I think the problem is a blend of the school system being smurfed up and society being smurfed up, and they kind of feed off of each other.

The biggest problem with the schools systems isn't the schools themselves. The would gradually get better and get harder...but it is the mentality of society that has started to make it week. That and the legal system. Your kid gets a bad grade. Go and complain about it until it is changed. That doesn't work? Then sue. The school loses money from all the law suits so everyone gets good grades now. In order to make it so people can get good grades everything must be dumbed down greatly across the board. Eliminate the law suits and let people tell the parents how it is and that they need to take a more active role in their children's education and things will get better on their own again.
Very true. I think it's part of why there's no discipline in schools anymore. Their hands are tied, and they couldn't do much. What pisses me off is that they don't even try anymore. You can get away with damn near anything if you've got your wits about you, and they waddle after you and beg you to stop breaking the rules--if that. The system is definately no saint, however.

The focus is more on getting work done than on actually learning. (Obviously, you have to learn some to do the work properly, but in the long run, I've noticed myself retaining less and less. I keep it mostly in "short-term memory", also known as soaking it all up then spitting it back out on a test. Very little gets put in long-term memory--just some of the bare basics.) Anyway, my point is that, as has already been said, it seems more about quantity than quality. There's sort of a "get through the grind" mentality, rather than a "take advantage of learning opportunity (sp?)" mentality. It's not a chance to succeed and grow, it's an assault that must be endured.

Schools themselves seem to admit that they're slaves to bruerocracy (know I spelled that wrong). For instance: every year, they tell us to try and do well on our standardized tests. Why?

Quote Originally Posted by *an actual quote from an actual teacher*
Because we want to make our school look good by having a lot of students do well.
In other words, so that the schools can flaunt numbers and squabble over pieces of the budgeting pie. As an afterthought, they mention that by doing well we increase our chances of getting into college or what have you. I may be overreacting--I realize schools need budgeting for good test scores/learning environments, and vice-versa--but it's as though the school were giving us the finger, unintentional though it may be.

I realize that it's not just the school's fault. It's also society's fault, and that includes me. I know I've just finished ranting, but don't think I'm trying to pin it all on the system, because I'm not blameless. Some of my improper actions were gut reaction to conditions in the system, but part of it was me giving the school the finger right back. I think the system needs reform, but society should meet it halfway.

In other words, I'm not some anarchist saying "DOWN WITH THE SYSTEM!" I'm just a kid who's sick of all the bull from both sides. I've been straightening up lately--I've started doing all my homework instead of skating by, and I don't act up (not that I was a problem child before). Part of the reason is because I want to look the school board in the eye and say "I've straightened up and put my effort in--now it's your turn." Naive, I know, but it keeps me going.