Education: Let's climb that mountain

While the students have been outside playing, The Press has just published several editorials to suggest one way to improve education: Focus on the teachers.

That doesn't mean there aren't many other educational issues to address.

Technology, primarily for distance learning, must improve.

An education emphasis that's geared to keep head counts high and prop up wobbly students late in their K-12 sojourn must somehow reverse course and focus much more on the other end of the spectrum, primarily pre-kindergarten. Instill in them a passion for learning at the very earliest stages of their lives and you'll not have so many falling off the ladder just before they reach the rooftop. In fact, you'll see these kids building new rooftops - much, much higher than their predecessors.

The deficiencies don't stop there. When a high school classroom in Post Falls doesn't have enough textbooks for every student to use one or take one home for further study, something's wrong. On the other hand, Coeur d'Alene Charter Academy is notorious for having outdated textbooks - in one recent case, students were using a text that noted Bill Clinton is the current U.S. president - yet its students as a group are among the nation's highest public school achievers.

But focus on teachers and we believe America's education system can become the best in the world, rather than a second-division underachiever.

What we've shared with readers in the past week is grossly oversimplified and not terribly original, but it's a starting point. It is a challenging starting point, but consider the other options most of us could agree need fixing.

Parental involvement heads that list for us, and we believe many educators would agree. But as challenging as it will be to change the way we train, hire and reward teachers, imagine what it would take to alter society so the vast majority of parents suddenly become heavily involved in their kids' day-to-day education. Transform teaching as a profession? Doable. Transform all of society to ease dependence on teachers? Good luck.

To improve education, one thing we can't do is continue to fight. When we collaborate, we hold true to the idea that educators want what you want: a better public education school system and all the rewards that will flow from that improved system.

Along with collaboration, persistence will pay. Knowing that many parents won't get involved and that some educators will resist change, be patient but persistent in forging ahead. Our rate of high school graduates going on to college and actually graduating is unacceptable. Even then, too many college graduates are unable to find fulfilling and financially rewarding careers after virtually bankrupting themselves or their parents while earning a degree. These things must change.

We believe change should start at the head of the classroom. If you think about it, you probably do, too, because you remember that good teachers helped you grow, while the others stunted your progress or stifled your thirst for learning. Replacing 10 percent of the worst teachers with even average teachers could go far in boosting educational excellence and optimum employment. It would create generational gains in your community and in your home.