This Shouldn't Come as a Surprise

Today's issue of the Chicago Sun Times carries a piece about the lack of progess in the reading scores of the elementary schools. The report, put out by the University of Chicago's Consortium on Chicago School Research, says that the scores have remained relatively stagnant for the past twenty years. I am sure many in the public are horrified with this report.

This comes as no surprise to me. I have often commented, through this blog, that what students learn in school is largely affected by conditions outside of school and many of those conditions have deteriorated over the past twenty years.

Given neighborhood safety, the proliferation of gangs in too many areas, familial concerns, poverty, and the like, it might be a miracle that reading and math scores have held their own during this era. I'm dead serious about this! Before we throw stones at the schools, teachers and children we need to get real and consider what it would be like for US to grow up in such an environment.

To improve the performance of students in reading and math, along with other course work - which shouldn't be forgotten - in such an environment will take much longer than twenty years. It will take as long as it takes to make the streets safe, get rid of the gangs, provide decent paying jobs, and to have well established and strong family relations.

Thanks,
Dick