Commentary: Student performance can be solved

Joe Martinez

By Joe Martinez

Joe Martinez, Ed.D., is a Doctor of Curriculum & Technology, a U.S. Military Veteran, and a San Benito native.

As the new school year begins, so do the poor academic standings our students face. More than ever, students are performing worse, not only in reading skills, but also in mathematics, science, and school attendance.

This should be of utmost importance to all citizens of San Benito, but especially to the parents who hope for their children to improve through education.

Let’s face it, statistics don’t lie, and anyone who says otherwise is turning a blind eye to reality. We must take this head-on with a different approach.

I did my doctoral studies on this, here at San Benito High School, with some recommendations to bolster student learning.

We must think outside the box to gain a better understanding of what ails our school systems today.

Research shows students are performing poorly as time goes on, and we must nip this in the bud headlong.

Poor academics are not the only issue here at the San Benito schools. Still, alongside these issues, other concerns persist, such as student absenteeism, bullying, the use of digital electronics like laptops for students, internet access at home, and, most significantly, poverty, which prevents students from accessing a healthy diet while away from school.

In the next couple of issues, pending newspaper approval, I will continue making some suggestions supported by research. Let’s all make San Benito the gold standard for our students to learn and attain better skills and opportunities for higher learning.