Trending
Ohio's Department of Education has released this year's School Report Cards, and results are underwhelming. Still, the ODE points out "Report Cards are designed to give parents, communities, educators and policymakers information about the performance of districts and schools -- to celebrate achievement and success and identify areas for improvement."
In other words, they are a tool that should help us do better for our kids. Nobody is out to bash a particular underachieving district. Just to cast light on a need for betterment.
In each of our county newspapers we have been running reports from our respective school districts. Some contain input from district superintendents. More input will come, we are sure, during upcoming school boards meetings.
Some of our schools did better than others. There are always a variety of reasons. All of our schools --with community support especially from parents and guardians --must contribute to the advancement of school districts.
Parents and guardians can and should want to find specifics about their school districts here: https://reportcard.education.ohio.gov/
But, "report cards are only one part of the story about what is happening in schools and districts," as the ODE points out.
As teachers take a look at these scores and figure out how to do better for our students, no doubt there will be concerns such as "How do we get lawmakers out of our way while we try to educate these kids?" "How are we supposed to focus on teaching when our schools are also caring for the physical and mental health of students, feeding them (sometimes clothing them), keeping them safe, and offering a haven they might not have at home?" "How are we going to get the resources we need to teach when our communities' economies are still in shambles?"
And, "How do we convince students to prioritize their educations when families and communities too often place no value on -- in fact, in some cases have a negative attitude toward -- getting an education?"
There is blame to spread far and wide on this problem.
Teachers and school systems will use the data to get to work toward greater improvement. As they do so, we must ask ourselves, are we ready to do our share? Yes, teachers are the guiding lights for the education of children. That is what they are trained to do and carry a passion for. And, let's face it, that is what the are paid to do with our taxpayer dollars.
Regardless of your personal circumstance, when it comes to our children, our grandchildren, our neighbor's children -- each and every child in a community -- it must be a team effort.