My biggest problems as a high school teacher ― none were the school's fault

Yahoo

19-05-2025

Here we go! It's the obligatory but all-important EDUCATION column. But let's skip the ivory tower talk. I'm writing as a foot soldier ― a teacher who's been in the trenches.
According to the National Center for Education Statistics, women now make up roughly 60% of the college population. It's one of several reminders that young men are falling behind. But this column isn't just about boys. It's about raising the tide for all boats.
Here were the four biggest problems I faced as a high school teacher:
1. Smartphones
2. Absenteeism
3. Sleep deprivation
4. Incomplete homework
Let's pause to acknowledge something: Policing these issues isn't the school's job ― it's the parents'. Warning — Put on your bib. On the menu is humble pie.
Please, please, please read on.
According to Statista, 95% of teenagers now own a smartphone. (Oddly, only 90% of adults do.) These weapons of mass distraction should be regulated with the same urgency we apply to gun safety. While Oklahoma's new Bell-to-Bell-No-Cell law may reduce screen time during school hours, the rest is on parents.
Next up: Attendance. According to the Oklahoma State Department of Education, 1 in 5 students is chronically absent, meaning they miss at least 10% of the school year. Parents, it's your job to get your kids to the school's front doors every morning. And guess what? There's a free Uber-like service already in place. It's called the school bus.
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If your child is sleeping through class, they're effectively absent. Kids are young mammals. And all young mammals need sleep. What's your household policy? A.) Lights out and phones off, or B.) Midnight scroll-a-thons and TikTok marathons?
As for homework, there's a direct correlation between doing it and succeeding in the classroom. Do parents need to be tutors? Absolutely not. There are hundreds of excellent YouTube videos on every subject. But someone still needs to proctor the homework habit.
While I have your attention, the icing on the cake would be weed-free, polite kids who come to school with an attitude to learn. These are your family's representatives ― not the school's.
Now, schools ― it's your turn. You've been entrusted with educating the next generation of CEOs, community leaders and public servants. Even the future president of the United States is a student somewhere. The stakes couldn't be higher.
Every other year, the NAEP issues the 'Nation's Report Card,' testing fourth- and eighth-graders nationwide in reading and math. Contrary to popular belief, it does not rank states 1–50. But here's how Oklahoma performed:
Reading proficiency ― fourth grade: 23% (national average: 30%); eighth grade: 20% (national average: 29%)
Math proficiency ― fourth grade: 31% (national average: 39%); eighth grade: 17% (national average: 27%)
If you must know how Oklahoma ranks nationally, try 43rd, 48th and 49th ― per U.S. News & World Report, EdWeek and the Annie E. Casey Foundation, respectively.
Rather than focus on the fundamentals of reading and math, too many decision-makers seem more interested in sparking culture wars with trigger words like "woke agenda," "Bibles" and "terrorists." It's like jangling keys to distract from what really matters. God forbid educators hold themselves accountable.
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And here's a stat you don't hear much about: According to the Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs, per-student spending has risen from $9,067 in 2017 to $13,736 in 2024. That's a 51% increase! Even accounting for temporary federal COVID relief (which ended last September), that's significant.
All the money went to teacher pay and smaller classrooms. I'm JOKING!
State schools Superintendent Ryan Walters and school districts, when ― if ever –― does the buck stop with you?
After 38 years in Los Angeles, K. John Lee recently boomeranged back to his Oklahoma roots. He is a financier, real estate investor, former high school teacher and a father of two young men.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Schools can't fix all the problems with education | Opinion