In the world of business, a return on investment is the benchmark for an investor participating in the success of a company. Can you think of what the return on investment is for our schools? Who are the investors? Who are the clients? Without much thought, most people would choose the student as the client and the general population as the investors. Actually, it is the other way around - in a sense. The students have to "buy" what teachers are "selling." If the student gives the environment a good rating, it stands to reason that they are promoting the product to the community. When students feel good about their schools, the community ties in as well. In the world of business, this could mean that profits increase and shareholders get larger dividends.
Dividends drive the interest. School districts are trying to attract students who will come prepared to learn. Who's in charge of the marketing component? The leaders of most schools have degrees in education. To sell a product will take a bit more maneuvering than just knowing pedagogy or educational theory. The students have left the building. And, they will tell you that. The majority of public school students find no value in the school system. Some districts try to "cover" the holes, but today's child can see right through them.
Everybody wants to get into the debate of what to do to increase the graduation rates. One of the initial strategies proposed by the present administration would be to nationalize school standards. Of course, this would uncover the perpetual incompetence from many years where folk have done just about anything to retain their jobs in school districts. "It's about the students" is what school leaders profess. Is it really?
In the business world, a person would receive a raise for promoting a profit, for increasing awareness to the company, and for raising the return on investment - not in the school systems in this country.
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