Funding is the single most critical issue in public education. Funding affects the quality of education in several ways – each worth a paragraph (smile).

Teacher salaries – because of the minimal funding, teaching is a non-competitive field. Individuals who score the tops of their classes don’t choose teaching as an occupation because it just doesn’t pay.

Resources – because of minimal funding, very little money is spent upgrading the quality of the classroom environment. This includes teaching materials and continuing education training for teachers.

Asset management – because of low school funding, many schools go years without any upgrades to infrastructure or equipment.

All of this contributes to low morale for all involved including the teacher, student and parents.

Good luck

Which creation theory? Classic Greek? Egyptian? Some from the Native American tribes? Christianity does not hold the copyright on creation. Since any government school cannot promote one religion over another they would have to teach at least several creation theories. So the biblical creation story would have to be taught along with perhaps the Australian Aboriginal on with no preference or emphasis given for one over another. Science is science. Evolution is a big part of several science divisions. It is without religion, but not necessarily anti religion. People from all different belief systems agree with evolution, including Christians. Only certain sects do not. If your religion keeps you from believing in science you should either go to a private religious school or home school.

It`s a little difficult to identify the most critical issue[s]……….. there are so many of them. In no particular order, discipline and how we contain the disruptive pupil, teacher recruitment and retainment, the lack of interaction between school and home, the need to involve parents in the education of their children…………………. I could continue, but I think you`ve got enough there to write to occupy you for a while. Along with the other interesting responses you`ve had, you could be busy with this for a week ! Good luck with your essay, Twiggy.

I would say the most critical issue is laymakers mandating requirement involving education, but not funding the mandates. Then in order to meet said mandates local boards are force to cut somewhere so it comes on the teachers backs.

State mandated testing is another hot issue. How fair or biased is it? Is it changing how teachers teach? Is high-stakes testing leading to more cheating? More pressure on students? How valid are the results? Do a little online research and you’ll find many questions connected to this issue. Pick one or two and you’ll have no trouble writing your essay. Good luck!

The most critical issue in public schools is compulsory attendance. Forcing a 15 year old student, who is definitely going to drop out eventually, to go to school until he/she is 16 is ridiculous.

Teachers’ abilities to discipline is an issue as well. A school district should have the right to expel students who constantly disrupt classes.

I would simply do a Pro and Con list on all issues, do some research on-line select a few issues that tie in together and take it from there.

You could try falling standards of literacy, or a failure to encourage knowledge of the world outside of the USA. Alternatively, you could question falling standards of scientific teaching in favour of creationism.

I’d say the disconnect between schools and the community/parent involvement.

Probably taking God out of schools (esp for a nation that was founded on God!).

Second, the elimination of education on the world outside the United States! It wouldn’t hurt to know your Geography and history outside of the US.