Debate Guidelines
Educational Debate Topics
Quick Poll: Are you happy with the education you or your child received from an American Public School?
Quick Poll: Which direction is American Public Education moving?
Quick Poll: Did you feel that the 2008 Presidential Candidates considered education a priority in their campaigns and vision for America?
Quick Poll: Do you think American Public Education needs a complete overhaul, just some modifications or is fine the way it is?
Quick Poll: If you had the choice of the level of American government that would have the most influence over your public school which would it be? (select one)
Quick Poll: How would you rate the overall quality of teaching your public school?
Quick Poll: How would rate the quality of leadership in your public school?
Quick Poll: Do you believe that either you or your child is learning in public school what is needed in order to be productive and engaged citizens in the 21st Century?
Quick Poll: Do you believe that the current school funding formula (primarily property taxes) is fair and equitable for all public schools?
Quick Poll: Do you think all American public schools should spend the same amount on educating a child or should it be left up to the individual school districts?
Quick Poll: Do we spend too much, too little or just the right amount on American Public Education?
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3 comments:
Accountability first has to be more specifically defined. Are we only holding teachers accountable, or are we also holding students, parents, and community leaders accountable too? I am all for holding teachers to a high standard, but we need to support them so they can achieve that standard, much in the way that teachers need to support all of their students so they can reach the standard set for the them(hopefully a high one). Parents also need to be held accountable for their practices. I mean they are the first influence on each child and should be held accountable to do a good job, whether that means attending a parenting class or anger management, or learning English, etc. so that they can better provide for their children's future, as well as their own.
Here is what accountability should look like:
Teachers:
- Should be pursuing constant professional development to better their skills and knowledge of the subject matter they teach.
- Should leave the profession if they find themselves cynical or no longer inspired to teach.
- Should be allowed to be excellent, not just mediocre and rewarded for excellent teaching and dedication.
- Should be held responsible for their teaching duties(including, but not limited to the teaching of subject matter) and doing all they could to help their students achieve success(Their duties do not include parenting; that's the parent's job.)
- Should respect all students and maintain an environment of cooperation, inspiration, and hope with students, colleagues, and parents.
- Should be responsible for creating meaningful assessments and assessing his/her students in an objective manner.(No more federally mandates state tests.)
- Should be advocates for their children's education.
Students:
- Should be responsible for coming to school prepared and ready to learn(Of course this depends greatly on the parents for younger children.)
- Should be respectful to teachers, school staff, parents, and other students.
- Should try hard to learn.
Parents:
- Should be held accountable for the parenting of their children, but also provided with classes and resources to help them with difficulties that arise doing the most difficult job on Earth.
- Should behave responsibly and make responsible choices, knowing that they are the major influence for their children. They should be held accountable to this standard and disciplined if they behave irresponsibly in a way that affects their children
- Should be encouraged to participate in school functions and activities inside and outside school hours.
- Should be advocates for their children's education.
Lawmakers and Public Officials(Including school board members):
- Should be held responsible for all financial, philosophical, or educational decision they make that affects the students, teachers, or schools.
President:
- Should be held accountable to put education first, all the time, realizing that our children are our most precious resource, and a strong education system, creates strong students, who become thoughtful, confident, and successful citizens, who work at higher paying jobs and thus can contribute more financially to the longevity of this country.
- Should be willing to constantly get the advise of teachers who want to bring positive change to America too.
I agree with Jedi Teacher. Accountability should be high for teachers and students, but it should not be in the form of state-mandated tests.
We have given way too much money to testing companies to get results that teachers who see the kids already know. It is time to put the responsibility for assessment back where it belongs--with the teachers. We know our students. We love our students. We are trying our hardest to get them where they need to be. Support us in that, instead of mandating tests which aren't targeting the skills our students really need and aren't measuring the progress they're making.
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