MovieChat Forums > Waiting for 'Superman' (2010) Discussion > Schools are bad because idiot kids atten...

Schools are bad because idiot kids attend them

posted 12 years ago by punkgirly
16 replies | jump to latest

Everyone in the film blames the teachers or the education system, but what about the parents? Kids who attend elite private schools and go off to Harvard come from good, educated families with parents who care and invest in their child's education....such as hiring tutors and reading to their children when they're toddlers.

Most kids who attend low-performing schools come from broken families with parents who don't spend time with their children, read to them, or give them every opportunity. These kids have no interest in education or schools since they have no support from home, so they don't learn at grade level and don't perform well on standardized tests. Why blame the teachers?

I blame the parents. Schools are "bad" when "bad" kids go there, not because the teachers are bad (although there might be some bad apples). Schools would be better if these kids had better role models at home.

[–] nypoet22 12 years ago

yes, the film does cast quite a bit of unfair blame on teachers. but it's just as pointless to blame parents, much less children. of course poverty and lack of parenting skills are major impediments to education. however, that kind of thinking is unproductive. it's more worthwhile to focus on changing the conditions that those problems bring. we should not be blaming, we should be building. community services, head start centers, health clinics, nutritious lunches, small classes and highly engaged principals can and do make a difference. let's have more of those.

"Because you're an idiot. No, no, don't look like that, practically everyone is."
~Sherlock

[–] SelmerVI 12 years ago

Nypoet22 - as always, you are the voice of reason and wisdom.

[–] theoffice11 12 years ago

wow nypoet, perfectly spoken. i especially agree that having engaged principals and smaller, more manageable class sizes would go a long way towards helping the problem.

[–] Gordon_Gartrelle 12 years ago

@nypoet

I don’t understand. What you wrote does not take away from what the OP wrote that maybe parents are a little lazy with how much time they want to dedicate to educating their children.

You want nutritious lunches, small classes and highly engaged principals can and do make a difference to be responsible for teaching a 4 year old how to count and know their alphabets and shapes. Because this is something that mom and dad should not be bothered with.

Without argument I am just curious. Are you one of those people that is trying to make conditions better regarding the school system?

You don't know me.
You only think you do.

[–] nypoet22 12 years ago

I'm not any sort of self-styled "reformer," if that's what you mean. I teach US history and government to public school students, and I publish an opinion article from time to time. In my own small way I try to make a difference.

my point to the OP was that blame is counterproductive, whether it's directed at teachers, parents, students or anyone else. as i mentioned, there are systemic reforms that have proven to make a positive impact, and other reforms (including those promoted by the film) that have thus far shown to be either largely irrelevant (charters, vouchers) or counterproductive (NCLB/RttT). we can all do better, but when it comes to meeting the challenges we face, it makes sense for us to focus on what we can do to promote effective solutions, rather than overgeneralizing the problems of others.

"Because you're an idiot. No, no, don't look like that, practically everyone is."
~Sherlock

[–] Suriname86 11 years ago

The reality is most of these poor kids are better off learning basic math and english and going to vocational school. Every kid can't be a doctor or lawyer.

[–] yldr45 11 years ago

I'm totally confused. Your response here completely conflicts with the what you said four minutes earlier on a new thread: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1566648/board/flat/211556191?d=211556191#2 11556191 That's where you are closer to the truth.

[–] Stormy_77 11 years ago

All the blame should go to the students.

When I studied in Asia, we had crappy classrooms, no Audio-video equipment, no gym, 50+ in a class, 15 classes for 1st grade and there were 788 students in the whole grade. Exams would rank students in order, and the student's report card could be as good as 1/788, or as bad as 787/788.

It didn't matter how good or bad the teacher was, how bad the school equipment was (recycled desks), how horrible the home environment was, most students still managed to learn.

Those who didn't try and gave up knew they would only be good for being janitors, bathroom attendants or roadside leaf sweepers. Everyone knew this before 1st grade and the students would apply themselves diligently to their studies from a young age.

It is the student's job and responsibility to learn no matter how bad the teacher, environment or equipment is, or suffer the future career consequences. I have heard MANY stories of underprivileged children from bad circumstances (Single mobs, homeless) with strong willpower getting scholarships. If the student gives up, they are part of the problem. If they don't, they will succeed no matter what challenges life throws at them.

[–] yldr45 11 years ago

Willpower does not just come from within.

[–] SelmerVI 11 years ago

Actually it does, because that's the point of will power - what you can accomplish under your own drive. Encouragement and support come from external sources, but not will. Will is always the individual. If you need something external to give you will, then you have none yourself.

[–] yldr45 11 years ago

Actually it does, because that's the point of will power - what you can accomplish under your own drive.

Where does drive come from? What causes that?

[–] SelmerVI 11 years ago

Your own desire to do and be. Will is the strength of your own convictions. When all other sources of inspiration fail, that is where will counts most.

I half agree with Stormy - Ultimately it is the student's responsibility to otherwise there is no point in rewarding them with grades and accolades. However, this is not to say that the teacher is absolved of their responsibility to teach - they (we) are the other half of the equation.

[–] yldr45 11 years ago

Your own desire to do and be.

And where does desire come from? At some point in the chain of events something has to come from somewhere other than within.

[–] SelmerVI 11 years ago

I disagree - will is one of the few things we truly own. Influences come from somewhere other than within, and influences are both important and powerful. But will is the power to decide whether or not to act in the accordance with those influences.

[–] Doc80 10 years ago

A child isn't going to want to succeed and have the desire and will to do it, especially at a young age, without some kind of outside influence. Therefore, the influence is the catalyst. Someone could have the willpower to do something great but without a catalyst, it won't go anywhere.

[–] SelmerVI 10 years ago

The earliest and most important catalyst is the home environment. Parenting is supposed to fill in where the child's will is not yet formed.