On teachers...

[babylonsister]

[NYC_SKP]

1. Wahhh! "It's Charter Schools' Fault!"; "It's the Parents!" "Those Damn Kids!!!"Ar

"Arne Duncan!!!11!!! Blibbidy blabbidy!!!!"



Actually, yes, this is largely true, this graphic, and my comments are

We all step up and do our best because there, before the grace of God, go we.

I love our teachers, I love our students, I love our future.



Signed, NYC_SKP, member and supporter of the CTA and unions everywhere.

[elleng]

2. and my main problem,

really big complaint, with this admin is the choice of EdSecy. Damned foolish decision, and I just don't understand it.

Linda Darling-Hammond was a top contender, and should have been chosen.

She had been Obama's leading education adviser, codirects Stanford's School Redesign Network, which pursues and promotes research to improve secondary schools. Though her stance in favor of merit pay over teacher tenure has drawn some fire, she has been the force behind Obama's positions on school restructuring, teacher quality, and high-quality education for all students. When Edutopia spoke to Darling-Hammond last year, she discussed the benefits of social and emotional learning. She also cowrote an article about project learning.

[NYC_SKP]

3. I'm with you, elleng....

Obama's direction in education hasn't thrilled me 100%, though I do appreciate his recognition that STEM programs need to come back and that our own CDE seems to have their attention on matters of STEM and career technical education (which, done well, should not be confused with vocational programs).

Ever optimistic....

[grantcart]

11. I believe that there is very very little honest discussion about these issues anywhere including DU.

I conduct a personalized explanation of federal benefits to federal employees. I do about 20 a week.

The population consists 80% of people from mixed geographic and ethnic backgrounds that have just a HS diploma.

About a third have military background.

At various points I ask them a few math related questions to see if they have followed the information that I have given them so far.

100% of those over 35 years of age can tell me what 10% of $ 40,000 is.

75% of those between 30-35 years of age can tell me what 10% of $ 40,000 is.

25% of those between 25-30 years of age can tell me what 10% of $ 40,000 is, 75% look at me helplessly and say "I am not good at math".

I believe that this is directly related to three elements;

1) The number of hours that children spend watching TV and X Box games has skyrocketed.
2) Children are allowed to use calculators at earlier and earlier ages
3) Parents would rather spend their time watching TV and playing their games than engaging their children.

Of all of the factors the teacher is the least culpable except that they have gone along with the path of least resistence. I dictated that my youngest daughter take drama every year in High School because I wanted her to have atleast one class that raised controversial issues and challenged perceptions. This is a large HS with 3,000 students and year after year I watched while they did Shakespear and modern fluff pieces, ala "The Pirates of Penzance". After it was revealed that the 4th year in a row would have another fluff piece I pulled the head of the drama department aside and expressed my concern. She said "we used to do more substantive dramas but 7 years ago a parent complained and we stopped". So the teachers caved in because a single parent complained. When I was in HS teachers fought for their craft and I don't see that happening.

On the other hand I will see a handful of homes each month where the parents are fully engaged, some home schooling and some supplementing and the kids don't watch TV, don't play games and they can do all of the math questions I have if they are 9 years old.

The parents are the main culprits because they indulge their kids and are passive in the education, and the teachers go along. I sent my oldest daughter to a private school, one of the best in the country, and the difference in the product is hard to express. Basically they were doing college level work from the Freshman year on. She went on to a well known private University and skated through. There were two reasons that the private HS was so great; 1) Only families where there was 100% commitment to excellence were admitted. There were alot of rich families in there but money didn't get you in. You had to demonstrate that your child wanted to work hard. 2) They had brilliant outstanding teachers. They didn't pay the teachers more than public school, they didn't have to. The greatest teachers were so interested in teaching highly motivated students with absolutely no discipline problems that they were willing to work for standard wages.

I think that the whole discussion on education has become so politicized that no honest discussion on the subject takes place. There isn't an elephant in the room, there are herds of elephants grazing through.

[Marcia Brady]

4. Actually, I disagree

I think the most important factor is the parents. Not their income, but their attitudes toward education, their support for their kids' endeavors, and their involvement in the schools.

[Wait Wut]

5. Then a lot of kids are doomed.

Speaking from personal experience.

The parents can often be a huge part of the problem. A good teacher can negate a lousy parent in some instances. When you have a child that has a home life filled with anger, dysfunction, alcohol, etc. you can't just shrug your shoulders and say there's nothing we can do. I know several teachers that go out of their way to make school a safe and happy place for their students. Something they don't get at home.

In a perfect world, your statement would be acceptable. It's not a perfect world.

[Marcia Brady]

6. Yup, a lot of kids ARE doomed

You can have a great teacher one year, a mediocre one another, and one who hates his/her job another year. the constant in a kid's life is his/her parents. The thing is, it doesn't take a whole lot to help kids succeed. Kids want to learn, and they want to please their parents. When kids are little parents can provide crayons and paper, can put together puzzles with kids, lots of other things. When kids are old enough for school, parents need to ask about homework, even if they can't actually help; they need to make a point of showing up for conferences and other school events. And, probably most important, they need to let their kids know they are proud of them, not only of their successes, but for their efforts as well.

I spoke with a man the other day who had a weekend visit with his two kids. I asked him if he plays games, like Candyland, with his kids. He told me they aren't old enough yet, and they don't know their colors. Well, the oldest one will be five in November. And doesn't know colors! Sad thing is, that child has been in Headstart for at least a couple of years. He will go to kindergarten soon, will be way behind the other kids from the start, and the gap will only grow as he gets older.

And no single teacher, not even a string of great teachers, will be able to overcome the obstacles this kid will face.

[mopinko]

9. that is why we have public schools.

no home is perfect. no parent is perfect. but when we all work together, kids get the best that we can offer. all of us together can lift up children who would be doomed but for us.
as far as what happens at school, which is something that we can do something about, the statement is absolutely correct.

[roody]

10. They are doomed in spite of the many wonderful

teachers who do as much for the students as they possibly can. I am an intervention teacher, and by third grade we have many kids who do not care about anything except video games. They accept no responsibility for learning, and they acquired their attitudes from their parents and families.

[roody]

7. This is simply not true.

The most important factor is their home life.

[iemitsu]

8. i agree with you roody.

and a big factor in home life is often income. not that i'm suggesting families have to be wealthy but they do have to be secure.
too many american students don't live in financially secure households.