Our first comment and ways to stoke this conversation

This got lost in the aborted discussion of last week, but we had our first comment. I'm going to post it in its entirety here and I hope it contributes to the larger discussions. I want to propose that we meld last week and this weeks topics together and push through to end of next week continuing on the topic of progressive politcs, reform and what progressivism even means. We never really finished up last week and i'm very curious about what Zach has to say to rebut our responses. I also don't think these two topics are all that far apart. ANYWAY, here it is: The Culture Counter's first comment, a lengthy response from.. .well... my mom. BUT STILL here it is:

"Z"'s post brings back post traumatic memories of my second stint at an unnamed Learning Center in Rochester's Crescent neighborhood. As a first year middle aged, middle class white history teacher to five classes of upwards of 32 students ( but thats ok only half of them showed up on any given day) 95 % of whom were African American and about 75% of whom were repeating 8th grade Social Studies, the system is broken.
My first go around I was a contract substitute for 8 months actually came away hopeful and looking forward to returning knowing that I needed to build up some credibility by coming back- But alas, a 45 million dollar deficit discovered in August resulted in no new hires.

My second go around was as a 6 week per diem sub and that was nighmarish. I hated the growing feeling that I was receiving a paycheck from a truly oppressive and cruel system ( good people within it, but a demoralzing structure that didn't meet kids needs all the same) I had most of the same kids in the same classes ( they still hadn't passed)and this time Administrators who threatened to write me up for calling for help when fights erupted and kids began throwing desks. Definitely a blame the teachers culture.
( the year before we had exchanged our difficult students with fellow teachers but they split all the Social Studies teachers up so we couldn't collaborate-too much power)
I didn't report the death threat because my administrator would have just rolled her eyes and added it to my list of failings.
Still, I went back everyday still hopeful because more than half of every class who came in still believed that they were there to learn and still doing their best to eck an education out of the Chaos. And by gum many of them did by sheer grit and perserverance. But it shouldn't be that hard and thankless to learn.
So, Z is not exaggerating one little bit.
BUT I think a national school system won't solve anything. Mainly because the folks who are not unhappy with their school systems( in prosperous suburbs and private schools) still have the power and arent likely to just hand it over to a government that hasn't shown real ability in handling big very politicized systems ( what place will Teachers unions have in this brave new world as a for instance?)
Here's my suggestion.
Let the good suburban schools and private schools alone- They don't think they are broken ( but that another blog- there is something wrong with a junior in High school thinking he has to ace 6 AP courses or he is a failure- Add sports and there is no time to build community and connect- )

Use the job stimulus package to train a corps of truly idealistic smart street saavy teachers who will commit to a three year term. Assign them 10 students ( only ten) for that three year term. These education teams will be accountable to each other.
With that group they need to build community while they teach literature writing, math, civics,- Building in physical activity and appropriate nutrition. They can order their own text books and structure their programs like college professors do. Field trips with ten kids are actually do able.

Provide this teacher corp with a living ( not excessive just a living) wage and plenty of support in the form of peer groups for idea sharing and master teachers who can provide suggestions ( not orders)and of course books, paper and pencils ( what a concept) Also, a clear understanding of what they can fix and what they can't ( Schools are expected to fill all of the gaps on Mazlow's heirarchy and it just can't be done)

While we're at it I agree with Benflash that there is too much emphasis on everybody doing college prep. The problem is that no one really knows in HS which kids will do well in college and which ones won't-If you track kids too early you are in danger of shutting down the next great thinker. ( there are lots of late bloomers who catch academic fire sometime after college acceptance letters go out) I think we should have a two year national service requirement NOT military service ( although that would be an option- Sorry Z I think we need a military I would prefer it involve non professionals) But
National service- all kinds, hospitals, teadcher aides, migrant farm support you name it- This would give people time to decide whether they wanted to go on to college and what they might like to do.
so thats my two cents.
By the way you do guys do go on at great length but at least on this topic with GREAT authority.