CHS39 of Winslow, ME Amazed,
I'm amazed that you would make such an ignorant statement. Private schools are doing a great job? What do you have for data to support your statement? Did you ever think that private schools have an easier job because of the clientele they serve? Forget the fact that if they don't take federal money they do not have to meet NCLB or release their test scores.
As a public school teacher I canNOT turn any child away, no matter what they bring to the table (private schools can choose not to admit a student).
Have you been in a classroom recently? How do you propose I get little Johnny to read at grade level when he can barely put words together to form a sentence? Or little Mary who has a mom or dad who don't spend any time with her because they're too busy with their social life.
I agree with DJ, if I could just TEACH every student would make incredible gains. Nowadays kids are coming into school with zero family support, zero background knowledge, zero respect and responsibility.
If you or anyone else can show me how to make sure every child meets the guidelines set forth in NCLB, I would be happy to let you take over my classroom and I'll take a desk job.report abuse

reader of Boston, MA Maine youth , dont you worry. There will be plenty of $7/hour jobs in your future cleaning the homes of Massachusetts people as we buy land and build homes up in Maine. Heck by the time your in your 40s you will be up to $9 an hour.report abuse

The Reader of Central Maine, ME A USA Today article from 2007:

"Massachusetts, which led the nation on the latest NAEP, reports that, based on state tests, only 50% of its students are proficient in reading and 40% in math. The reward for having set this demanding bar is that Gov. Deval Patrick must explain to voters why Massachusetts schools seem to be faring only half as well as those in Oklahoma."

http://www.usatoday.com/news/education/2007-06-06-schools-opinions_N.htm

It's a flawed system.report abuse

Bruce Rioux of Burlington, VT What this country needs is to get the government out of running our schools. It has simply made a mess of it all.
Another thing, is to rid ourselves of the NEA teacher's union.
Then, we need to decide what a child needs to really learn and stop all the fad programs and other "fixes". Our ancestors only had McGuffy's Readers and they BUILT this country without computers, I-pods, blackberries, calculators, et al. All they had was a simple blackboard and the above mentioned books!report abuse