Students do not value their education: Is it the students' issue or is there another force behind this problem?

Thu, 13 Dec 2007 15:13:00 GMT

By Cody Wagner

Students seem to be having much more trouble concentrating and valuing the school process these last couple years. Participating in sports, completing homework, and teachers complaining, students face distractions and lose focus. Photo taken by Cody Wagner

Are students really so unfocused on their schooling or is there another problem to this growing matter? Throughout the years, it seems that fewer students care about their schooling and more about having fun. Harmless fun isn't bad, but a student’s education is extremely important as he grows to become an adult. Some think that students don't understand since they are “too young” and don't know about the “real world,” but there are some who believe differently. Some believe the education process is slipping from where it should be. “I feel I'm not being educated properly. I'm being taught Math, Science, English, etc., but I won't retain all this. I won't need to know all this when I'm older,” said Shelbyville Junior Chad Kepley. Some students wonder why in school they even learn about a lot of their subjects. Schools have many classes to offer, but there doesn't seem to be enough classes teaching life preparation said many students. Many times when it comes to school, teachers and parents complain about other distractions in life instead of classes. “It’s [Concentrating] harder; there is too much information and access to useless information,” said Biology Teacher Mrs. Kikendall. Many parents and teachers complain about the abuse of the Internet. Since the Internet has had an uprise in popularity, more and more people use it everyday. It has useful information, but has even more useless information. There is also a world of other problems with the teachers and not the students. “Teachers are easy going and don't seem to care as much,” says Freshman Tiffany Smith. Some teachers are lenient and let things slide. Is this right for the school process? Some students and parents complain about how teachers do not teach well. Other students and parents defend them by saying that a school cannot treat students like they attend military academies. “With the computers in my classroom, it is especially challenging to keep students from being distracted by the Internet. So, I cannot police it, which appears that I don't care, but I can enforce assignment deadlines,” said English Teacher Ms. Bruns. Some students get in trouble for browsing the Internet instead of actually working. Teachers at Waldron Jr./Sr. High School have no real efficient way of stopping students from browsing the Internet during class. Is there a definite answer to why students or schools are slipping? There doesn't seem to be according to broad range of information. Students and teachers alike will just have to work together to help change the schooling process. “The schooling system seems to be slowly changing. The new generation of kids and teachers are coming and they will hopefully revolutionize schools,” said Shelbyville Senior Haley McGraw.

The Mohawk Times

Students do not value their education: Is it the students' issue or is there another force behind this problem?