Tomorrow, my kids get left behind by their school.

[MethuenProgressive]

The school year starts tomorrow, and my kids will be taught nothing except how to pass a government authored test. No emphasis on art, civics, debate, research, current events, social studies, geography, or history. Just math, English and a little science. The math, English, and science will be taught as mere mechanics, rote learning of specific segments of each that will be on the test. No exploration of subjects beyond memorizing facts to perform well on multiple choice exams. So I teach them the things they're missing out on myself. The test they really need to perform well on is Life. And, no thanks at all to the Massachusetts DOE, I'm sure they'll do just fine.

[a la izquierda]

1. well this explains why...

my students suck so bad at history.

[Newsjock]

2. All according to plan

Teaching "art, civics, debate, research, current events, social studies, or history" creates students who ask questions. And as they say in "The Prisoner," questions are a burden to others.

This is no accident.

[katmondoo]

3. Parents should start teaching history and science at home,

To supplement the loss of these subjects in school,start at the dinner table, buy books for them, talk about FDR JFK and what they stood for. A little at a time so they do not feel inundated with too much information.

[LWolf]

4. You want my first response? Here it is.

May the teachers in your kids' classrooms walk out and picket your damned house with signs that say "Unhappy with your school? Where were you when we needed you?"

:grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr:

The school year starts tomorrow, and my students will be taught to question, to think, to analyze, to infer, to synthesize, and to make connections from the classroom to real life. In spite of the overcrowding, understaffing, lack of resources, curricular and testing mandates that stifle the process, I'll be back on the front lines doing my best. While public education takes a back seat on the public's priority list. While half the Dem reps support GWB's efforts to destroy public education, and just wish that it was "fully funded."

I'm on the front lines, defending public education. Where are you?

[MethuenProgressive]

6. To the angry LWolf:

I assume you are a teacher? Good for you. But you'd be fired in my school system if your kids didn't perform well on the Test, and you'd be fired if you didn't follow the authorized cirriculum. "Where were you"? I'm at evey PTA. every school meeting, volunteering, chaparoning every field trip, at the dinner table helping my kids with their homework every evening, at the ballot box supporting education, donating money and time where I think it can help, at the homeless shelter, the clean-up project, taking my kids to libraries, museums, and on our own 'field trips' doing everything from building hiking trails to coaching inner city youth basketball, and I'm in the classroom or on the phone talking with my kid's teachers and school's administrators.
You claim you're on "the front line, defending public education"? If you're defending "teaching to the test," you've surrendered. Shame on you.

[Name removed]

10. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[FlaGranny]

19. Geez, THAT'S nice. n/t

[LWolf]

21. No, it's not "Nice."

Neither is the OP, if you are a teacher or a supporter of public education.

I'm not going to make nice about it.

It's labor day. I go to the Democratic stronghold of DU on labor day, and my labor gets trashed. So far, before the first day of school, I've put in a full 4 weeks of unpaid, outside of contract labor this summer. Doing things like taking down a classroom, putting up a classroom, attending meetings, planning, and all the non-instructional things that don't fit into a paid day. My colleagues and I have worked our tails off, without pay for all but a day of it, to make sure that our students have a positive, welcoming environment when they walk through the doors and to make sure that we are giving them the best we have to offer within the legislative, physical, and budgetary restraints we work under. What would be "nice" would be for parents to appreciate that, and to support us in our efforts. What would be "nice" is for people who don't like what's happening in public education to get to work to remove those legislative, physical, and budgetary obstacles. It's a hell of a lot easier to trash teachers, though, isn't it?

[phylny]

38. My kids start school tomorrow, and I expect that they'll continue

to be educated by fine professionals.

We've lived in four different states with four different school districts, and the quality of education in all those places has been superb.

[IdaBriggs]

51. Wow. Reading comprehension can be so inconvenient, can't it?

The original poster was CLEARLY criticizing "teaching to the test" which is mandated by federal monies going to the states. NOT ONCE did she say "we have bad teachers" -- she CLEARLY STATED "we have stupid goals" *AND* in further follow-up stuff, she has outlined her support for both her children, her schools, and her community.

You are in a *service* profession, which is paid for by the rest of "the labor community" (being the taxpayers). You have a challenging job, and may not feel as financially appreciated for your efforts as someone in the private sector. Unfortunately, like other salaried employees in the workforce, your management expects you to 'donate' a great deal of your time and energy to your job. (My salaried husband has been doing the 50/60 hour work week for YEARS -- its considered a 'standard' work week in his field/profession -- and when things get in a "crunch" he's expected to work MORE OVERTIME. If he doesn't like it, he's free to leave, as are you.) I'm not saying its good; I'm saying its become "the norm" and I've *never* in my life met a teacher who hasn't been doing it for years. Its probably one of the biggest reasons for "the burnout factor" being so high in your profession.

You might be working hard, but the original poster's point was valid -- that doesn't mean you are 'working smart' when it comes to the things she wants her children to learn, and in her school district, she believes YOU CAN'T because otherwise You Will Be Fired.

If you've figured out a way to "do both" I'm sure she would dearly love to pass those things on to the people in her district, and that might have been a more productive response, instead of your deliberately insulting one.

[LWolf]

57. Inference.

It's called inference, part of reading comprehension. Allow me to quote:

The school year starts tomorrow, and my kids will be taught nothing except how to pass a government authored test. No emphasis on art, civics, debate, research, current events, social studies, geography, or history. Just math, English and a little science. The math, English, and science will be taught as mere mechanics, rote learning of specific segments of each that will be on the test. No exploration of subjects beyond memorizing facts to perform well on multiple choice exams. So I teach them the things they're missing out on myself.

It's not even inference, but a direct statement, that the kids will be taught "nothing" except how to pass a test. It's inferred that the teacher, who is the one responsible for the teaching, will not be doing enough, so the poster will have to do the teacher's job himself. T

Thanks for pointing out that I'm in a "service" profession; after 23 years in public education, I probably had that figured out by now. Happily, the families that I serve have been consistently happy with the service over the years. You describe the hours/pay conditions well. I think I'm well within my rights to point out that labor day is about my, and my colleagues labor as well as other fields, and that predicting poor teaching is not exactly a way to celebrate the day. While the "you are free to leave at any time" is true, just where would our students be if we all decided we'd had enough of the general public's attitude and did just that? Teaching is a calling, and most of us stay to resist bad legislation and policy. Which is made more difficult when the general public blames us instead of the perpetrators.

[IdaBriggs]

64. You "inferred" that it was all "the teacher" while I "inferred" that it

was the fault of "the system," which I believe the original poster made very clear when she specifically mentioned the MA Board of Education (not staffed with teachers). NOT ONCE did she BLAME THE TEACHER -- YOU DID.

But, if you are constantly looking for reasons to feel sorry for yourself (instead of proud of yourself), I'm confident you can find them. I don't feel sorry for you, though, so if your post was meant to elicit support, you failed miserably. :shrug: Since my husband and I both work (part of the celebration of "Labor Day") to pay for the services you perform, that makes me "one of the bosses of the teachers," so you have my permission.

:eyes:

[LWolf]

73. I didn't, and won't, be asking for your permission.

For anything.

Happily, my students and I had a great opening day today. I'm celebrating that. Also, happily, I had time to chat with many parents, all of whom were cheerful and supportive. Of course, they aren't "the bosses." "The bosses" are those you suggest the OP may have been ranting about. Parents are the partners. At least, that's the way it's always worked for me. Partnership based on mutual respect, for parental concerns and pov and for professional expertise and experience. It's amazing what good things happen for students that way. Sorry for myself? Not in the least. Pissed? Yes, and with good reason. Concerned about your perspective on the whole thing? Not personally; only in what damage to the partnership, to the climate, and to the student experience that attitude does when it shows up at school or in the voting booth. Ready to cow down and stay quiet when I see, hear, or read injustice? Never.

[MethuenProgressive]

66. No words of art - I meant just what I said.

The original poster was CLEARLY criticizing "teaching to the test" which is mandated by federal monies going to the states. NOT ONCE did she say "we have bad teachers" -- she CLEARLY STATED "we have stupid goals" *AND* in further follow-up stuff, she has outlined her support for both her children, her schools, and her community.

First thing I did when attacked over the OP was to go back and read it over carefully. I said what I meant, and meant what I said. (btw, I'm a he :hi:)

[IdaBriggs]

72. Sorry for the gender confusion!

Did I "infer" correctly about your complaint? I thought what you said was pretty clear! :)

[fishwax]

76. most of the teachers I know would agree with the OP

as it stands now, at least, maybe there was something more before the edit that was offensive.

I didn't see the OP as an attack on teachers, but rather as a critique of the system--designed by people who have neither your expertise in education nor your experience in the classroom--in which teachers are forced, presently, to operate through shams such as NCLB.

BTW, thanks for all you do, as a teacher, for our country :toast:

[LWolf]

22. SHAME ON YOU.

Again. Since the "**** YOU" gets deleted, lets try the "nicer" words you used on me.

SHAME ON YOU FOR ATTACKING MY HARD WORK, AND MY PROFESSION, ON LABOR DAY.

And congratulations for earning me the only deleted post in many thousands over the years at DU.

[proud2BlibKansan]

74. Your school system has no tenure?

Teachers are not fired because kids don't do well on tests. That is one thing bush wanted in NCLB that he didn't get. Thankfully we still have tenure and that protects us from unfair expectations regarding student acheivement.

And thank goodness for that. I teach special ed. If they could fire me for low test scores, I would have been canned a long time ago. LOL

You also are not being fair to LWolf. She appears to be an excellent teacher and has spoken out against NCLB many many times.

[WritingIsMyReligion]

9. Sitting in your class, wondering what the hell happened to public ed.

To presume that there are many teachers like you out there is, IMHO, stretching it. Too many teach to the goddamned test, and that is it.

[LWolf]

11. How many do you know?

I suspect I know more teachers than you do. I know many who, like me, do everything they can within the constraints of the workplace to bring learning to life. I know more teachers who hate the high-stakes test and the learning-killing that results than I do who actually like the tests.

I know teachers who resist the "teach to the test" drumbeat with everything they've got. I know teachers who work for districts that will get rid of teachers who do not toe the line, so they do as they are told. While gritting their teeth and hating it with all of their being. I know teachers that have left the profession because of it, and teachers, like myself, who are the sole support of a family and stay because their family depends on the paycheck. I know some teachers who have developed health problems related to the stress working this way brings on. I know some teachers who go underground in their classrooms, finding ways to bring some curiosity, passion, and love of learning to their classrooms in spite of the mandates. Even those teaching to the test don't want to be doing so. They resent it, they resist; you just don't see them doing so. You don't see them in staff meetings or talk to them in the staff room or at association meetings.

If you don't know how much these people need support for their resistance, instead of disdain for hanging on to their jobs, you haven't looked hard enough.

[Nikki Stone 1]

45. LWolf, I back you up 100%

I taught high school English in a large urban system. I lost a FULL MONTH to the various tests that students had to take in California: The Stanford 9, the Golden State, and all of the county-wide tests just to name a few. I lost a month of Shakespeare, grammar, essay writing. spelling and reading. (Yes, high schoolers are losing reading and other language skills thanks to the stupid and greedy academics who sold a load of garbage to Departments of Ed and school systems on the teaching of language skills. At least one of these greedy bastards is retired and living in Pacific Palisades as a reward for destroying the chances of many California kids. There's a place in hell for that man.)

Our principal was judged primarily on test scores for all of these standardized tests. He could lose his job if these scores did not improve or, god forbid, fell. Therefore, all the teachers, especially those teaching the basics like English and math, were forced to teach to the test, to save our principal's ass. To his credit, he really did care and was a nice enough guy, but when real teaching takes a back seat to test taking strategies, you lose valuable time and resources.

Fight on, LWolf. I'm with you.

[MethuenProgressive]

47. Do you agree...

that:

...all the teachers, especially those teaching the basics like English and math, were forced to teach to the test, to save our principal's ass.

is a bad thing?
If you do, I thank you for agreeing with the OP.

[Nikki Stone 1]

60. I do not agree with the spirit of the OP: it ignorantly teacher bashes

One can despise teaching to the test without blaming the teachers who are ALSO judged on test scores. I received reports of my students' scores as if, somehow, these scores were MY report card. Any teacher who's been in the system awhile understands that:

1. Test scores are often about how well a student takes a test, not about how much she or he knows about the subject being tested.

2. A student's knowledge in a particular area is cumulative. If I get students in the 9th grade with a 4th or 5th grade reading level, I am limited in what I can do thanks to years of previous (bad) instruction. I can do my damnedest and push them--and DO! But eventually, I am limited in how far how I can push them by their initial skill level. If my 9th graders score low on the Stanford 9, for example, that may have nothing to do with my teaching and everything to do with their previous 8 grades of education.

3. Some students don't care about the standardized tests. They take so many of them that they get tired of them and some consider them a joke. There is always one student who makes a lovely Christmas tree design on the answer sheet by filling in the appropriate ovals. And I can't really blame them for that since I don't believe in these tests either.

4. The content on these standardized tests is sometimes biased (by culture background or social class) and questions can be misunderstood by students.

5. Sometimes the test questions are poorly written. I remember one such essay exam (a county-wide graduation requirement) which was so poorly written that even I (with a Master's degree and 10 years' experience) didn't know what the test was actually asking for. I had been expressly forbidden from interpreting the question for the students by the county, so the students were on their own with an extremely poorly written essay prompt. After the test, I went to the assistant principal in charge of testing and asked how to file a complaint. He told me that nobody at the county office would listen to a teacher, even if the teacher had more education and experience than the county hacks did.


6. Standardized tests actually REDUCE MOTIVATION to learn. About 6 or 7 years ago, a study was done in Britain and reported by the BBC demonstrating that the more standardized tests a student was forced to take, the more his/her motivation to learn went DOWN. On my more morbid days, I believe that this may be the entire reason for standardized testing--to reduce motivation to learn, dumb down the kids, and have worker bees for the global corporate feudalism that has been forming since GATT.



Now, if you are chiefly concerned about "being right" and want to gleefully claim that I somehow "agree" with your OP because I agree with a certain portion of it, then there's nothing I can do about that.

But if you are really concerned about kids and learning and teaching, I suggest you stop petty games about who is "right" and start looking at what the teachers are telling you. Those of us who are in teaching to really help kids are frustrated no end by the plethora of standardized tests, most of which are useless. One test, once a year, should be the rule. It should take no longer than 2 days to administer. Then let the teachers get back to sharing the knowledge they have and helping the kids develop their abilities.

And you should be up there fighting against these tests, fighting against "No Child Left Behind" which actually does the opposite of its title, fighting for the rights of teachers to actually teach, fighting for smaller class sizes so that your kid is not drowned in a class of 45 students, some of whom are not at grade level. YOU should be up there fighting. Teachers routinely get ignored, even though we do fight. It is only parental pressure that can help turn things around.

So quit bitching and get moving.

[MethuenProgressive]

61. "Ignorantly," every teacher I know agrees with me.

I suggest you stop petty games about who is "right" and start looking at what the teachers are telling you.

Every single teacher I have spoken to agrees with me about the MCAS test, the MassDOE, and the cirriculum they are forced to teach. Every single one has thanked me for supporting them in their opposition to MCAS.
From today's Lawrence Eagle Tribune's (our local paper) reader's comments:

"Out Of Control"
I'm a teacher, and I'm just calling to say I think there is something fundamentally wrong with a test that is testing our children that we love. We are making this test so valuable, putting so much weight on this test that teachers are willing to cheat, children are willing to cheat, systems are willing to cheat. This test has gotten so out of control.

I guess this teacher hates teachers too?
Those who are defending surrendering our children's education to NCLB and the MassDOE are as clueless as Rumsfeld and Cheney when they claim that to critize the administration is to not support the troops. Rove has taught you well, so keep attacking me and ignoring the message: I object to my children being left behind.

[BlueStorm]

68. I agree... I am not a teacher

but I was once was a student. Most of what we "learned" was rote memory education, basically stuff that we had to know for these half-assed standardized test. I guess what I am saying is that there is no substance to the subjects that we are supposed to learn. But then again, it may be the government's way of preventing thinkers by keeping people uniformed and "dumb" I know that there are teachers out there that are probably frustrated with this and wish to change it and I hope they do, for our children's future.

Blue

[MadHound]

15. Teaching to the test and actually supporting NCLB

Are two entirely different things. Many teachers teach to the test because they're forced to. If they don't, their job is on the line. Therefore they do what they have to in order to retain their job and career, meanwhile sliding in as much non-test, real world lessons as they possibly can. Then after a ten hour day at the office, for the worst paid professional degreed career in this country, they go home in the evenings to work their ass off fighting NCLB and to improve overall student education. It is the teachers leading this fight against NCLB and the degridation of our school system. Where the hell are you and the rest of the public? Sitting on your ass moaning and whining:eyes:

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

67. Teachers, by and large...

are the most vocal critics of NCLB you'll find. Far more critical than most parents or the public at large.

Want to find a critic of NCLB? Find a teacher.

[MethuenProgressive]

70. Absolutely!

I've never met a teacher in favor of NCLB or what's it has done to our schools.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

71. There's a good reason...

that the Bush administration has called the National Education Association a group of "terrorists."

And it ain't because they're terrorists.

[fishwax]

77. absolutely true

i've never met an actual classroom teacher who thought NCLB was a good idea--and that includes some teachers who are quite conservative on the whole.

[proud2BlibKansan]

75. You are completely wrong

We fight against teaching to the test every day. I don't need to presume, I KNOW there are teachers like LW olf out there, fortunately, lots of them.

[JitterbugPerfume]

24. well said, L Wolf

well said

[BanzaiBonnie]

5. Wanna hear something scary?

If teachers introduce civics into the classroom there is some question as to whether they could be legally liable for what they teach.

[bperci108]

12. Source?

I'd love to read more about that.


:wtf:

[seabeyond]

7. this will be the third week of the new school year, and already my

kids have learned quite a bit. and no it is not just math and english. i dont like these test as much as everyone else. i chose private for the first 6 years of sons schooling, starting preschool because of them. but..... there is no way i will say my kids learn nothing. that just isnt true. i have three different public school since leaving private and i have been impressed with all three. what they are taught, the teachers and the principles.

[WritingIsMyReligion]

8. Yup.

School is so useless sometimes. I hate NCLB with every fiber of my being, because it is the biggest oxymoron ever.

[MadHound]

13. Then get off your ass and do something besides whine and moan

Hell, NCLB is up for renewal next year, and yet the only people I see out there who are doing anything to stop it from being renewed are *teachers*! Where is the public support for these teachers? Non-existant, since once again parents are overworked and/or too apathetic to give a damn. Then when the shit hits the fan, despite the best efforts of the teachers fighting the good fight, the public comes back and blames the teachers, much like the OP is doing. Sorry, that doesn't fly with me.

It is high time that more public citizens become involved in our childrens' education. Instead they're expecting teachers to do this all alone, on a decreasing salary, with laws tying their hands behind their backs, and little support from the community. Is it any wonder that so many teachers are burning out so quickly.

I decided to do something, to go teach high school history and civics, to go help fight this fight. And sadly I will be on the front lines alone with my fellow educators. And while we will fight the good fight, in the end when we most likely fail(do to the lack of input from other sectors of the public) it is we who will be blamed. Those lazy, no good, over paid teachers.

So quite frankly it is time for the rest of the public to join us in this fight, to either put up or shut up. This is not only about our childrens' future, but our future as a country. Do you really want to see NCLB ended, then help us in this fight. But whatever you do, don't come back next year and blame the teachers in this country when NCLB is renewed. We will have fought the good fight, it is the rest of the public that let us down.

[LWolf]

14. Thank you.

:thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

You said it more eloquently than I.

[MadHound]

16. Thank you for teaching and fighting the good fight

I'm only starting out, getting an edu degree. I'm leaving behind a decent paying career because I feel the need deeply to educate our youth in areas of civics and history. I come from a family of educators and have seen for decades how the public expects miracles from our education system, while at the same time offering teachers absolutely no support, either financially, morally or politically. And so when the shit hits the fans, inevitably the public points the finger at teachers, and that absolutely burns me up, because I know what goes on behind the scenes. And I find it disgusting to see posters here spewing the same vile crap, yet continue to sit on their ass and do nothing. One would think that good liberals and progressives would be smarter than that, but hey, I guess there are some in every crowd:shrug:

[LWolf]

18. I, too, am frustrated, to say the least.

Everybody has a criticism, no one is willing to address the source/s of the problems.

[leesa]

17. Are those parents overworked or are they taking their pampered kids

to endless socker games, ballet lessons, movies, parties, etc. That's what I hear from parents...mostly sporting events, all the time. Some need to get their priorities in order.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

37. That's what I hear from some of the teachers I know

The parents think it's important that their kids have sports activities and part-time jobs, but when it comes to academics, they don't care unless the test scores fall, and then it's the teacher's fault.

The parents don't blame themselves for providing an anti-intellectual atmosphere in the house.

[Lars39]

30. iirc,

WritingIsMyReligion is a HS student.

[WritingIsMyReligion]

35. Yes, sir.

To say that high school students are pleased with NCLB is a bunch of horseshit. To say that we are doing nothing is also a keg of bullcrap. Highly imflammatory judgment going on around here.

[Lars39]

31. Some schools will only allow limited participation,

won't allow a PTA...only PTOs.

[wovenpaint]

20. Is this about MCAS ?

Are you generally speaking about the MCAS testing in Massachusetts?
Are the teachers responding from MA?
I'm not a teacher but raised 3 children here and they were in the first wave of MCAS testing-yes, I feel that MA public school students are being taught to the test and the "extras" are being left behind, IMHO as a parent-and from frustrations voiced by teachers here. It's a tough situation for everyone.

[MethuenProgressive]

34. Yes, it's about MCAS

Are you generally speaking about the MCAS testing in Massachusetts?
Are the teachers responding from MA?
I'm not a teacher but raised 3 children here and they were in the first wave of MCAS testing-yes, I feel that MA public school students are being taught to the test and the "extras" are being left behind, IMHO as a parent-and from frustrations voiced by teachers here. It's a tough situation for everyone.

It's absolutely a crime that our schools are in this mess. And yes, I understand that many teachers are as frustated as the parents. Nonetheless, it is what it is, and my inability to personally change NCLB isn't a good reason to be attacked by a teacher who evidently didn't read very far into the OP before exploding. And if LWolf is defending the staus quo I meant what I said - shame on her.

[earth mom]

23. No Child Left Behind is evil!

NCLB is one of the most evil things to come out of the * administration! Teaching to the test just doesn't cut it for our kids and we parents all need to put our foot down. Maybe it's time for widespread home schooling! :grr:

[riderinthestorm]

25. I'm beginning to believe that there is a misperception happening

in this era that teachers are somehow supposed to be the teacher of all things academic for all children.

I'm not sure that's how it ever really was regardless of standardized testing. I believe the schools have always had a pretty generic standardized education, and from the dawn of standardized education those kids that excelled either pursued more studying outside of school, or their parents or peer group furthered their education outside of school.

Family discussions at the dinner table have all but disappeared (the opportunity to discuss history, politics, civics, current events etc.)

Weekend jaunts to interesting local historical sites - forts, Native American sites, museums etc. are neglected because of soccer games every weekend.

Working in the family business as a child is all but extinct (math, science, social skills - whatever skills were demanded from all participants in the family business from farming to shopworker).

Wealthy families would make sure their children had exposure to art, music, and travel outside of school.

I live in a fantastic school system. The teachers know their job and do a great job but I don't expect or demand that they must also do my job too as a parent in furthering my childrens' education. I have to step up to the plate and do my part too.

I'm not defending the NCLB at all but even if it turns out that this disaster is perpetuated by a fraudulent Congress, it's parents who will always be the most important element of a child's education.

To all the DU teachers out there, you have my utmost respect, gratitude and appreciation for your hard work. :loveya:

[countingbluecars]

26. Great post.

Thank you.

[walldude]

28. I'm with you... can't stand NCLB but my kids are in public

school and they have great teachers who care. They are learning art, music, history and social studies besides the things they need to pass the standardized tests. This whole perception of public school is skewed imho. The government may demand this or that but they aren't in the classroom every day. My kids are learning, they are all avid readers they are all interested in art, film, and music and they really are getting an education. So let me add my thanks to all you overworked, underpaid and under appreciated teachers!

[LWolf]

29. Thank you.

:loveya:

[riderinthestorm]

32. Your welcome!

Reading, writing and arithmetic used to be all that was really taught in most schools - for a hundred years or more. And then folks took that basic education and powered us into the Industrial Revolution amd WWII - brilliant work and thought and discovery engineered by people who tinkered with chemistry sets at home with their friends and family (for example).

It just seems as though this generation of parents seems to think that the schools/teachers are somehow falling down on the job but perhaps it's our parenting/educational responsibilities that are driving the academic slowdown of our era. Our culture of how we spend time as a family has radically changed. In some ways for good, in other ways probably bad. I think we are in the midst of a realignment of how families can operate most successfully (which is why so many social conservatives are so frightened). I don't think we are by any means near the end of pulling the threads apart of our social fabric that was started in the 60s. We haven't even begun to stitch that quilt back together imho.

I'm not sure what it is but I am really baffled when I see DUers slam teachers who are putting their heart and soul into educating their kids. If you don't think the teacher is getting the job done - fine, approach the school/school district about working through the problem with the teacher/system/educational theory. And then step up and do your part also.

[ThomWV]

27. What Role Does Your County Government Play? Here They Run The Show

Here the counties run the show and the state has little effect on education. Every county pays for its own out of its own tax base and as I understand it the state then give grants to different counties as the need be to at least give the impression that there is somewhat equal spending between the truly rural counties and those that have a city in them.

[Sydnie]

43. We have a very weak County system in MA

As a matter of fact, a few years ago, they were thinking about doing away with county offices all together.

As for education, there is a spending formula that the state grants to each district, usually a town or a city but never on a county level. Once the government numbers, called the cherry sheet, for all aid given to the city or town comes in, the city or town then sets their budgets for the year. They take that aid figure and add the local property tax levy to it and divide it up for all departments that must be funded. We also have proposition 2 1/2 which limits the amount that any local taxes can be raised to 2 1/2% per year. Now, once the school has a net school spending amount in place, they rarely dip below that mark, although extra funds could be added to raise the per pupil spending if you can raise the support for such a move. In my little town, we still have the town meeting form of government and no town budget is passed that is not voted on by the town meeting (any registered voter can attend and vote on all items presented at any town meeting). City governments have the representative form of government, and to effect a change there you must get enough reps on your side to vote for the issue du jour.

We have had lean years in town where they cut a $4,900,000 proposed (and agreed to be supported by the town finance committee) on the floor of town meeting by $900,000, causing shear havoc in the system (we only have an elementary school and middle school in town, we pay tuition to neighboring towns for our high schoolers - gives them vocational options as well as two different high school options, depending on what they are looking for in their kids education). We ended up losing all the extras, art, music, field trips, along with 18 teachers and aides. School budgets, btw, can only be voted on as a bottom line figure. The day to day operating and division of funds within the school department is up to the school committee.

I got pissed ... and eventually became the chairman of our town's school committee. That is where the money is spent and support for the teachers is backed with the power of the dollar ... or not. I saw that it was. That was just before they passed statewide school reform laws that, effectively, too a great deal of control on many day to day operations away from the school committees (hiring, firing, staffing and to a great extent curriculum as well). Now the school committees in our state only control two things; the division of the money (contract negotiations and paying the bills) and the hiring of the superintendent of schools. Get a good super, who sees things as you do, and you have educational harmony. Get one that "feels the power and hears their own drum" and you have anarchy in the system.

Having seen it first hand, both as a volunteer in the system that I was attempting to help guide with my service on the committee and that very service itself, I know just how hard a job the teachers have and if they don't have the support of the parents and the community as a whole, they have an even harder row to hoe.

I can tell you stories about parents that complained because their kids had an hour of homework, how they thought the homework was stupid because they were supposed to do all their learning in school, and how they told the teachers to get over it when the kids didn't do the work assigned. I can see how some teachers could give up when faced with that week after week, year after year. Most of the teachers I know, however, are not quitters. They do what is mandated of them and squeeze in what they can to enhance the experience too. It's not that they don't have the drive, it's that they don't have the time to start new projects when the mandate is so time consuming. but, it can be done, and is being done in my little town all the same. Cross curriculum study projects shows how one thing connects to another and allows for expansion of the subject matter while still staying on mandate for the required "testing" which keeps each system autonomous from the state's threat to take over the schools.

It's a fine line that they walk every day. Parents must work with the system to be a team. All too often, they just don't come to the table at all, sadly.

My kids were told that school was their job. All privileges were earned by keeping your grades up and knowing the material. They have heard the "gotta have a good foundation" speech from me ad nauseum. They know what is expected and they know that they can ask for help from me and from the teachers if they are struggling. They know I expect them to ask and to struggle as well, because not everyone is good at everything all the time. But, they also know that I have a relationship with their teachers that encourages the teacher to "drop a dime" on them if they are not putting their full effort into their own pursuit of knowledge. They were taught to respect their teachers and be good "citizens" of their school.

By working together and parents being involved in their education outside of the school building, supporting the teachers and making education important (more important than the after school activities) and kids can do ok and learn. Even with that rotten NCLB and MCAS in place ... if we want it bad enough.

Heck, I even assign a classic (age appropriate, of course) to my kids over the summer to keep their mind working and to add to their school mandated reading lists. They enjoy it because it's not something that they would read in school.

To all the teachers here, I thank you and I support you.

[MethuenProgressive]

33. LWolf, did you even READ the OP?

"Tomorrow, my kids get left behind by their school."
"And, no thanks at all to the Massachusetts DOE..."
I'm not blaming the teachers. I blame the system and GWB's "No child left behind."
LWolf, I sure hope you don't teach English.

[WritingIsMyReligion]

36. BWAH!

:rofl:

[ulysses]

41. I imagine she did. I did too,

and found this:

my kids will be taught nothing except how to pass a government authored test

LWolf's commentary was spot-on. Yes, I'm also a teacher.

[Name removed]

44. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[ulysses]

46. so are half their students.

Lies, damned lies and statistics.

"self-loathing"? Right. :D

[riderinthestorm]

48. Whoa... how long before her post is pulled do ya think?

Counting down.... 5...4...3...

"Self loathing" indeed.
:popcorn:

[LWolf]

58. Yes, I teach Language Arts.

Yes, of course, I READ it. Again, I'll quote, the bolding mine:

The school year starts tomorrow, and my kids will be taught nothing except how to pass a government authored test. No emphasis on art, civics, debate, research, current events, social studies, geography, or history. Just math, English and a little science. The math, English, and science will be taught as mere mechanics, rote learning of specific segments of each that will be on the test.

Who is doing the teaching, the DOE or the teacher? The DOE, and the district, and the admin, can all put great pressure on teachers to do what you are suggesting. It is the rare teacher that does ONLY that. Even in the most draconian districts, teachers resist. While they may have to comply with mandates, they do their best to find ways to bring other things into the classroom as well. Do they like it? No. Do they want to change it? Yes. Meanwhile, teachers are doing what they can, which is more in some districts than others, to alleviate the conditions brought about by those mandates. It's an extremely stressful situation to work in.

If you are supporting teachers and the time, energy, passion, and care they give their students by objecting to the current high-stakes testing/drill and kill culture we have to work in, I thank you. The support part was not evident in the OP. It sounded like more school bashing to me, and we take enough of it as it is. That's an interesting thing to note; when you said "school," you apparently thought differently than I do. To me, the school is the community of teachers, students, and families, not the admins and bureaucrats at the top.

[WinkyDink]

39. TELL me about it! I retired from teaching public h.s. English a few

years ago.
We had to make our Final Exams so that anyone could grade them. So much for nuanced essay answers. When I first was asked where the "answer key" was, I replied, "In my brain."

THEN we had to make the EXACT SAME EXAM as 1.) the other periods had; and 2.) the other teachers had. So much for 1.) stopping cheating by learning from the early classes; and 2.)personal grasp of the subject; the lowest denominator on the staff had to be accommodated for his or her "knowledge".

Dumbing-down is real. Our state has the Pennsylvania System for Scholastic Assassment (PSSA). NOTHING in the"Language Arts" section is about, you know, actual ARTS. It's all about mere function and reading comprehension of FACTUAL articles. Not one poem or bit of fiction included.

My principal questioned the inclusion in our curriculum of Dickens and Shakespeare (he, of course, has been promoted and moved on to another district). A visiting principal questioned the "utility" of art class. I asked him why he thought people visited art museums; he said he didn't know.

And yet the teachers' unions get blamed.

[MethuenProgressive]

40. "And yet the teachers' unions get blamed."

My principal questioned the inclusion in our curriculum of Dickens and Shakespeare (he, of course, has been promoted and moved on to another district). A visiting principal questioned the "utility" of art class. I asked him why he thought people visited art museums; he said he didn't know.

That's kin to my expeience with administrators in both public and private schools. They hire accountants where they need educators. When I questioned the reason for having only six classes per school year devoted to music education, the last principal advised me that "we have band for kids interested in music." That response crossed him off my list of people worth talking to.

[cleveramerican]

42. even the best schools only do part of the job...

parents spend 10 times more time with their kids than any school. Since my kids were very young I knew I had to add color and flavor to their formal education. I take great pleasure in teaching my kids about Hank Williams and Ferrari's and other fun stuff.I teach them enough civics, art and music to fill in any gaps.(I hope)

I go to town meeting and I do my very best to encourage better community support for our school system, but I also know its really up to me.

Teaching to the test should be vigorously opposed. The test itself is a much needed yardstick for the taxpayers of any given community, as a guage to how well the school administrators are doing their jobs. Communities can't give up this control.


My 3 kids started school last week and like any parent I'm hoping for the best and watching them like a hawk.More then once I've had to speak up on my childs behalf,and risk ruffling feathers in the town. I wonder about the kids whose parents are too busy to do the same for them.

[midnight]

49. So sorry to hear about your situation.

My youngest is finishing her senior year. I'm so relieved. As I look back, it was russian roulette.

[MethuenProgressive]

62. My youngest are grade schoolers

and I'm considering sending them to a private high school like our eldest. The MassDOE and Bush's NCLB have been a disaster for our public schools.

[rucky]

50. You are doing a good job as a parent

but you're exaggerating what happens in the classroom. if the teacher is doing his or her job (critical thinking), the tests will reflect it. I don't know any teachers who adjust their curriculum for the test, and just as always, the good teachers have high performing students.

State standards and tests are created by teachers in most states. If you go to the state's dept. of education website, you can read the state standards. I've read them for several states, and there is very little I disagree with them on, as far as what needs to be taught at each grade level.

[MethuenProgressive]

63. MCAS only tests certain subjects

The MCAS test here only tests certain subjects, rucky. And the system tells the schools that they will be judged on the test scores. Hence the over emphasis on a few subjects, while un-tested subjects are ignored and neglected.

[hedgehog]

52. What scares me most about "No child left behind" is that

instead of raising the quality of education across the country, it seems to be dragging down the best schools to the lowest common denominator. The complaints about "teaching to the test" don't make any sense to parents who were raised on standard tests that emphasized critical thinking and essay writing. High schools across New York State the state used to teach to the old Regents' exams with no problems and the students had to understand the material to pass the tests. Ever since "No child left behind" hit, the tests have been a mess, the math curriculum has been changed according to the latest theories from the ivory towers and the kids who were being left behind before are still dropping out.

(Just to give you an example - right now the normal progression is Earth Science, Biology, Chemistry and Physics with an annual exam at the end of each course. Some genius wanted to have a single exam for Earth Science& Biology and a single exam for Chemistry and Physics.)

[dobegrrrl]

53. Sad but very true

Of course, a lot of it can be blamed on some parents too - I teach AP US gov. and heaven forbid I speak the truth about the bushies! Many parents think dissent is heretical - wish they would read the Federalist Papers - which I try to teach too but it even it is too radical for some!!!

I place most of the blame on the corp. ownership of the US - they want workers NOT thinkers.
:cry:

[Stinky The Clown]

54. I am appalled at what *they* have done to *us*

I'm not on any side of the arguments in this thread.

But for both sides of it, listen to yourselves. Look at what *they* have done to us. "They" being the current cabal running this country to ruin.

They instituted a terrible program with terrible consequences. Teachers are pissed off about it. Parents are pissed off about it. Students are pissed off about it. All of them righteously so.

But what I'm seeing in this thread is the effect of a HUGE WEDGE being driven between **US**.

We shouldn't be fighting between ourselves. We should be fighting - united - against THEM. It is with THEM that we have a fight. Not parents against teachers. What teacher doesn't want the same thing for his or her students that any parent wants for their kids? There are good and bad parents and good and bad teachers. But except for the extremes, the worst of each side wants better than we have and SURELY better than *THEY* have given us.

PLEASE don't fight among yourselves. Fight against the real enemy of our kids ...... ***THEM****.

[JCMach1]

55. My kids started back yesterday...

Curriculum included art, drama music and two foreign languages (Arabic and French)...

Oh yeah, that's in the land of the Evil-doers... So much for convential wisdom...


One of the reasons I bolted from Florida was the conditions the OP described.

[Liberty Belle]

56. In our district, which was taken over by right-wing religious zealots,

the teachers have banded together and are running a slate of teachers to take back control of our schools. Concerned citizens have formed a PAC to support candidates who support public education. We're hosting a "Save Our Schools Sale" this weekend and a "picnic with the candidates" fundraiser the following weekend to raise money for a slate mailer to voters.

Our current board is ruining public schools. I heard from a student today who said the board is getting rid of all the good, creative teachers and keeping only those who follow orders and teach to the tests. They've cut out art and music. They've put barbed wire up around the classrooms and made kids wear uniforms (or opt out of the uniform requirement, but abide by an increasingly strict dresscode that's uncomfortable and inappropriate in hot weather). Now they're making our kids wear ID tags around their necks like dogs. Plus they want to turn our entire district into charter schools so they can bust the teachers union and outsource all the jobs to cronies.

There is some light to be found. After I wrote articles exposing the right wing's hidden agenda here, two of the three bad board members decided not to run for reelection. Perhaps they're scurrying away back to whatever rock they crawled out of in the first place. The third, however, has recruited two more Republicans cut from the same mold.

The board has 5 members, all conservative republicans. It's gotten so bad that the 3 craziest ones have imposed Draconian rules aimed at squelching free speech among the other 2, who in turn are threatening to sue the 3 truly crazies on the board. Votes lately have been splitting 3-2 on more and more decisions.

Democrats and sane Republicans in our area have become so alarmed over the need to restore sanity to this board that we've banded together to support a truly multi-party slate endorsed by the teachers' union: one Democratic teacher, one Indedepent janitor/classified employee, and one liberal Republican teacher who hates what the right wing is doing to his party.

I am glad my daughter graduates this year and will escape whatever else this board will dream up to hurt the students, as they clearly aren't concerned about the quality of the children in this district.

[DarkTirade]

59. Up until you actually said what state you were in

I could have sworn you lived here in Florida.
Although from what I've heard from my little sister, the county she's in isn't as bad as the one I went to school in.

[cynatnite]

65. I love some of the teachers my kids have...

Grant it there are some who do just enough to get by....

But my son has a terrific group of teachers who have gone above and beyond for him. He has struggled with so much and this year it's really paying off. They have taken the time and patience with him because they care.

My high school teen has some teachers who challenge their students. In this RW red NE TN, she has some raging liberal teachers who take the time to educate, challenge and help these kids.

What teachers need is respect and help. They've got mine.

[MethuenProgressive]

69. All but two :O)

I have one kid in HS, and two in grade school. Out of all the teachers they've had over the years, I can only think of two individuals that weren't satisfactory. However, out of the several principals, only the current HS one is performing in a way I approve of. I have hope for the new grade school principal, though.

[donco6]

78. That's sad. Thankfully it's not happening everywhere.

I just finished up our district's supplemental budget. $16,000 for one high school for art supplies. $8,000 for instructional field trips to various museums and the Capitol bldg. Thousands for newspaper and magazine subscriptions for the libraries. Thousands more for new maps and globes for classrooms. Not to mention the texts, supplemental supplies, software, computers and everything else in a $40,000,000 budget.

There are thousands of teachers out there doing hard work, spending money wisely, thinking up creative ways to engage their kids, and flat out CARING about them. They really do, and I see it every single day. I can't speak for every school, everywhere, But please don't think that because yours aren't doing things the way they should, that no school is worth supporting. It's just not so.