NCLB-Education

[Danzig]

kids in my class filled in the bubbles (cat test-short for california achievement test, do NOT write in test book-here's a graham cracker) to make pretty designs. look, a kite. i made a diamond. mine goes in and out....

i don't know what needs to happen to fix our public school system--altho, have to say after raising three kids that they've done pretty well-my three kids that is. but i did what i could to fill the gaps in their learning, the right books, right t.v., etc. stayed involved.

i think that's the biggest problem facing schools-no involvement from most parents. they expect the school to do it all-and i think that's impossible.

by the same token, there has to be some way to make sure kids are on track-if not testing, then what?

In this country, ever since I can remember, our educational system has been in crisis. If you look at almost every school that is large and does poorly on standardized tests, they very often are located in large urban areas with a low socioeconomic status. If you look at the families in these areas, the majority are broken with mom at the head and working... or worse.

So of course it is the school's fault and the teachers, administrators... down the line. Now ask yourself, these people in the public schools, why are they teaching? Its not the pay in most cases. Where do some of the most experienced, best teachers go? To schools that have a strong desire to be successful. Where are a majority of these schools located? IN COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE PARENTS THAT CARE ABOUT EDUCATION.
There are always exceptions, but these are not magical observations. Now occasionally you will get some outstanding inner city staff come in and do a wonderful job. But when you take a close look at the kids and parents you find the "clients" are people care about the education of their children. Bad teachers and poor scores are not accepted.

The teacher in East LA, Stand and Deliver??? that taught all his kids Calculus on Saturdays and did an amazing job. How long did he last in that situation? Does anyone remember that movie? Does anyone remember the little side theme about his wife never seeing her husband, and his children feeling jealous of the kids he brought to his house to teach on weekends.
Jaime does not teach there anymore... I think he may have lasted 2 maybe 3 years.

The horrible battle zone schools often "attract" the worst teachers by default, or worse, the young inexperienced "I will save these children" teachers that are gone after two years never to step in a classroom again.

I dont know what it takes to wake people up to these obvious signs. Oh yes I do, everyone went to school, so obviously everyone knows how to teach, and everyone is an expert on our system because of course they were in our educational system.

I just feel sorry for the kids who are born into "families" that never experienced any success through learning.

[Downthestretch55]

Thank you all for your insights and comments.
As I previously stated, it seems that the reasoning for testing has shifted from diagnosis of educational needs of learners to accountability for educational institutions.
Creativity and creative problem solving are not easily taught, though in my humble view, that is where current and future needs of our society should be
considered.

[GenuineRisk]

Timm, the Gen Xers are now in their 30's. You need to throw out your old copies of TIME and Newsweek and get a new subscription- I think the last cover story on Gen Xers happened around 1994. When we were still just getting out of college. Which was over ten years ago. I myself have been gainfully employed in one way or another since I was 13.

Pgardn, I think while parents have a huge influence on their kids's success at school, I also think it's easy to disregard the fact that public schools are tied to property taxes and because of this, schools in rich areas will always have more money than schools in poor areas and will always perform better. If we want inner-city schools to perform better, we should abolish this inherently unfair system of school funding. Many of the schools here in NYC have been shut down at points due to being unsafe. And many of them have crumbling ceilings, broken bathrooms, water leaks, etc. I would find it hard to learn in some of the schools I've visited. I think there's only so much even a passionate, dedicated teacher can do, and only so much a poor parent can do when the school is unsafe, underfunded, etc. Today, our off-site theater program came back from a public school that had to be closed today because there was no heat. For the second time this week. No heat, no kids, no show for the actors here, and no education today.

[SCUDSBROTHER]

Originally Posted by pgardn

In this country, ever since I can remember, our educational system has been in crisis. If you look at almost every school that is large and does poorly on standardized tests, they very often are located in large urban areas with a low socioeconomic status. If you look at the families in these areas, the majority are broken with mom at the head and working... or worse.

If we know exactly where the people (who don't encourage their kids to learn) are living,then pay the females in that area to not breed.If they stay there, and don't use the money to better their situation,then atleast they won't be bringing innocent kids into the equation.If they have kids(without a father,) then they won't get paid what other women in the area are getting.
If there is a Father living with the child,then she continues to get paid(as long as the birth father is living with the child.)What will we have?

1)Women without kids(getting paid to stay that way.)

2)Women with kids and husbands(getting paid to stay together as a unit.)

3)Less n' less inner-city single parents that don't raise their kids well.

[Downthestretch55]

ummm....maybe I missed something.
Yes, one of the "posters" continues to happily reside on my ignore.
I don't respond unless someone quotes his words, no matter how divergent from the topic presented. No loss there.

So, is someone attempting to state that our society is better off without and educated populace?
If so, I'll just shake my head and walk away.
For those that resent supporting the education of our children...
"If you think education is expensive, consider the cost of ignorance."

Pray for peace and understanding. Help the children.
Smile more at others, even if they don't understand why you're doing so.
One act of kindness begins many more.
And learning is a life long process.
Keep faith in others as much as you do yourself.

Originally Posted by SCUDSBROTHER

If we know exactly where the people (who don't encourage their kids to learn) are living,then pay the females in that area to not breed.If they stay there, and don't use the money to better their situation,then atleast they won't be bringing innocent kids into the equation.If they have kids(without a father,) then they won't get paid what other women in the area are getting.
If there is a Father living with the child,then she continues to get paid(as long as the birth father is living with the child.)What will we have?

1)Women without kids(getting paid to stay that way.)

2)Women with kids and husbands(getting paid to stay together as a unit.)

3)Less n' less inner-city single parents that don't raise their kids well.

Sounds like farmers paid not to grow crops driving the price of some commodity too low.

I dont know if the Pope goes for this. No, check that, the Pope wont go for this. Or the religious right. And I can see some problems, especially with #2. But it is interesting. I'll give you that.

[randallscott35]

Scuds' proposal is a bit heavy handed but the statistic that the more education someone gets, the fewer children they have is pretty scary.

Dropouts have more kids than college graduates and it isn't a small difference....Over time, the result is pretty obvious.

[Downthestretch55]

Originally Posted by pgardn

Sounds like farmers paid not to grow crops driving the price of some commodity too low.

I dont know if the Pope goes for this. No, check that, the Pope wont go for this. Or the religious right. And I can see some problems, especially with #2. But it is interesting. I'll give you that.

Pgardn,
Yesterday over 300 dairy farmers went to Albany to voice their concerns about the current state of farming in NY. Things have never been as desperate for the local farmers and their families.
Regarding your second comment, all I can say is that I can't wait for spring to put in a potato crop. I'll be digging in the garage to find my Mr Potato Head kit, just so I can make one that looks like Potato Benedict.
Lucky for us all that he didn't breed.