https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/18/opinion/sunday/internet-digital-technology-return-to-analog.html

Zero tolerance is necessary for children or parents or teachers, and it should be the norm. If other cultures come into the American school system, zero tolerance after a period of adjustment must be mandatory (no more than one day is necessary; in foreign schools it begins at day one, in private schools it begins at day one, in religious schools it begins at day one, in charter schools it begins at day one; I’ll presume my point is clear?).

Public schools have adopted the philosophy they are the catch basin for the rejects, the poor, the lowest intelligence quotas, the mentally unbalanced, the “spectrum” groups and others. The Golden Cadillac syndrome is pervasive and demeans the people within all levels of the system.

My family was military; they refused to allow me to attend base schools and enrolled us in the country of residence schools. Four countries and educations later, I can speak several languages, understand intimately several cultures, navigate several philosophically oppositional values and moralities. But I am an American, culturally holding onto the belief that all are equally entitled to access a free education (many cultures replace education with taxing all for the support of mosques, or social welfare for married mothers, and many complete differences around the world). Most Americans travel together, rarely seeing beyond the cruise or packaged tours and never understand what it means to “be in a country” and this is true of visitors to America. When there, you must adapt. When here, the same.

Often my students are surprised to hear un-American opinions, and they should be. Examine how you pressure teachers to meet expectations not of education, but of your personal agendas. Give students a reason to be the best and they perform. Believe it of adults, too.

You must want good schools recognized for being good schools? Change schools from the top down. The students are merely depositories. Taxpayers control the deposits and will get the blue ribbons their community earned.

(if link doesn’t work, google Ted.com and search Alexander Tsiaras)