In NY, the urban schools are suffering, some claim for financial reasons.. However, I think the level of teachers they employ, hurts the students greatly.
Financial reasons? With the country school, where the teacher taught 6 grades, all couild spell quite well before they moved on. *
Most of us were reasonably poor, but we didn't get free meals, and brought our own pencils, paper etc. Most parents then, would not have accepted "charity" meals and personal gear anyway.
Our school district itself was not wealthy.. We din't have a playground with full equipment, except for one home made swing some parent built.
We just played on the back lawn, or in an old, near abandoned cemetery, back near the woods.
Still; if I were king, all kids would have the benefit of that early education experience !
Unfortunately..and here is a tip of the hat to teachers; not all today's students are as responsive to teacher's authority as we farm kids were.
Teacher tips off parents, and the student is in for "a discussion in the woodshed, with the board (switch) of education". Many teachers likely long
for this kind of parent/teacher coopperation.
When it comes to such a reminder and likely cheat, note sent home for 6th graders, we know we have a problem.
Note the spelling of 'sincerely', in the lower right corner.. Problem detected !