Last July, I got an email from a friend who was in the process of finishing a Master’s degree in Special Education. She asked if I would complete a survey related to her research. I didn’t hesitate. A few days later she sent me a list of questions about my past experiences and my current thoughts about public school education. Listed below are some of my experiences, observations, and suggestions educators might want to consider.

1. I had a few teachers who were indifferent to the plight of poor kids and a few who were outright hostile towards us.
2. Classroom hostility creates fear and anger, but indifference is much more damaging.
3. Students can tell when they aren’t a priority: it does something to them.
4. Some teachers were better than others when it came to hiding their lack of attentiveness.
5. Students, not the faculty or parents, are the first to recognize when a teacher has given up.

1. Public education is one of the highest achievements of mankind.
2. Privatizing public education will cause more problems than it fixes.
3. Market sensibilities force educators to ask how profitable something is instead of how much value it adds.
4. The ability of a nation to advance rests squarely on the shoulders of its youth.
5. Education is the process of self actualization.

1. The three R’s are essential, but critical thinking is just as important.
2. There has to be more focus on the humanities.
3. Teachers, regardless of the subjects they teach, should use as much technology as possible in their classes.
4. Students should be required to write in every subject.
5. All students should have an apprentice level skill set in one service industry trade.