RST: Teachers’ education priorities

Radio Smart Talk for Friday, June 28:

The topic of Friday’s Radio Smart Talk is education. Sounds a little broad — doesn’t it?

It may be the most important discussion Pennsylvanians can have but it is also one that encompasses many topics, branches off to other directions, and generates more questions than can be agreed upon or answered.

How can we improve education? Do we spend enough money on education? How much is enough? What role do parents play in their child’s education? Do standardized tests really measure how much a student has learned? Why do American students trail much of the rest of the world in certain subjects? Are schools safe? Who’s to blame for failures — teachers, administrators, government? Are charter schools part of the answer?

Next week, the National Education Association is meeting in Atlanta to address the priorities of teachers around the country when it comes to education.

We decided to use the occasion to discuss Pennsylvania’s educational priorities in the eyes of the state’s largest teachers’ union — the Pennsylvania State Education Association.

It only makes sense that teachers in the classroom would be able to make suggestions on what works and what should be changed. However, there are those who say unions representing teachers are part of the problem because they resist change and only look out for the interest of the rank-and-file.

How can education be improved? Comment below.

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