Public school critics blame "failing" schools on the teachers, but consider what the teachers may have to work with, especially with large classes. Not only are there the cultural issues of not being interested in school, peer pressure not to perform, and homes where books are few or non-existent, but there is also the problem of too much lead in the environment.
"Too much lead can harm developing brains and can mean a lower IQ."
"Lower levels can reduce intelligence, impair hearing and behavior and cause other problems." "Lower levels" meaning lower than those leading to "coma, convulsions, and death".
And higher concentrations of lead are found in older or dilapidated houses. And there are higher concentrations of older or dilapidated houses around "failing" schools.
See "More than half a million young children have lead poisoning under revised standard", Associated Press, 2013-04-04, published in the Washington Post and others.
If CEOs get incentive pay to turn a company around, why not give teachers incentive pay to turn schools around?
