I was flipping through the channels the other night and I saw a discussion regarding the merits of the "Take Your Daughter/Son to Work" day. Some guy, who thinks he knows everything about education, said that it is just a day off for most kids. Obviously, this guy hasn't been in a school recently. Most school districts allow certain grades 7th, 8th, or 10th, for example, to use the day for career exploration. Related assignments are given and students report on their findings. The assignment usually involves a questionnaire and a written report. Some teachers will even arrange the particular visits for those students who cannot/will not have a pre-arranged visit. I have seen many of these visits turn into real motivators for some students.
By the way, when was the last time you were in a school? With new security in the schools, random visits are not acceptable. However, if you contact a teacher or principal, you might be able to see what is really going on in the classroom. Schools are very different from the days I was in elementary or even high school. Teachers today have to teach, counsel, beg for books and supplies, keep up with certification, maintain records for the No Child Left Behind Act, grade papers, call and e-mail parents, meet with parents, keep order in the classroom while meeting the needs of every child, and other fun stuff.
A teacher has to develop eyes behind her/his head. A good teacher has to be prepared for the unexpected in the classroom: a fight between students, a student having a seizure, someone refusing to work, etc., etc., etc. Some people think that giving parents school vouchers is a good thing. Many of the charter schools are understaffed and poorly supplied. Many of the teachers are not even properly certified. We need to provide enough funding for schools ---- not for wars and tax breaks.
