<p>Is it just the students? or the teachers? Well, im going to an average no name public school. what were other ways i can get more resources? any tips for a determined student?:)</p>
<p>One could make a case for either the students, teachers, or funding to a school, but personally I think it’s the students. Its like that ‘you can lead a horse to water but can’t make it drink’ saying, only with students and teachers. A teacher can only do so much to help a student before they need to take the initiative themselves and start studying. </p>
<p>I went to an average to below average public school, and honestly my advice is to befriend the teachers. There’s a difference between befriending the teachers and becoming a teachers pet though. A good way to do that is to say join a sport where a teacher is a coach, or take multiple classes with a teacher you like. I was a very well-liked student throughout the faculty and was good friends with a teacher in every main subject that I could just stroll in and get help with just about anything at a moments notice.</p>
<p>Through my experience, I’ve found that students are often the case of the school continuing to do poorly. The problem, however, has risen from the teachers. Teachers don’t realize how they affect students. I’ve found that teachers who are scathing of the school and its system who have also “given up” on students are often the reason why the problem exists. Think about it, encouraging teachers who are passionate have the best classes and are the most influential towards students who set the tone for the school.</p>
<p>Like what Etuck said, befriend the teachers, make friends with responsible people, join clubs that you are interested in, avoid all the drugs/alcohol (even though some people can handle it, you’d be better off avoiding it because of the damage it can do on your record), and take rigorous classes.</p>
<p>As for optimizing resources, I would recommend applying to local universities to do research, taking classes over the summer, reading lots books (some people don’t, oddly), or even getting a job.</p>
<p>I also agree that a lot of times the students don’t really take an initiative to improve their work ethic or performance in school. The middle school I went to wasn’t really the best and our test scores were lacking every year. The school always ending up getting a lot of grants and money from wherever and they decided to buy iPads for each student to help them better perform in the classroom. Did it work? No, not really. Majority of the students were more focused on taking pictures, updating their social media networks, downloading apps etc. I think it just made people more distracted. But the year before that, they spent money on one of those electronic banner things to put in the Cafeteria and it said “Welcome to ______________________” . It was cool I guess but I think the money could have been better spent.</p>
<p>As for tips, I agree with being nice to your teachers and letting them know what kind of student you are. I think this is really good advice because your teachers can also be a source of resources. For example, my math teacher only told select students about a competetion they were going to because our class wasn’t really well behaved. It’s also good to look outside of school and see what your community has to offer like volunteering, maybe there’s even a hobby to do outside of school that you could look into.</p>
<p>For my school, it is both the students and the teachers. My school is filled with unqualified teachers (graduating from community colleges instead of actual four-year institutions; some haven’t even graduated any form of college). Also, my state is one of the worst in education nationally. The students are also a factor, I believe. My school is filled with underperforming students who are gang members and whatnot.</p>
<p>The horrible teachers and student performance detract from the funding allocated to the school.</p>
<p>If you’re going to an average/underperforming school, it makes you stand out a bit more if you’re above average, so that’s a good advantage. As for optimizing resources, if you have a local university (state university or whatever), try to find a research mentor in a field you’re interested in. If that doesn’t work, try taking some intro college courses over the summer. </p>
<p>Another thing you could do is apply to out of state summer programs if your state doesn’t have any good ones. Things like RSI, TASP, and MoSP look really impressive.</p>
<p>Also, read some of Cal Newport’s work. He really helped me go from “laundry list” EC’s to EC’s that show more focus.</p>
<p><a href=“http://calnewport.com/blog/2010/03/26/how-to-get-into-stanford-with-bs-on-your-transcript-failed-simulations-the-surprising-psychology-of-impressiveness/[/url]”>http://calnewport.com/blog/2010/03/26/how-to-get-into-stanford-with-bs-on-your-transcript-failed-simulations-the-surprising-psychology-of-impressiveness/</a></p>
<p>I imagine it’s mostly related to how affluent the location is.</p>
<p>Not the students. Not the parents! Not the funding. IMO there are two things that will lead to a school being bad or good…</p>
<p>PARENTS
Parents need to be involved in their child’s education. I notice you all want to blame the students, but truthfully it’s not the student’s fault if they live in a household where the parents are not involved or do not motivate their kids. </p>
<p>ADMINISTRATION
If you think it’s the teacher’s fault for not being qualified, it’s actually the admins fault for not making sure the teachers are qualified. It’s also the admin’s job to punish kids that are distracting other students, and to make sure that funds are allocated properly. </p>
<p>I don’t think I’ve ever heard of a good high school with uninvolved parents and a poor administration, or a bad high school with very involved parents and a strong administration. </p>
<h2>And I also agree with halcyonheather…affluent locations tend to have better schools (not always true though, from past experience), but normally “wealthy parents” and “involved/educated parents” are synonymous. </h2>
<p>However, just because a school is better-performing than another doesn’t mean you’ll like it better.
Take me for example: I went t elementary and middle school in a very high-performing district and really didn’t like it. Everybody was a snobby brat, there was no diversity (all upper-middle class Italians), there was too high of a focus on sports, it was very cliquey…</p>
<h2>I moved at the end of 8th grade because I frankly couldn’t deal with the district anymore. I have since done 9th and 10th grade at an average-performing HS…and it’s been GREAT! Teachers and students are very down to earth, there’s more diversity, and I also stand out more grade-wise and am closer to the top of the class. </h2>
<p>On a final note, don’t let the performance of the school on standardized tests define how good it is. A school could have very involved parents, great teachers, motivated students, and a strong administration…but a high number of students who don’t speak English, and therefore, low test scores. </p>
<p>Yes my intended career is teaching. LOL.</p>
<p>Money, or rather, the lack thereof.</p>
<p>Honestly, the students, teachers, parents, etc. all affect the school but people aren’t born bad. They’re not born thinking, “I’ll be in a gang and ignore school” and their parents don’t just think “I don’t care if my kid fails”. Teachers don’t become apathetic for no reason. I think the location really <em>is</em> the biggest influence. People in good neighborhoods with good school systems weren’t born to be successful, they were raised that way. When you see what an impact education has on success, of course you take education seriously. The U.S has one of the highest percentage of poverty of all the first world/developed countries. Of course we’re falling behind. In poor neighborhoods, making money today is more important than in 20 years.</p>
<p>People in bad neighborhoods aren’t doomed though, and people in good neighborhoods aren’t guaranteed much. Bad education is better than no education, problem is when people aren’t taught and <em>shown</em> the value of it. I can look at my mother and see how much farther her degree got her, how important hard work is. If I had been raised by my father…let’s just say I wouldn’t be on CC. I wouldn’t live in as good of a town and I wouldn’t directly see how much school pays off–just like most kids in bad schools.</p>
<p>.so, a willing student can do good in an average high school as a student in a better high schol?</p>
<p>I think a lot depends on community support for the school, how much of a priority it is to get the schools the funding and resources it needs, as well as supporting the students.</p>
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<p>Please have several seats and become informed as to the requirements needed to become a teacher. There is not a public high school in the country where one can get a job simply holding an associates degree as they need a minimum of a bachelors degree to be certified by the state. In most states, teachers need a masters within 5 years to continue working.</p>
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<p>Operative word is “public.” I’ve gone to a couple weird religious schools where the teachers didn’t have any qualifications at all. But education discussions are almost always about public schools, so it’s not really relevant. </p>
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<p>Not exactly, because students in average high schools don’t have as many resources available to them.
But I don’t know what you mean by “willing” or “as good as.”</p>
<p>^^ I don’t really agree. If you’re truly “willing”, you’ll make it work unless the school is absolute terrible and has poor funding (which would be below average). Just because your lab isn’t speck and span and your textbooks aren’t brand new doesn’t mean you’re doomed. But I bet most really good schools have wealthier students, who can afford more/better tutoring and more hand-holding. So maybe in that sense, but in general, no.</p>
<p>Minorities are ruining the education system I was told. Someone said that maybe without them America could move forward.</p>
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<p>The terms used in the question weren’t defined well. A person at an average high school is not going to be able to do the same things in high school as a person at a better high school. The opportunities just aren’t there. I’m not saying that you can’t get into a good college or be a successful adult coming from an average high school.</p>
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<p>That’s unassailable evidence right there.</p>