Recently, there have been many letters to the editor blaming teachers, administrators, school boards, and even Texas Education Agency, for the failure of the educational system.

The most laughable, written by Miguel Villalobos Jr., went so far as to blame liberal Democrats for 'the lousy, stinking public education system that is in place."

Mr. Villalobos, even in his ignorance, is correct. The liberals are partly responsible for the lack of success of many students.

However, these liberals are not affiliated with the Democratic Party: they go by another name  -- parents.

Permissive parenting is one factor that no one seems to want to address, but that teachers know as being at the top of the list of reasons for student failure. Granted, the system has its flaws as well, but by and large, the majority of problems come from societal ills.

It is much easier for parents to point the finger at teachers and the system than to admit that perhaps their child is failing because they have failed to teach such things as perseverance, effort and discipline.

Their failure to instill a love for learning has resulted in a child who does not value the public education being offered to him by taxpayers.

Mr. Villalobos wrote that our representatives in Austin must 'stand up to those responsible for flushing your children's future down the toilet.' He fails to realize that often doing the flushing are the parents and students themselves.

Teachers today are faced with students whose parents have been overtaken by the rot of American culture who've handed their kids over to mind-numbing entertainment because it makes parenting easier.                

Each year, I ask my students how many books they own. The answer is usually zero to five. When asked how many DVDs and video games they own, this number jumps to between 20 and 50.

It is not difficult to surmise why these children's literacy levels, attention spans, social development and creativity are all inhibited.

It is any wonder whey they're hard-pressed to verbally put three sentences together or follow simple, one-step instructions? And if writing is just 'talking on paper' why then we can account for their lack of writing fluency as well.

Permissive parenting results in kids who think they're entitled to whatever they want, with no effort on their part.

As students, they expect maximum results from minimal effort. They are unmotivated and unproductive.

Of course they're failing. They've not been allowed to experience frustration and failure, so when presented with something challenging in school, they are quick to give up, sometimes without ever trying.

Unless you have taught in the last five years, you are completely unaware to what degree the rot of American culture has infiltrated our schools.

No amount of money can fix it --  the changes must come from home.

Send to school (as some parents still do) a child who perseveres, is independent, has been read to and engaged in conversation, some of which includes character lessons, and formal education will take care of itself.

Send a child who sits in front of the television for hours on end, plays video games, has no limits, has no love of books, no respect for adults, no self-control and no attention span and you can expect, well  -- not much.

www.operationnogangs.org


original piece appeared in El Paso Times www.elpasotimes.com  2005