[pterional]

I witnessed the exact things you described in your letter 15 years ago when I went to visit a friend while he was teaching a class in a urban high school in Cincinnati. The most amazing thing was that the kids continued to behave badly even though I was there.The little thugs were running around the class while my colleague was standing up in front of the class giving his lecture and only two kids up front were paying attention. He would hand out a quiz and the kids would hand it back with just their names on it. No attempt was made to complete the exam. It was so surreal to see this. My friend taught for 5 years then found a more fulfilling job.

The problem is clear. As a teacher you have no authority and no one supporting you. The parents don’t care and the administrators will not discipline the trouble makers. I think my friend sank into a feeling of hopelessness. The kids were so far behind academically that his lesson plans were not applicable. Try teaching a physics class when most of the kids can’t even add or subtract.

[Riverman94610]

Back when I was going to school,only the top students took higher level Science or Math classes like Physics and Intermediate Algebra.
Now,these classes,watered down greatly,are required for graduation in most urban districts.
And 75% of the kids haven’t the slightest idea of the subject matter and are failing right and left.