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Bob Barboza

CEO and Founder Kids Talk Radio, Kids Talk Radio

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Can you give me one idea that would help to save public education?

We can't and should not close down public education in America. However, we have to fix it and fix it fast.

The Big Question: What would it take to fix public education in America?

You can come close to solving this huge problem by getting involved in this conversation. We suggest that you deal with one or more of the following questions. We are the folks from Kids Talk Radio and we want to start this important conversation with you. Will you help us to get a conversation going?

1. How can we pay for public education?
2. How should we train teachers?
3. Should we have teachers organizations/teachers unions?
4. What do we do with children that don't behave?
5. Do we make an investment in training teachers?
7. What do we do with students that don't speak English?
8. What do we do with students that fall behind?
9. What do we do with students that are gifted and talented?
10. How do we fire anyone in the public school system?

We would love to start a conversation with adults dealing with any of these questions. Our next project involves getting kids in on this same conversation.

Related Talks:
Topics: education budgets education leadership education revolution educational technology effective teaching
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  • Brooke Iverson

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    Jun 5 2011: Statistics show that those students who fall behind or do not do well continue on that downhill slide and most often drop out. If they have not mastered the concepts in which a teacher is required that their students master, they should not move on. Do not pass go, do not collect 200 dollars. I also think kids should be exposed to countless, creative and different classes early on. If I wanted to be a firefighter, why would I want to sit through music class? Why would I need to take French? Why would I have to be assessed on my writing skills of a persuasive essay? Why not give that student the classes he/she needs for their future EARLY so they can see the importance and determine if it the right path for them?
    I think all kids are gifted and talented, yet the education systems only qualifies those in math and language/reading areas. What about those who can play Mozart at the age of 7? What about those who have great hand eye coordination or can throw a ball at 98 miles per hour at the age of 15?
    And the question of "do we invest in training for teachers?" To me, that is a no brainer and here is why. Most of the teachers in today's society are set to retire in the next 10 years. That means that the majority of those in the education field are 50 years or older. So, that being said, do you want your child to have a veteran teacher who never uses technology in the classroom because they do not grasp it? Or the veteran teacher still lectures to the kids all day because that is how they were taught to teach? I know I wouldn't and I would like to see those teachers continue to take classes and have the community invest in their training so it will be a pay off in two ways: all teachers will be up to date in current curriculum, technology, training, processes etc AND students will benefit from it thus creating more successful students out in the workforce.

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