I posted this as a comment on another blog and it occurred to me that it's longer than some of my own posts! So here it is...
Someone "from the trenches" here, as I'm a middle school science teacher...
The reality of the situation is that the vast majority of school funding is local, not national. So much of the resources that a school has available are generated by local property taxes, bond issues, etc. A national program (particularly one as underfunded as this one is likely to be) cannot solve many of the problems we are having--it is such a small percentage of our funding.
If you ask me, one of the main reasons our kids are not doing well in math and science is that good teachers are leaving the profession. Here's why:
1. You can make more money in my state as a plumber than as a teacher. I know one incredible high school science teacher who left for just that reason. Many other jobs in math and science are more lucrative than teaching, and you don't have to deal with kids all day long. (I happen to like the kids, though...)
2. Many of the factors that influence how well our students will do are out of our immediate control. Poverty, parents' educational level, and lack of motivation can be difficult to overcome. We try our best, but sometimes it isn't enough.
3. Respect (lack thereof). When everyone is questioning how well you do your job every day, it takes a toll. Since everyone went to school, everyone has an opinion. Parents believe their kids over the teachers.
Don't get me wrong, I love my job. It just drives me nuts that people think that they can legislate about schools when they have never tried teaching.
