More about schools

I have repeatedly stated that one of the major problems with schooling in the U.S. is that students are lazy and unwilling to invest in their education. [Finally, someone else speaks up.] I know this from my own experience and observation, having tutored California high school students for years. If Student X is doing poorly in algebra, it is very often not because:
A. The teacher needs to take more continuing education units.
B. The budget shortfall causes short-circuiting in a student's brain.
C. The prescribed math program needs to be revamped AGAIN (i.e. "new math" becomes "new new math" becomes "CPM" becomes whatever the heck it is now).
D. The textbook is somehow inadequate, or racially biased (Note that immigrants, or children of recent immigrants, of a wide variety of ethnicities and cultures perform very well with these same textbooks.).
E. Etc. ad infinitum, playing the blame game.
Student X does not succeed in algebra because she/he is not willing to put forth the discipline and effort that are usually required for mastering the necessary skills for excellence in mathematics. While there are societal factors that may come into play (e.g. gang activity, a real problem in many urban schools), this supports my statements. A student who refuses to take advantage of free (well, it's free to the student, but the taxpayers foot a hefty bill) and readily available opportunities, opting instead for culturally reinforced involvement in dangerous and destructive activities, is the student who is choosing the path of least resistance, for no good reason. This trumpets nothing so much as laziness and a lack of vision for her/his potential.
Students must first and foremost take ownership of their futures and assume responsibility for their education, or the cycle of failure will continue. But there is hope. Students of California, you CAN master algebra, and that is only the beginning!!