A suburban Washington high school teacher estimated that in a class of 30 students, about six or seven would turn in homework assignments that they had actually completed. The rest either turned nothing in or copied another student's. Defenders of American public education typically shift blame for the poor performance of students to parents. If parents would support what goes on in the classroom, the argument goes, if they would require their children to do their homework, scores would rise, and outcomes would improve. There is certainly truth in this judgment.
Teachers also point to the number of two-earner couples as part of the problem.
Perhaps, though, there is always time for the priorities in life. If that meant time ran out for TV before bedtime, so be it. One of the simple truths that teachers rarely mention is that schools are demanding less and less of children. He cites a well-known history textbook that was revised for use by high school students. Contrast that with the McGuffey's Readers , in widespread use a few generations ago.