Until society does seven things, and does them well, little will change: ¶Make teaching a profession that attracts and keeps the most talented of our young adults. ¶Make schools intellectually stimulating for students and teachers. ¶Treat teachers with respect and pay them adequately. ¶Give teachers the continuing support they need. ¶Reduce
the ravages of poverty by providing poor families with programs like
health care, child care, mental health services and job training. ¶Support the development of well-paying jobs that require specialized training rather than a college education. ¶Use well-designed research rather than bumper-sticker rhetoric to guide decision-making. Anything less will put us further behind. Howard Margolis
Voorhees, N.J., Feb. 27, 2007
The writer is professor emeritus of literacy and special education, Queens College, CUNY.
12:07:27 AM 
|
