Ilsa
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Wed Apr-06-11 09:26 PM
Original message |
I'm Working at an elementary school: they are cutting out all the jobs |
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For assistants in the pre-kindergarten and Kindergarten grades in the school district I'm in. The teaches currently have around 24-27 kids in each class with an assistant to help watch the kids, potty them, take them to the nurse when hurt, etc. Next year the teacher has to do it all herself, and call the front office if they need an assistant to take a child somewhere. The office people are complaining that they won't be able to cover the office that meets the public coming in and get their work done.
I'm in Texas, and the schools will be getting dangerous for little kids.
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SoCalDem
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Wed Apr-06-11 09:28 PM
Response to Original message |
1. These are all tasks that used to be done by "Room Mothers", but now that |
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most Moms have paying jobs, and they are firing the paid-aides, I guess a lot of it will not get done now.. Let chaos reign :(
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MorningGlow
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Thu Apr-07-11 04:42 PM
Response to Reply #1 |
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Edited on Thu Apr-07-11 04:42 PM by MorningGlow
Retired women (although men are welcome, right now our volunteers are all women) who come in either every day for kindergarten and first grades or a few days a week for second grade. (Not sure if the grandmas help out in third or higher.) They are treated well and VERY welcome.
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Luciferous
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Thu Apr-07-11 04:44 PM
Response to Reply #1 |
18. We have parent volunteers here, but I live in a town with a lot |
Snoutport
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Thu Apr-07-11 07:09 PM
Response to Reply #1 |
23. In my seven years of teaching only 1 grandma and 0 moms have ever helped out |
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I have only had one family member ever help out in my room. (one amazing grandma of an autistic girl).
Parents don't even send in cupcakes on birthdays anymore. When I send out permission slips I don't even get all those back. Last night was open house and four people showed up. FOUR PEOPLE for an entire school! (there are only 70 students but still...4!!)
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SoCalDem
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Thu Apr-07-11 07:12 PM
Response to Reply #23 |
24. Since the 70's, it's probably been that way |
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Moms are not available anymore..:(
Schools out here have done away with the birthday cupcakes, bake sales & any party-days..The rationale is that some kids cannot afford to do it.
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earcandle
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Wed Apr-06-11 09:45 PM
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2. We need to declare the Republican Party as the party of TREASON against the American People. And |
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then fire them. What else can help?
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madfloridian
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Wed Apr-06-11 10:13 PM
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3. That's really scary stuff there. |
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K and 1st can not handle all the growing up stuff that is needed alone. Not even with fewer kids.
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roody
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Wed Apr-06-11 10:19 PM
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4. same thing here in California |
Ilsa
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Thu Apr-07-11 05:28 AM
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5. I want to add: from what ive seen, it is usually the class aides that are alert |
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and see changes in student behavior, potential illnesss, lice infestations, etc. The teacher is trying to teach and can't possibly know everything going on.
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RayOfHope
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Thu Apr-07-11 06:19 AM
Response to Reply #5 |
8. Aides are instrumental, but I promise we kindergarten teachers notice the changes too :) n/t |
Snoutport
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Thu Apr-07-11 07:19 PM
Response to Reply #5 |
25. 30 kids = 2 minutes an hour per students. The math says it all. |
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A good assistant doubles that to a whopping 4 minutes.
And in this day and age with so many kids with no parents at home we have really sick kids showing up at school. Most of Portland's schools don't have full time nurses anymore if any nurse at all. Teachers have to be nurse, parent, teacher, social worker and superman all rolled into one and it just isn't possible.
If a kid throws up at our school the teacher has to clean it up. I've actually had to scrub my room down of puke, with all my kids standing in the back of the room gagging and freaking out while i mop up barf.
It is so hard to get any teaching done sometimes because there is so much "care" that needs to be done first.
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w8liftinglady
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Thu Apr-07-11 05:34 AM
Response to Original message |
6. yes. It's awful in Texas. They are cutting teachers and TAs |
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My partner's classes will go from 25 to 40... with no TA to help him in a hardcore inner-city school where the kids need extra attention.So much for the child-friendly pro-life Repubs who insisted on this bullshit.
You have my condolences,Ilsa. I know the important job that you do.
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Ilsa
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Thu Apr-07-11 04:38 PM
Response to Reply #6 |
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If only the parents had bandaids at home ... :-)
And I'm a sub. My first day back at this "inner city" school included a broken arm and fights (not related).
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YvonneCa
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Thu Apr-07-11 07:02 PM
Response to Reply #6 |
22. If you haven't seen this... |
VenusRising
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Thu Apr-07-11 05:48 AM
Response to Original message |
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I also have many friends in Special Education. All of their jobs have been cut. One of them is now looking for work in Oklahoma. My best friend is close to getting her Special Education degree, and is now thinking about staying in school, but pursuing a different field because they are cutting most of the positions.
I feel so bad for these kids. Most of them are going to go into regular classrooms where their special needs will be ignored or glossed over. It's absolutely tragic.
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StarburstClock
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Thu Apr-07-11 03:38 PM
Response to Original message |
9. Put them all on ADHD drugs or maybe some NCLB lies would work |
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Children and the elderly are the easiest targets in criminal societies and that's what we are. How about you just "put it behind you and look towards the future" as our so-called leaders tell us to do? These types of measures are only going to get worse, especially in red states where Rs are going to put all their failed paradigms into action. At some point you're going to have to save yourself from the Rs insanity. I know a couple of people who worked with disabled and challenged children, they had to quit to remain sane because of state policies, failure to get paid and constant bureaucratic lies.
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CoffeeCat
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Thu Apr-07-11 04:30 PM
Response to Original message |
10. Four years ago, I volunteers in my child's... |
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Edited on Thu Apr-07-11 04:30 PM by CoffeeCat
...kindergarten classroom.
I was astounded, and I mean totally astounded, by everything this teacher had to manage, juggle and accomplish. It literally was mind blowing. I was only in the classroom one hour a week, and I needed a glass of wine after I got home!
She had 27 five year olds in her class. I think most people--who are my age--thought kindergarten was fun time--where kids made crafts, played dress up, diddled with the abacus and read picture books.
Oh not today. Kindergarten is serious business, and in my community--kindergartners must be reading by the third month in the school year.
When I was in the classroom, there were two mom volunteers and two assistants. The classroom ran smoothly with this arrangement, but it was still stressful. And you could see it on the teacher's face; and this was an accomplished, experienced teacher.
Two years later, our school cut the budget and all kindergarten classroom assistants were nixed. I seriously don't know how they do it now without that help. I hope there are moms in those rooms helping the teacher.
There is no way to effectively teach 27 five-year-old children without assistants. I don't understand how this can possibly work.
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Ilsa
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Thu Apr-07-11 04:39 PM
Response to Reply #10 |
14. Not just 5yo. Also Pre-K: 4 year olds. nt |
Fire Walk With Me
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Thu Apr-07-11 04:31 PM
Response to Original message |
11. If they suggest leasing or selling to corporations, or if corporations want to "help" |
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scream until your throat is a bleeding mess, then scream some more. Fight privatisation with all of your might.
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xchrom
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Thu Apr-07-11 04:34 PM
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12. sorry. that's very difficult. |
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i predict a few kids going home with wet pants.
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Arugula Latte
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Thu Apr-07-11 04:40 PM
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15. We have three wars to pay for, you know. |
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Can't let silly things like education and healthcare get in the way, dontcha know.
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Biker13
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Thu Apr-07-11 04:43 PM
Response to Original message |
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We've already cut Kindergarten into two sections, one attends Monday and Wednesday, than alternates Fridays. The other goes Tuesday and Thursday, and alternate Fridays.
Now, after much protest, they've solved the problem! They're ELIMINATING Kindergarten, except for the children who "Don't test well", meaning don't know their colors, or how to count.
Honestly, if you have kids, stay away from Idaho!
Biker's Old Lady
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Luciferous
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Thu Apr-07-11 04:49 PM
Response to Reply #17 |
19. Wow, that is horrible! Our kindergarten used to be half days 5 |
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days a week when my daughter was little. The last couple of years it has been a full day, and they have a preschool that is half days that my son will be attending in the fall. I would be pissed if I lived in Idaho.
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Ilsa
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Thu Apr-07-11 06:55 PM
Response to Reply #17 |
20. We need Pre-K and K just for teaching English to kids from |
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Spanish-speaking only homes. Otherwise, those kids would flounder in the system.
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Snoutport
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Thu Apr-07-11 07:00 PM
Response to Original message |
21. The district my class is in just cut all their sp ed subs to 30 hours |
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and if they want to keep their benefits they have to chip in $400. One of the male aids was near tears-his wife just survived cancer and if he leaves this job he'll never get health insurance for his wife again...they make $10 an hour.... $300 a week, 1200 a month (if there are no holidays) minus $400 for insurance = $800 a month...minus taxes and union dues. He was shaking and white as he realized his takehome was going to be $110 or so a week.
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Tue May 07th 2024, 11:42 AM
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