Recesses are being eliminated and noon hours shortened to allow better control of the students. Lunch periods in some schools are so short that some students don't get through the lunch line before the bell rings. Rushed eating is a health problem in itself. Incompetent teachers should be eliminated if they can't first be re-trained. However, they shouldn't be allowed in the classroom in the first place.
Parental involvement is key.
Any parent who is too busy to be involved in the education of their children shouldn't have had children in the first place. When my children were invited to join the honors program in elementary school, I went to the parent orientation meetings. The superintendent said that parent participation was very important, but that he was preaching to the converted. He knew that we had been involved from the beginning. As an example of our involvement, my wife and I read to the kids every night.