The United States education system has slowly tarnished its reputation of being one of the best in the world. From standardized tests to restricted learning, American teachers face numerous obstacles. When asked for their opinion of the education system, one teacher replied, “I plead the fifth.” I think that sums it up perfectly.

Now, I could go on for days about my issues with the education system, but my goal with this article is to (safely and anonymously) share teachers’ opinions and maybe a few tidbits of my own. Their answers varied, but they all reflected the need for improvement.

“I believe that everyone is trying their best, but we have lost focus on what matters most.”
“I think there are some big issues that we need to take seriously and work to solve intelligently.”
“It definitely could be better, but we should always be getting better so I don't think anyone should ever be completely satisfied with where we are at as an educational system.”
“It needs a lot of work, but it's not as bad as some people might think. It obviously varies from district to district, but I feel we're very fortunate here in GPS because they always at least make an effort to get us what we need.”
“There are good elements, but there is always room for improvement.”
“There are good things and bad things about it just like anything.”
“I think there are a few parts of the system that could be more effective.”
“It has a lot of issues, but if we can find ways to make it work for more students, I genuinely think education can make our world better.”
“[I] accept it and make it work best for students… I will stand up for what is good and right for [the] kids.”

The students. That’s what matters.
One of the biggest issues with American education is that it has forgotten the purpose of education: to educate the students. If something proves to not be the best way to teach students, shouldn’t it be changed? How are students supposed to truly learn if there are restrictions and limits placed on how they learn?

When asked if they had ever found workarounds for the system, one teacher said, “I always do what is best for the students no matter what.” They also said, “The education system needs a complete overhaul. We need to focus on more career-oriented classes and such to help students get on the path that interests them. I would love to find more ways to make education meaningful for all students. I feel that the current model is very outdated and is not serving this generation.”
And they are right. The purpose of school is to prepare students for the future, so wouldn’t a more career-oriented education make sense? Is it fair for students to be forced to take classes they will never use in the future, rather than classes that will benefit them career-wise?

“I believe our system is outdated and many students are not gaining the skills they need to be successful in life. We need to really rethink what a school looks like in the 21st Century.”
“I've disregarded policies that are harmful to students.”
“Students learn much differently than they used to, and it's important that schools meet their needs. Parents are a big part of student success and they also need to work with teachers.”
“...sometimes I add relevant information and lessons to the prescribed curriculum. This helps students understand the content better.”
“The education system should be building kids for the future and not teaching to a test. The test does not prepare them for the real world where there are a lot of situations that could be covered in school to better prepare them. It feels like the education system gets worried about a loud minority and not the majority of people's opinions and needs.”
“I'm sorry that [the education system] got ruined. I was really lucky to either have a good school system (I grew up in Gilbert) or it was not obvious that my educational resources were lacking. Nowadays, the same cannot be said. The world has advanced rapidly over the past 5 years alone, but expand that to the last 10, 20, or 30 years... it is like we are on an entirely different planet than the one we inhabited not that long ago. But, if you were to take someone from the 1970s and plop them into Gilbert High School in 2024, not much would have changed from when they went to high school. The same schedules, the same novels, and the same expectations- all to prepare them for a differentiated world. The public school system has stayed stagnant while the rest of the world (and the private and charter schools) has advanced.”

One of the most recent downturns in our education system was the “fifty percent grading rule” established here at Gilbert High School. The school took a major step backward when it came to progressing the education system when it created this rule. There are no zeros in the grade book; students are given an automatic fifty percent for doing nothing. How is that teaching them responsibility and preparing them for the future?

Although no teacher directly mentioned the fifty percent rule, the issue is that it, along with extended late work deadlines, is making students less and less accountable. This is the very thing that one teacher pointed out.

“We aren't holding people (students, teachers, administration, staff, parents) accountable, therefore, our level of excellence and skill is declining and so is the desire to learn. If you aren't pushed or held accountable you don't do the work or improve. If there is no improvement, there is no desire to proceed to the next level.”

I could not have said it better. Even though many students take advantage of the fifty percent rule and feel as though it benefits them, in the long run, it will only hurt our generation’s work ethic. (You don’t earn half your paycheck for doing nothing, friends, in case you didn’t know.)

“I believe the education system exists for a reason, and I believe the goal of the system is sound in wanting to make sure we have education in our society. I think over the years the way in which that goal is achieved has changed drastically, and not for the better. I think the focus has been lost. It no longer feels like we are focusing on educating young minds and preparing them for the future. It feels like the system is continually telling teachers to do more with less and expecting major results. That doesn't work. It's disappointing, mostly because the people that tend to make these decisions have never set foot in a classroom and have no idea the circumstances that surround being a teacher in this day and age.”
“I dislike that decisions are made by people who are not in the classroom and don't really understand the consequences of those decisions.”

Teachers do so much with so little. The system works against them but still expects them to provide excellent education to students. That’s totally reasonable… (not).

“Teaching is the best, AND the hardest.”
“It is a lot harder than we get credit for :)”
“I love education. There are always challenges. I look at it as: am I doing the best for my students and how can I improve? Are there things I do not like? Of course, but that is why I am a teacher and not an administrator or politician. I love working with students and chose many years ago not to pursue anything that would take me out of the classroom.”
“This job is hard, and it's only gotten harder, but when we stick together and support one another the load is lighter and much more enjoyable. I will always fight for my students and do what I can to make sure they get what they need, and I will never stop fighting for my fellow teachers to make sure they feel supported and encouraged.”
“I think we have too much teacher turnover due to lack of support. Teachers are severely underpaid and underappreciated. There are better education systems that exist in other countries, and we could adopt methods from those other systems to improve ours. The problem, at least in my opinion, has a lot to do with people's mindsets when it comes to education/teachers.”
“Teaching is a tough and oftentimes thankless job. We need to do more to support teachers because without them students will be the ones that ultimately suffer.”
“I'm not going to comment much… but I will say that teachers do NOT get the respect, support, or compensation that they should. I think a lot of teachers are doing their best with what little we have to work with.”

One teacher said, “I think the sign of a good teacher is one that can take others' ideas and alter them to fit their own teaching. Whenever this opportunity has been possible, unfair and unreasonable become fair and reasonable.”

I agree to an extent. Good teachers can find workarounds within the system to ensure they provide their students with the best education they can, but imagine the type of education that teachers could provide if they didn’t have to work against the system. I understand following a curriculum, but teachers are the ones who go to school and learn how to help others learn, so why aren’t they given more freedom to teach others the way they know will work best?

To sum it all up, I want to share one more teacher’s response to the question, “What is your opinion of the education system?”

“I am hopeful. We've been experiencing a dark time in education due to bad policymaking, lack of funding, and distrust of educators. Eventually, the public will stop seeing us as scapegoats, fully fund our children's education, and create a policy that supports our students' learning.”