A Step Forward for Schools

Are you excited for school to start? Your grandma or aunt might ask you this with Back-To-School spirit. For most children the answer will be no. This is because the school system in America is broken. In America, about 15% of a person’s life is spent in school. Students having too much homework, the neglect of poor mental health of students, and the bad salaries of teachers are several reasons why American schools need to change to make that time more beneficial for both students and teachers. 

One of the enterprises in school that students abhor the most is homework. Though homework can be beneficial, when a student has too much homework it can cause a significant amount of stress. For instance, in Finland, the graduation rate is 18% higher than in America. They are also number one in test scores, but they get little to no homework. This gives them more free time to just be children. “If school is not a place for sleep then home is not a place for work.”

Another aspect of American schools that needs to be addressed is the mental health of their students. After the outbreak of COVID-19, mental health problems in children have surged. Claire Rhyneer, a recent college graduate, spoke during a senate hearing about mental health issues. She told the people there about her mental health struggles and about how schools should do more to help children identify these problems.

Not only do schools need to be altered for the benefit of students but also for teachers. Teachers are seriously underpaid. The average teacher’s salary is $l45,105 per year but it can vary from about $39,374 to $52,081. An employee working full-time at McDonald’s makes more money per hour than a preschool teacher. Teachers also work for about ten hours a day which is two hours more than a regular work day. 

In conclusion, the American government needs to make moves that address the amount of homework, the situation of students’ mental health, and the terrible salary of teachers.