Children that want to learn?
Competent teachers?
Standards?
Passing grades of at least 70%-75%, not 50% or wherever its at now.
How about... in order to progress to the next higher course in a particular subject, at least an 85%?
Teachers who graduated from THEIR schools as teachers, having passed with at least high enough standards to match the highest expectations of any student.
Disallow students who fail in English to take a foreign language.
Disallow students to take a foreign language they are already fluent in, and who throw off the curve.
Quit grading on a curve.
Teach for concept and abstractly... instead of focusing strictly on practical application and modern industry.
Quit relying on rote memorization and repetition to get a point across.
Quit expecting students to possess prerequisite knowledge in a course for which that prerequisite was not explicitly listed and required upon enrollment.
Unbiased textbooks, unbiased education, unbiased teachers.
Offer ALL possible courses. If you teach social sciences such as anthropology or politics... why not theology too, for those students who would rather stave off their religious prejudices and intolerances with education and understanding. Religion is a major influence in this world for a lot of people... wouldnt understanding them help in pretty much everything? Bullheaded refusal to teach (not preach) the worlds major religions IS an inappropriate mix of church and state, and its highly academically biased.
Teach a logic and critical thinking course, for the love of god... it forms the foundations of absolutely everything and yet it isnt taught until college.
Administration needs to harshly persecute all students who are a detriment to others... bullying, distractions, etc. I dont think uniforms are necessary but surely some respectable dress codes. Administration turns a blind eye far too often.
Our academia needs to quit being so bullheaded... and take some pointers from the academic systems of japan, china, or pretty much all of europe.
Teachers that actually like what they are doing for a living, and dont resent their job because they dont get enough benefits. I want to be a teacher and I know they get paid for crap... I know this going in and so I have no right to whine about it or go on strike... the Children come first, as it has always been.
Sure, making education more fun might help... but frankly I find that notion tiresome. Students are not babies... they dont need constant entertainment. What a world we live in when no one can focus for more than a second without flashy colors and bright lights and funny noises. Thats the modern age, students grow up on video games and chocolate bars, and they desperately need one form of entertainment followed by another. Screw that. Im an educator, not an entertainer nor am I a damn babysitter. I for one receive plenty of pleasure out of learning for learning sake.
Healthy school lunches. Quit selling candy bars and soda pop.
Quit advertising to students on fliers and bulletins boards just to save a few bucks. Dont let big corporations do it either for a fee... quit selling out the kids.
Quit teaching the fat pieces of lard its not their fault they are fat pieces of lard. You turn a blind eye to their stuffing their gullet with candy bars, pouring soda down their throat and ditching PE. But you dont want to appear judgmental, so you tell them its all hormonal and genetic, and there is nothing they can do about it.
If you want to save money, quit offering school dances and photo shoots. Save that money for the music classes you are shutting down.
Dont lease equipment. It might save your more in the long run.
Why are you shutting down any classes at all? Are you telling me the school has to build the building and buy all the instruments all over again each year? NO. All you gotta do is pay a teacher. The infrastructure and equipment are already there.