My years of teaching in the public school system have led me to the generality that the top 15% of the students in each district are receiving an education above and beyond reproach which culminates with a host of Advance Placement classes representing college quality work in the high school setting.  Most of these students fall into the category I mentioned in the previous post of having “the inborn appreciation and motivation to achieve success at the highest of academic levels.”

The underlying premise of “Grad Nation” is the notion that ineffective teachers are the cause of academic deficiencies which lead a student to drop out of school.  Having taught in public and private high schools in Ohio for ten years I will admit I have seen more than a teacher or two who lacks the content knowledge of the subject they are teaching or lacks the skills to conveying such knowledge to their classroom of students.  Should they be removed from the classroom – absolutely yes.  Are they common among the faculties of the schools I have worked – absolutely not.