public schooling is in shambles though, parents should be able to choose whatever school they want instead of what they HAVE to go to.

No it's the schools fault. They hire uneducated and unqualified teachers in many casses. How in the hell do kids pass through school with out being able to write a decent sentence or in some cases without even being able to read. I have known a 9th grader that couldn't read! How the fuck to teachers keep passing them.

U.S. public schools are shit. Most of them. In perticular here in the South...

And parents can choose different schools if they can afford it. I don't agree with that last statement, but I do agree that public schools need a major face lift.

[Purple Banana]

I think parents have too much say over the system, and it's MUCH too focused on actual grades instead of learning.

As a product from public and private schools, there's not much difference, other than restrictions, but I know I fought my battles WITHOUT my mom. And she taught in the damn school- so many parents went bitching into the office because little Jessica got a B+ when she deserved an A.

If my kid came home with a B, and was pissed about it, I'd tell him to work harder and stop bitching about it!

[Its a Plant]

Our education system is flawed, in many ways.
High School Diploma = Failure to use your brain.
Pursue further education or learn a trade.

When I was in 10th grade, I was doing math/history/english work that I had learned in 5th/6th. It was a joke.

IMO: Schooling up to 9th grade should be basic education, and 10th-12th should be about developing skills for jobs and maybe common sense if it is possible to be taught.
To be honest, I learned a lot in high school. It's all what you put into it, and I think it was a good foundation to pursue other areas of interest, whatever they may be. College/tech school is for further developing certain skills. But without a high school education, it's a lot harder to learn those when you don't have the basics down. ~

[SamsonSimpson]

im not sure of other states, but floridas school system is shit.

i do agree with students not giving a crap though also, i see it everyday and it's pitiful. thier are a couple of kids in my FILM STUDIES class that are a perfect example. all we do is watch movies, after a couple films we get a worksheet with the exact test questions and answers, just in a different order than the test. the whole class except the dumbasses have A's in the class. these einstiens have below 40%. i just don't get it. i'll stop because i think i can go all day on this subject.

[microwavechips]

i dont know what the rest of the world's is like but the us system has nothing to do with actual intelligence its how well you can follow directions and more shit like that keeps getting passed cause the bastards passing things like no child left behind have no idea whats going on in the schools they just see bad statistics from schools, teaching for standardized testing is plain rediculous
i think its broken

[Diary of a Madman]

To be honest, I learned a lot in high school. It's all what you put into it, and I think it was a good foundation to pursue other areas of interest, whatever they may be. College/tech school is for further developing certain skills. But without a high school education, it's a lot harder to learn those when you don't have the basics down. ~

Good point. I learned a lot in high school here in Florida. Its what people put into it. So if people want to be dumb shits and turn into an MTV/E! stereotype, they will do it, and in large numbers apparently. People dont have to try very hard to survive anymore.

[SamsonSimpson]

i will admit i learned alot in schools here in florida, but not neccesarily(sp) from my teachers. ive learned by seeing what other kids do and don't do and realizing i don't want to go through the same shit they do. basically ive learned; to be honest and WEED is not for kids. alot of kids look forward to this weekends parties, but im always thinking of 10 years from now.

[40oz]

Schools in USA are too easy. I was able to graduate in the top 25% of my class putting forth minimal, if any, effort. I wasn't properly motivated to do well in school. If I would have been I would probably be at UPenn instead of Temple. Not that I would want to go to an ivy league school in the first place....

I think it is because teachers are getting just as lazy as the students.

[smoke it]

many students in the U.S. (myself included) arent motivated to do well in school. its the school system.

[Its a Plant]

many students in the U.S. (myself included) arent motivated to do well in school. its the school system.
Haha! Case in point...

It's not up to the schools to motivate you man. It's only their job to make sure you get an education. Like I said, it all boils down to YOU, and pointing the blame at everyone else might make you feel better, but come on..:jointsmile:

[JaggedEdge]

Haha! Case in point...

It's not up to the schools to motivate you man. It's only their job to make sure you get an education. Like I said, it all boils down to YOU, and pointing the blame at everyone else might make you feel better, but come on..:jointsmile:

In some cases it is the students fault, but there are a lot of really bad teachers out there. My girlfriend had a history teacher who tought the class with hollywood films. After every chapter he would play a movie based on the events they just learned about. She also say's he tought a lot of false information as well... She is a history buff.

I went to an inner city public school in New Orleans as part of an assignment at my school. The teachers who's class I was assigned to could barely speak proper English. It was pathetic. Most of the kids were sweethearts and had a lot of potential, but if more teachers are like the one I experienced they don't have a shot in hell at making anything of there lives.

[Its a Plant]

In some cases it is the students fault, but there are a lot of really bad teachers out there.
While I agree with what you said, I have to say it's probably MOST cases where it's the student's fault.

So now it's the teacher's fault eh? Haha ya buncha slackers. :hippy:

[rebgirl420]

As a future history teacher i resent all of this crappy teacher crap. Its the students fault. The info is there. Either you study or you don't, no one is or should have to twist your arm. Not to mention maybe the parents can step in and help. learning doesnt just end in schools. I know my parents kept a fire under my ass to keep my A's.

[40oz]

A great teacher is one that can motivate a student to want to learn. There arn't too many great teachers around anymore.

[Its a Plant]

I agree with you AND e-mailed you!

Did'ja get it? ;)
Hmm I did NOT get it...:wtf: Maybe it takes a little while...

[email protected]? :jointsmile:

[Its a Plant]

hmmm odd. I resent it.

Thanks! :)
Okay, I GOT this one. A reply should be comin' round the mountain when she comes...

Peace. :jointsmile:

[JaggedEdge]

As a future history teacher i resent all of this crappy teacher crap. Its the students fault. The info is there. Either you study or you don't, no one is or should have to twist your arm. Not to mention maybe the parents can step in and help. learning doesnt just end in schools. I know my parents kept a fire under my ass to keep my A's.

You can't say there aren't some shitty teachers out there. There are those who reach out to their students and try and help the ones who are struggling (not due to being lazy) and there are those who don't give two shits and hate their job. If all a sudent is supposed to do is look in a book and find the information on there own, what is the purpose of even having a teacher.

The whole idea of being a teacher is to "teach" not to have the kids teach themselves. Yes, the student needs to study too, but the fact of the matter is there are a lot of bad teachers out there. I have come across quit a few in both public and private schools as well as at my current college.

I have also come across some amazing teachers in my school history in all three areas.

Don't resent the fact that I think some teachers deserve to be fired. Simply don't become on of them yourself. Care about your students and do what you can to help them suceed. Don't pass kids simply to get them the hell out your class or because you feel bad for them.

There are garbage men that suck at their jobs, why do you expect it to be any different with teachers.

I come from an area with some of the worst schools in the country, so that has a lot to do with my views to.

[smoke it]

Haha! Case in point...

It's not up to the schools to motivate you man. It's only their job to make sure you get an education. Like I said, it all boils down to YOU, and pointing the blame at everyone else might make you feel better, but come on..:jointsmile:

think dude, how many kids really give a shit about doing well in school? the majority of the ones who do only do well out of fear what their parents will do to them if they dont do well. kids like myself gave up because of lack of motivation from the school systems. kids like myself can be told over and over again to do well, but in the end, they go to school and they make the choice. the kids must be motivated and thats it. if they dont like it badly enough, they wont do it, and the teachers make us like it. my school is full of kids like myself.

[suhl]

As a future history teacher i resent all of this crappy teacher crap. Its the students fault. The info is there. Either you study or you don't, no one is or should have to twist your arm. Not to mention maybe the parents can step in and help. learning doesnt just end in schools. I know my parents kept a fire under my ass to keep my A's.

i apologize for the novel in advance. feel free to not read it, all i ask is that if anyone wants to reply to it, read the whole thing

no, it really isnt the students fault. not totally, anyway. for the first time this semester, and i am someone who loves history, i actually had a good history teacher. ive had teachers ive liked before, yes, but this is the only guy who was able to show why and how the history we are learning is really relevant today and also illustrated why the world is today the way it is, welcoming everyones opinions and also giving us the facts. im going to get an a in the class, but that isnt the point. if you think you are getting more out of school by getting your as then y ou are just flat wrong and thats the bottom line of whats wrong about the us education system. there is memorizing formulas and passages from books, which is effort, and im not badmouthing effort in any way, but then there is really really learning and actually taking something away from the class. and in highschool i have to say i liked probably a third of my teachers, but id also have to say i only had 2 or three that id say were truly great teachers.

now im not saying the kids are always that way, you have to want to learn, but a great teacher of an interesting subject with substance(ie not math, but even math if it can have a practical application), can make most people want to learn.

to wrap this up, if your point is that kids getting bad grades is no the teachers fault, i agree with you. as someone who has gotten plenty of both good and bad grades i can say it is all about effort. however, if you are saying that kids getting nothing out of a class has n othing to do with the teacher, i whole heartedly disagree. i can really say that i got very little out of highschool, and that at the next level the percentage of really good teachers is significantly than it is in highschool. the mistake i think people make, and i heard a woman who went to harvard say this one time, is the disparity of teachers between the so called good and bad schools in america. i went to a decent state university and am now at a community college and i can safely say there were very good teachers at both, and i dont see how anyone could be more qualified for some.

[birdgirl73]

OK, I'm a former teacher and was a fairly good one. At least my students did well and I got teaching award, but I think I was probably a born teacher anyway because I was raised by parents who were teachers.

I do believe there are bad teachers out there. I've seen them myself. I was lucky enough to teach in an upper-middle-class suburban public school district where the kids were all well fed, well housed and well taken care of, and IQ scores correspond directly with income levels. So that district had the money and the power to hire only good teachers with good grades and the kids did exceptionally well, 95% of them gaining entrance into good universities. The inner-city public school districts here in Texas and throughout the south have two problems. First, they are where the poorest families live, meaning those districts educate the poorest students. Again, IQ scores across the country correspond directly with socioeconomic status. That's not fair, but it's a fact. IQ has a lot more to do other things besides family income, however. Educated parents make more money but they also approach the educations of their children differently, too, doing things like regularly reading to their kids, limiting their TV, overseeing homework, staying in close touch with schools and teachers, providing better food (for better brain development). So the poverty factor is one strike against urban public school districts.

Strike two is that those inner-city districts also don't have the luxury of extra stipend money to pay differential (increased) teacher salaries since the property taxes that support those districts aren't as high as in the more affluent suburbs. So the inner-city districts get the teachers who didn't do so well in college and who can't get hired in other places. It's heartbreaking that the kids who can least afford to get an inferior education inevitably end up getting just that. In the wealthier districts with the more involved parents, kids would be better equipped to overcome a bad teacher, but, with only rare exceptions, the better teachers gravitate to the better, wealthier districts. What's the most important contributor to helping people climb out of poverty and change their socioeconomic status? It's education. So the low-income/inferior educational quality problem is part of a vicious cycle.

I am convinced that, even with quality differences in teachers, it's still far too easy to blame the school systems and the teachers. The truth is that kids only spend 7 or so hours at school for 9 months a year, whereas parents have them the rest of the time. Parents are the make-or-break factor when it comes to educational success. Supervision. Reading. Insistence on homework and educationally stimulating activities. Limits on TV. Early childhood development. Emotional and family stability. Nutrition. Those all play a tremendous role in educational success--far more than teachers or school districts.

We don't have a culture in the United States that values education, children or families. It values business. The sad thing is that if we don't pay more heed to education (and here I don't so much mean money but making it a priority as, say, Japan and other countries who're beating our socks off in math and science do), we'll continue to fall behind in business as well. It's already happening.

[suhl]

like i said, if you are talking about grades, blame the kids, if you are talking about truly teaching and making a lasting impression, blame the teacher. to me, insistence on homework is a problem with the us educational system. but so few people agree with me. my point is you should get something more out of school than grades and a piece of paper. personally i think most people look at the issue totally wrong. it seems most people care about "educational success" whereas i care about learning and becoming a better and generally more intelligent person.

what i mean is like in conversation, most places i am, and im really not trying to be a prick here but whenever something comes up in any way academic or trivial i can usual tell who really knows what they are talking about(whether it is me or someone else) and really only about 2 people i still talk to from highschool sounds like more often than they dont, and whats more is they dont try to bullshit what they dont know whereas most people do.

if you cant apply knowledge and you think that good grades mean a successful education, which about everyone does, then the us will never have a good non higher education system.

honestly if the national gpa went up a full point i really dont think anyone would notice a difference in day to day life. that is my point about grades. if you think american kids getting better grades or standardized test scores means the education system is better, well i cant say you are wrong, but i will say i dont agree with you.

i could rant on this for days but i am getting the feeling i am just starting to repeat myself


i agree about pverty being a huge factor. poor education is just one part of the vicious cycle of poverty.

[RedLocks]

I've always mocked Police officers because for the most part many of them have a High School level of Education which is equal too that of a grade school child's Education in other countries... So pretty much the people who are looking down their noses at me cause I remind them of the kid that pissed on the drivers seat of his Mom's car the one day she let him drive it to school, are just inferior and undereducated sexually frustrated kids that can't stand the fact that some guy with dreadlocks had a 3.5 GPA at a university ( yeh I know that's not the best but still) and also has 2.5 children and a HOUSE, not a one room apartment where women shall never enter, a HOUSE... fuck da police lol.. I'm raging (but in a very positive attitude) tonight wtf did I just rant on about?...

[RedLocks]

I was lucky enough to teach in an upper-middle-class suburban public school district

A lot of this post bothered me I'm sorry, I don't really want to comment on any of it so I'll just quote the one sentence fragment that made me give up on posting :(

[hempplaya]

Well I think school is great and its not the schools fault kids are fucking stupid its the fact that kids rarely ever take it seriously. All they care about is their popularity. Thank god I started cyber school when I was in 11th grade. Best thing ever. I couldn't stand the stupidity and weakness of my peers. With online schooling I got to take all of my advanced classes...so awsome...And now that im in college (PITT) I do all my classes online also. I'm becoming a history teacher. I think public schooling is in shambles though, parents should be able to choose whatever school they want instead of what they HAVE to go to.

exactly, although i took advanced classes in high school and didn't have to deal with the idiots that were there just to goof off and be the class clowns. the college atmosphere is a hell of a lot more mature than what was in high school, although there are still the attention needers. but for the most part it is way better than high school. as for our education system in general, i think it sucks. here in texas we have that dumb ass Robin Hood Act or whatever where a certain percentage of the TAXES MY PARENTS PAY go to the poor schools in south texas where there's a huge portion of minorities (mainly children of illegals) going to those schools recieving my parent's as well as everyone elses in the district.

Honestly if the state wants to do something to get the schools in Texas on a more level budget with all the others they should pool all the tax dollars into one pot and divide it among all the districts/schools EVENLY!!! This way they won't be taking the hard earned tax dollars parents pay and their child not even getting the benefits of it. The state shouldn't penalize those districts that happen to be in more affluent areas and get more money than those in the poor parts of the state that recieve virtually no tax dollars because the illegals don't pay taxes. It's fucking annoying/frustrating when you think about this. This is one of the many reasons i'm sick of governor Perry and can't wait till he's outta Austin :mad:

Reb how was that cyber school thing, i know someone who opted to do that rather than continue on in the public school system and they really enjoyed it.

(wow i love my randomly capitalizing words and not capitalizing great education system we got here :D )

[birdgirl73]

That so-called Robinhood legislation you spoke of makes a lot of people unhappy in Texas, Hemplaya. I dislike Perry, too. But that legislation wasn't a product of his governance. It was signed into law in 1993 when Ann Richards was at the helm. There've been tons of challenges to its constitutionality, and the legislature can't seem to find a way to agree on another option. The courts are now going to have to step in and help, but so far we still have Robinhood.

Redlocks, maybe sometime you'll get a chance to teach in both types of schools so you can see why a teacher would feel lucky to teach in a more affluent district. If the realities of socioeconomics and their correlation with IQ trouble you, I consider that a good thing. Those are unfortunate--but well-known--realities. Feel free to research that fact. Here's hoping you'll put your energies and frustrations into affecting change in both education and socioeconomics someday.

[passitplz]

if the kid really wants to get a good education then he/she can. high schools offer more than enough challenging courses for any student to take.(im in high school) anyways basically the problem is the student being unmotivated. they'll take the easiest classes and try to get by the easiest way. in the end tho life will be hard as fuck for them

[thcbongman]

The biggest problem of schools in America is the failure to create programs to learn a specific trade, apprenticeship programs. In countries such as Germany and Switzerland, each student are embarks on certain educational paths depending on their motivation with opportunities to change it at certain points in time. The problem is the education system in America provides on middle ground. It's not singular path everyone has to take, and you either pass or fail. If you aren't good at learning in typical fashion, there's other opportunities to get the knowledge you need to operate in this world.

[birdgirl73]

You're very right about that fact, THCBongman! We do have a single-path system here. That's one of the things I'd change if I were Queen for a Day: the fact that we not only spend too much time focusing on standardized test scores and not enough on actual learning--and that we don't have enough alternatives for kids whose learning styles are different or who don't fit the college-bound mold and would be better suited by learning a trade.

[hempplaya]

That so-called Robinhood legislation you spoke of makes a lot of people unhappy in Texas, Hemplaya. I dislike Perry, too. But that legislation wasn't a product of his governance. It was signed into law in 1993 when Ann Richards was at the helm. There've been tons of challenges to its constitutionality, and the legislature can't seem to find a way to agree on another option. The courts are now going to have to step in and help, but so far we still have Robinhood.


Ah it just a few years back really started to become a big issue in the schools I attended so I thought he was the one who brought it in, thanks for the info. And yeah none of the teachers like it, the principal at my high school hates it and said it is unfair that our tax dollars are not even going to our schools.

As much as I would like to see the courts come in and do something about it I really find it hard to think they will. Yes it would be a great way of winning over votes for re-elections but I feel that many with out children in the school system here really don't care.

[Purple Banana]

The biggest problem of schools in America is the failure to create programs to learn a specific trade, apprenticeship programs.


I went to a technical high school- we had trades for EVERYTHING:
Agri-business and Animal Science
Floral Design
Landscape Architecture and Grounds Maintenance
Auto Diagnostics and Systems Repair
Refinishing and Collision Repair
Brick and Block Masonry
Carpentry
Electricity
Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning
Plumbing
Licensed Cosmetology
Food Preparation and Management
Nursing Assistant
Certified Welding
Drafting and Computer Aided Design
Electronic Circuitry
Machining and Computer Aided Manufacturing
Printing and Graphic Communication

I have worked as a nursing assistant for 3 years. I'm not going into the nursing field, and a good 25-30% of students who also decided not to go into their respected fields. Nothing wrong with that. But it gave me the ability to get REAL life experience, to show what was expected of me in the workforce- that kids can't be immature and irresponsible, or you'd get your ass canned.

I know now how to relate to people, and treat them with respect, while maintaining a better salary than my non-technical high school counterparts did; as an added bonus, more colleges are willing to accept technical high school students more readily than others, because we HAVE that experience.

There are bad teachers- they simply don't know how to relate the information to the student while keeping them at least mildly interested. I've heard lectures given about the anatomical structure of a fingernail that has kept me very interested. However, that is NOT a valid reason for a student to do poorly in school, if the lecture is uninteresting. There are tutoring programs readily available for free. They just need the effort.

[SamsonSimpson]

here is the biggest flaw i see in the florida schools.

the schools that pass the standardized testing (F-CAT) recieve ass loads of money while the schools that fail recieve nothing but poor grades. i attend at lake brantley which is deffinetly an upperclass school. im not saying everyone is in the "upperclass" but this school is ridiculously rich already and every year we get more money for passing F-CAT. now look at neighboring orange county where most of the high schools are failing the F-CAT. these schools do not recieve anything but a failing grade.

whoever is in charge of these florida schools is a jackass for not seeing a problem here. man oh man

[Skwirl07]

Yeah it's all about what you choose to do with it. I mean sure the educational system in the United States isn't as great as in other countries, but if you work at it you can get just as much out of it...

In the United States we have the opportunity to learn as much as we want and study whatever we want. I believe this says it all. Whether or not we choose to take advantage of this at the rate other countries do is another question entirely.

[40oz]

Yeah it's all about what you choose to do with it. I mean sure the educational system in the United States isn't as great as in other countries, but if you work at it you can get just as much out of it...

In the United States we have the opportunity to learn as much as we want and study whatever we want. I believe this says it all. Whether or not we choose to take advantage of this at the rate other countries do is another question entirely.

Yea but the key to getting kids a good education is good teachers along the way that can motivate them to want to open their minds to learning.

[Skwirl07]

Yea but the key to getting kids a good education is good teachers along the way that can motivate them to want to open their minds to learning.

Great teachers can only do so much, it still comes down to whether or not a student wants to learn. I have had great teachers in the past and also my fair share of bad ones. Never affected me one way or the other.

[40oz]

Great teachers can only do so much, it still comes down to whether or not a student wants to learn. I have had great teachers in the past and also my fair share of bad ones. Never affected me one way or the other.

The education process is more than just teacher and student. There's also family, friends, and the whole culture at that point in time. family is usually where people get most of their support and motivation, especially when it comes to trying hard in school. Some people don't have that. Also some people just learn slow and it takes some time to learn things. Some kids are also just not interested in school at all. They need help from good teachers, a teacher that can inspire them.

If not the teacher then they will look for inspiration in other places, like friends and in our current culture. They might get lucky and find it but come on...thats hard to do in the world today.

All the United states education system can really do to have a smarter population is to get better teachers for the kids.

[Iplaybass182]

I think my mom said it best the other day why america has some kids who can't do a thing and some that can. My brother is having trouble in a few classes, so since his teacher sucks ass, my mom and dad have to help him and teach him everything. Then that teach goes onto look good, because so many parents don't want to see their kid fail, this keeps happening in districts like mine were people have the money and time to help their kids. Then the school and teachers look good on state wide exams so these shitty teach pass the qualifications. The school gets their money and they are happy. So when people look at how "good" teachers in our district are we laugh.


Last year I got a tutor for math becuase the teacher didn't teach us a think and it was an honors class so lots of kids got help. Then this year I took a nonhonors math class and the teacher is great I actaully learn. But he doesn't look as good because it isn't honors so you have a bunch of lazy asses who don't give effort.

[RedLocks]

Redlocks, maybe sometime you'll get a chance to teach in both types of schools so you can see why a teacher would feel lucky to teach in a more affluent district. If the realities of socioeconomics and their correlation with IQ trouble you, I consider that a good thing. Those are unfortunate--but well-known--realities. Feel free to research that fact. Here's hoping you'll put your energies and frustrations into affecting change in both education and socioeconomics someday.
I'm eternally grateful to the people who grew up in my, well I guess we can call it less "affluent district", that gave back to the community that made them, or even the people who just wanted to be there and had a talent for teaching regardless of what "grades they got in college". Men and Women like Joe Clark (the movie "Lean On Me" was a story about my hometown) who actually gave a shit about us really made the difference in a lot of our lives rather than turn their back and run towards the more lucrative and easy path. Look at his life, he aimed to put himself where he felt he could do the most good despite the obvious frustrations that would come with the positions. If more people could be like that maybe it would counteract the rich kids who grow up to be G.W. Bushes..

I'm proud to say my wife teaches art in towns I won't mention to the local Girl Scouts troops every week of the year, and I was lucky enough to teach the kids from Passaic, Essex and Hudson County NJ Skiing and Snowboarding and plan to soon take a position as a Soccer Coach for one of our local traveling teams if Maria has her way ;p While none of the above are actually considered teaching in schools, we find it extremely rewarding to be able to spark that interest in children. Maybe something that will stay with them for the rest of their lives, or the difference between getting into county college at age 18 rather than being charged as an adult at 18 and spending 5 years in prison, later to be the same people I remember on the same corner 12 years ago now sporting necklaces of black and yellow beads and a braid down to their ass..

ok I'm starting to get into full out rant mode I'll stop there isn't much point in what I am saying. By the way, no I can't see how anyone would "feel lucky" Really, I don't like people much who come out of upper class areas, they waste what they have, and make up the lazy, ignorant and greedy America that other countries hate.

damn and I was trying to stop my rant, runaway post!!!! Sorry it's a bit late and came home to a house that was a mess lol, ya know I love ya right? ;)

[Dave Byrd]

My wife Birdie comes from fairly modest circumstances herself and grew up seeing the difference that education made, which is why she feels strongly about it. I'll let her respond more later. Just make sure you're not painting everyone with affluence with the same brush. There are hard, hard workers and contributors among the affluent, too, and it was those students that she most enjoyed teaching. It was a new experience for her to see students whose parents were totally behind the educational process, which wasn't her experience during student teaching or in the school district where she got her early education.