SCHOOLS: Good for 14 percent

In light of the critical comments toward education, teachers and unions that seem to grow like mushrooms, when the conditions are right, such as an election, a recession or the general need humans have for blaming others, let me share mathematical fact.

Consider the percentage of time students spend in school from kindergarten through high school. On average, students spend 7 hours per day times 180 days per year times 13 years (if they don’t miss too many days). This figure divided by the total hours lived for 13 years equals around 14 percent of their lives. Where are they the other 86 percent? What control do teachers have over that 86 percent? What is being “learned” from family conditions, community priorities, television/media, governments and its leaders, etc. 86 percent of every K-12 child’s life?

In spite of the 86 percent of function and dysfunction that comes into our classrooms, schools do a great job with little gratitude. Blame the school, for they are responsible for 14 percent of their students’ lives! It also makes sense, however, to look to those who are responsible for the 86 percent!

TERRY MACK

Coeur d’Alene