A School of Voices

Let us hear your voices on this education poll

A poll on CNN showed that parents and teachers disagree on a large range of topics concerning education. Here are a few of the results of the survey:

1. 73% of teachers say they know more than their students about learning tools available on the Internet. 57% of parents say they know more than parents.
2. 71% of teachers say class work and homework is the best way to measure academic success. 63% of parents say the same. A minority of both groups favored test scores.
3. 79% of teachers say high schools do a good job, if not better, in preparing students for college. 67% of parents agree.
4. 43% of parents say low expectations of students is a serious problem. 54% of teachers say the same.

There is more of interest to read in the entire article. Pick a number and write your opinion about the statement. Then let us hear your voice. Guess the percentage and how you think the poll would have went if students of these parents and teachers had participated in the poll.

Of course, we would love to hear other voices, too! What's your opinion?

Punishment: Agree or disagree?

Tasha Henderson is a mom who lives in Oklahoma. She got tired of her 14-year-old daughter's poor grades, chronic school tardiness, and classroom back-talk. So she decided to teach her daughter a lesson. She made Coretha stand at a busy Oklahoma City intersection holding a cardboard sign that read: "I don't do my homework and I act up in school, so my parents are preparing me for my future. Will work for food." The mother said, "This may not work, I'm not a professional."  There has been a lot of public response to this incident. Some have cheered the mom and felt she cared another to do something that might change her daughter's behavior. Others have felt that the punishment was psychologically damaging to the daughter. One passing motorist called the police and an Oklahoma City police officer took a report. The police asked the mother and daughter to leave but no citation was issued.

Tasha Henderson said her daughter's attendance has been perfect and her behavior has been better since the incident. The daughter said the punishment was humiliating but said it got her attention. Coretha had already been forced by her parents to give up basketball and track because of slipping grades. She said she hopes to improve in school so she can play again. Read more details in the article, "Wayward student stuck on corner."

So what do you think?  If you agree with the punishment give your reasons. If you don't agree, propose an alternate solution.