Nice essay. I can see where you are coming from. I've noticed the growing gaps in schools for the last few years in terms of education levels of the children. My own high school had many teens surpassing calculus while even more were left behind with nothing beyond basic math. The most unfortunate part was that calc students recieved the best teachers and supplies while the other students had 30-year-old text books and a intern to teach them.

Wow, you hit it right on the nail, I've pretty much had similiar ideas about education since I was in middle school. School is just a daycare for anyone under 18 in this country. Main reason alot of my friends dropped out of school before age 16. Looking back on my high school life, I'm glad I didn't drop out (mainly because of parents), instead I took matters into my own hands, yelled at a few absent-minded administrators, told them to and crammed 4 years of boring highschool, into 2 1/2 years. I didn't even find it a challange, nor did I really get anything out of it. But very nice essay, it's short, doesn't drag on, and covers a pretty much ignored issue. As long as kids can pass those standardized tests (which are insanely easy, at least in Texas) then they're happy.

Excellent essay. I agree with you, however, I must say that the problem here has not gotten that bad...yet. I live in Ontario, where standardised testing happens, but not every year (one in gr3, gr6, gr9 and gr10). I also used to go to an inner city school that scored in the bottom five on the gr6 level test the year before I was in gr6...Because of their embarrasment (and not a lack of funds), they tossed the traditional math curriculum to the wind and starting preparing us for the test. Because we did nothing of our actual math curriculum, our teacher had no marks to give us on our report card, and used the 'test' to determine our marks, which is not allowed (they told us that the test was not worth any marks, and thus many like me, BSed it). I really don't like how standardised testing is executed, although, however, I do not disagree with the idea itself.

I really, really like this and yes I agree the school system does have a huge problem (believe me I know.) I have a learning disability and of course through out most of my life, my education was very little.I think a lot of kids feel oppressed in school these days, it's really sad. It's like if you don't find some way to mesh in a group. Then your pretty much screwed. I was lucky enough to find something. I guess you could've called me the 'theatrical nerd' type.

School is all about cliché's sometimes.

I can't imagine how difficult it must be to be in the school system and go through the kind of stuff you are. I know that with I experienced it sucked, but language and racial problems, are all ways there.

There are so many problems going on in schools. That I guess the government more then likely doesn't even know where to start. I LEFT my high school and graduated early because I didn't get the education I deserved. There would had been no way that I'd let them give me any more bad education.

Sorry to have gone on so long but I just really like the essay. You made some very strong and valid points and it's really handled well.