Demand better quality public education in the U.S, Now!

U.S Education Reform Petition

This information is partly inspired from experience as a Paraprofessional, and by watching the documentary, The Cartel

Overall State Standards (in all states):

* High quality education should be given out to students regardless of social status and neighborhoods. Schools could be separated based on different interests and religion, but it should not affect the quality of education.
* Parents should be given a real choice on where they can register their students. This can distribute students more widely, which will increase the quality based on smaller populations of students in each school (this requires re-evaluating the accuracy behind vouchers).
* Different levels of learning should be considered, not just for the mentally and physically handicapped.
* Lower tolerance for disrespecting (verbally and physically abusing) students must be considered despite staff is in the union. Perhaps have a warning, but if it still persists, staff should be fired and given some lay off checks until they can find another job. The process should not take as long as it usually does.
* Better cafeteria food for students
* Problems with family should be dealt with, and there should be a process of dealing with them, such as meetings where parents can learn more about their children, as well as parenting techniques and other relevant information (such as understanding their age and milestones).
* Students should have more time to take their standardized tests.

Eliminate politics & Corruption:

* Unions and Patrionage must put the needs of students & staff serving the needs of the students first.
* Any patronage in important roles granted in schools should be voted by parents & staff if they are genuinely serving the needs of the students
* Superintendent positions should not be given to politicians or others who already have other roles, which might take them away from their roles in schools, in order to reassure that they focus on school needs regarding students and staff.
* More transparency on state funding and spending to keep corruption out of schools.

Staff/Student Support:

* Staff should be compensated more fairly if given direct services to students, especially at schools that might be more difficult than others, and those who put in more effort than others
Paraprofessionals should only assist handicapped students or those with allergies.
* Emotional cases should be handled by Therapists or Psychiatrists
* Tutoring should be provided by tutoring services
* These staff should be more smoothly and directly transitioned in the public school system

Academic Integrity:

* There should be an integration of theory and practice in the field of education- understanding why the subjects they are learning are important and how it integrates in different fields of study and careers. Students should get a chance to experience, experiment and understand how it is used to accomplish certain things- why these accomplishments are necessary, and what it has accomplished thus far through history, biography, the arts, architecture, and any relevant areas when pertaining to the fields of science.
* Research, writing, reading, listening and public speaking should be included in all subjects in order to increase confidence in students.
* Natural history should be mandatory. That means actually implementing the separation of church and state, which means not fearing to talk about the sciences despite controversy with religious parents.
* Moral values should be included in social sciences to include tolerance of race, respect of women, the LGBT and immigration community
* Facts from textbooks should be based on critical thinking by examining things in all sides.

Recreation & Field Trips:

* Time for recreational activity should be more diverse: It should include the option of nature activity (such as canoeing, rock-climbing and other water or nature activities), immersing in the arts, and educational trips that are relevant to the curriculum.
* No one should be excluded from these rich experiences. Students with special needs might need to be monitored differently, but those services should be provided and communicated without having to exclude the student for any of these reasons. That means accommodating parents who don’t have the luxury to take time off from work, especially single moms or work that does not give enough personal/sick days and if their kid is susceptible of being sick more than other kids.
* Summer Camp should be available to lower income students who cannot afford it.

Better quality healthcare should be provided to the students:

* Students should be properly diagnosed with any illness they may have. This will be done so that they can function mentally and physically, not so that pharmaceuticals could benefit. And treatments will be as natural as possible.
* Students should have an understanding of their own bodies, psyche, etc through individual evaluations. This will help them understand the subjects they are learning much deeper (Biology, Psychology, etc.), and it will also help them understand themselves more.

Therapy/Counseling:

Therapy should be mandatory for students in order to prevent unnoticed abuse and neglect that can be a result of the youth not having motivation, inspiration, concentration and other factors, in order to feel they are included in society, and therefore benefit emotionally, mentally, and physically. Therapy should no longer be a luxury based on who can afford it and solely based on evidence of severe trauma. It should provide guidance on overcoming obstacles and facing challenges. These topics should include preventing pregnancies, preventing toxic or abusive romantic relationships or friendships, etc. The time it takes to complete therapy depends on the youth. It will be a process that therapists need to respect unless it is a life threatening situation that demands immediate attention. Problems should not be assumed. Students do not have to continue taking therapy if it is no longer needed, with the exception that the student wants to continue therapy sessions on the grounds that he or she personally needs it. The proper education, tutoring, recreational activities and healthcare can be a means of decreasing the demand of therapy. However, students who need it should take it.

Skills/volunteer:

* Students should gain skills such as making products, technology, sewing, growing food and should have more access to a diversity of volunteering activities such as conserving the water (which can be an exchange for being able to participate on a free water sport), parks, building a home, volunteering in an animal shelter, and other social services.
* Proper preparation should be given before diving into these experiences with an evaluation of how they did afterwards so that they can improve their relations, and ways of thinking/serving communities.
* This can be related to the field they want to get into (if they know) and also be a substitute to what is stated in the theory/practice portion of the academic integrity section.

Anything else that is missing? From your experience as a staff, parent, or perhaps even a student? Also feel free to watch the documentary and add more demands!