student success and motivation

I previously focused on the consumption as a primary means of motivating students. I felt that one of the societal problems we are dealing with is that students have everything they need, and that is why they don’t need to learn. I still think this has validity, but need to explore different perspectives. I recently read a blog here (http://blog.dennisfox.net/index.php/archives/2006/03/12/levels-of-analysis-in-student-motivation) and was challenged to think a little bit more deeply. Dennis Fox identifies that blaming students for not working hard is an individualistic, pull yourself up by your own bootstraps type attitude, and ignores any societal problems. So far I have spoken mostly about a consumerist government policy, the societal problem that has become the credit market, and other problems in education.
I am most in touch with the school in which I work. Through conversations with other teachers dealing with the same problems I am, another issue is that we set students up for problems. Our elementary school model has become one where classes are in constant rotation. There are often 2-3 adults in every classroom and 15-20 students. A teacher, an aide, and a parent volunteer make up the adults. These students move from 5th grade to 6th grade, and instead of being in a similar environment where learning is at stations and there is movement and small group learning, they are sent to a classroom that has primarily one teacher, maybe an aide (if the teacher is lucky), and 20 or more students. Students are asked to transition from an active and well monitored classroom, to a classroom with more student independence and less oversight.
Higher level students may make this transition well, but lower level students who need to be stimulated in concrete, visual, and abstract ways will often falter. So how can my school get a better transition? One of the issues is funding. More teachers and aides are needed, and parent classroom volunteers are vital. Our brand new classrooms are great, but if they are overfilled, a new shiny classroom quickly loses its luster.
This is just one more aspect of the problem. Solutions seem a long way off.