Education

By Jack Mobley

Our state's educational system is in need of a major overhaul.

The breakdown of the family and the lack of parental support and participation in the lives of the students is the chief contributor to the terrible situation. Added to the lack of parental involvement, social engineering is becoming more prevalent and does not teach students the absolutes and the moral convictions they need. Thus, they have no moral basis to grow from and find themselves with no moral compass to guide them after they leave school.

Currently, over 40% of the entire state budget is mandated by Prop 98 to go to education and what we are getting for our money is not acceptable. And when the state universities and colleges are factored in the percentage is much higher. We are not using the people's money effectively. I watched a TV special on education where a school board member from the LA Unified School District was asked how much more money the system needed. Her response was, "More". When asked how much more she just repeated, "More". That was from someone who is directly responsible for the abysmal 50% drop out rate in the LAUSD. More money is not the answer. Using the money effectively is the answer. Making parents responsible for their children's behavior is the answer. Giving the classroom teacher the support from the administration he or she needs is the answer. And teaching the children relevant subjects and maintaining classroom discipline is the answer. These answers are not easy things to do but we have to start.