1. More teachers need to realize, or at least put into practice, that everybody learns differently.  Different teaching styles need to be used with everybody – lecture, hands-on, visual, etc.
2. Others have said that they hate the phrase “Those who can, do; those who can’t, teach”.  I hate it, too.  Why do teachers have to almost constantly defend what they do?  Teachers as a whole do not get the respect that they deserve.
3. I’ve always known that I wanted to be a teacher, ever since I can remember.  But I could not tell you why.
4. Textbooks should be used to supplement in-class work.  I don’t learn from textbooks, and I’m sure there are plenty of other people out there just like me.
5. Everyone should learn how to do a proper PowerPoint presentation, educator or not.
6. I said textbooks should be supplementary – so should other forms of media: movies, music, magazines, newspapers, etc.  Information should come from many sources, not just one textbook that claims “expertise” on a given subject.
7. Why is it that so many people who teach at the college level have never had an education class?  It just doesn’t make sense.  I would make it a requirement.  I want to be taught by teachers.
8. Higher-level math shouldn’t be a requirement for all students.  The fact is, most students will not use math beyond algebra or geometry in their day-to-day lives.  I took pre-calculus and I’m no better a person because of it.
9. Some of the best classes I took in high school were Social Problems, Psychology, and Sociology.  I’m not well-versed in any of these subjects but I feel that I understand people a bit better because of them.
10. I wish all schools were able to give students the same opportunities.
11. Why is it that when schools have to cut their budget, the arts are cut first?  Especially since students in the arts typically have higher test scores and really, test scores are what it’s all about, right?  [/sarcasm]
12. Standardized tests are not conducive to learning.  Teachers who teach what is on the test are doing a disservice to their students.
13. Education sucks sometimes.  For the teacher AND the student.
14. Not all students are college-bound and should not be treated as such, or made to feel bad when their main goal is NOT to go to college after high school.
15. If students are given time to work, why SHOULDN’T they be allowed to use their iPods and other MP3 players?  If it’s not distracting them or affecting anyone around them, students should be able to use them.
16. I believe that all students should be part of an extra-curricular activity.  It helps teach effective time management.
17. Parents either need to be more involved or less involved with their child’s education.  It just depends on the parent.
18. If most of the students in your class are failing, I’d be almost willing to bet that it’s not the fault of your students – it’s your fault as the teacher for not recognizing what the students don’t understand, and not accommodating your students so they CAN learn.
19. I wish that every classroom had a laptop for every student – not for them to take home, necessarily, but so they could use it in the classroom.
20. I hope that I can get my students as excited about music as I was when I was in high/middle school.
21. Gifted and talented students need more attention.  Disability services are mandated, but why shouldn’t G&T students get the same attention on the opposite end of the spectrum?  I realize this opens up a whole ‘nother can of worms so I’ll leave it alone for now.
22. By the time a student gets to high school they should be allowed to substitute a season in sports for a physical education credit.  Sports always did more for me than gym class.
23. Students should be allowed to have food/drink in their classes [within a reasonable limit] – hunger and thirst are distracting.  One of my high school math teachers wouldn’t allow us to have water in the class because it was a sign of boredom.  I promise I was just thirsty!  It takes far less time for me to grab a drink from my water bottle than it does for you to deny me permission to go to the water fountain.
24. I hope that I can find an effective way to incorporate more than just “band” into my ensemble classes.  Theory and history are important, too.
25. I don’t believe in homeschooling, unless the student in question has a serious condition that doesn’t allow them to be in public/private school.

This was a lot harder to do than I thought it would be.  I actually started asking a couple friends for their thoughts.  One of them gave me “Education sucks sometimes” which at first caught me off guard, but then I realized that it’s totally true.  I had to reflect a LOT on my own non-college school experiences to make this list.