Posted on 12/02/2007 8:43:47 AM PST by shrinkermd
The LA times has been running a series on education. This is the opening paragraph of their commentary:
It's sad but true, as pretty much any parent can tell you, that white, middle-class schoolchildren are more likely to be taught by experienced, highly paid teachers. And it's particularly true in ethnically diverse districts such as L.A.'s. This is a predictable convergence, but one with dismaying implications for the "achievement gap" between white and Asian students and their black and Latino counterparts. Indeed, the achievement gap is at least in part the result of an "instruction gap," and closing it will require re-imagining the ways we evaluate, reward and deploy teachers...
...Finally, it's time for everyone -- unions, teachers, administrators and parents -- to acknowledge that districts must be allowed to reassign good teachers to low-performing schools. Wise administrators, of course, would avoid forcing teachers into schools where they would be unhappy or resentful -- and thus ineffective. But districts should have the option of sending their best teachers where they are most badly needed -- something that's now almost impossible under union rules. Police departments do this all the time. Crime spikes up in one area, and officers are deployed to that location.
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
“Their ultimate (and ultimately unreachable) goal is to finally create what old-time Austrian economists called “the socialist man”, and a society in which all men will always put the good of the community (or “village”) ahead of their own welfare.”
Bull$hit. They are more interested in churning out morons who will bitch and moan, and then pull the lever for a demagogue.
It’s all about the lowering of standards, from teachers to students achievement. The low income/black/minority/inner city/depressed rural areas, it’s all the same thing.
The govt keeps throwing money and programs (NCLB)at these areas/districts, expecting success when they’re not dealing with the problem. Parents/students/society has to care about education and parents need to take responsibility for their kids and kids need to be held accountable for their own education. Teachers need to stop being a part of a thug, outdated organization (Union) and the District administrations need to be held accountable to the tax payers that fund the districts.
Schools have to stop this *everyone is special, everyone is the same, everyone is talented* crap. All of my kids, 2 still in the catholic grade school, have heard daily how grades don’t matter, it’s not about the grades, being well behaved, respectful, kind, doesn’t matter since everyone is special, everyone is the same. And this stuff does matter if we as a country want to continue progressing. Fortunately, the public high school isn’t at that stage yet since they still have tracks/levels for academics and the NHS, etc.
If we look at the districts that score the lowest, the districts with the worst discipline problems, they’re all in minority areas where the entitlement attitude is the greatest. Or in the low income areas, regardless of minority status, but still the whole entitlement issue. The Dems/liberals did a number on this country and we can see it clearly in our public education system. Hell, in all our education systems. Parochial and private aren’t much better.
Well said :)
You almost have to be a Marine to go into some public schools now.
So where and what do you teach now?
I understand what you’re saying. I agree (and I’m a female) to an extent. It does seem male teachers, male parent volunteers, etc. provide that little added extra. A male, especially if he’s an alpha male, won’t get the same crap as a tiny female teacher may. I’ve seen it first hand.
I remember way back when I was a young new teacher and one of my high school students was especially nasty. My husband (boyfriend at the time) made an appearance, after an incident, and scared the hell out of the kid. I used to tease my students that I had 3 brothers and a couple teenage nephews that would kick their ass if they messed with me. But mostly, it was about me, the teacher, having control over the class. It helps when a teacher has admin support, parental support, etc., but mostly the teacher has to be able to control the class.
In our high school, the male coaches/teachers usually get lunch duty (more pay too) because it does make a difference in student behavior.
NJ. High School. History.
This makes about as much sense as drafting rich white college kids into the military just to be “fair”.
If the mediocre teacher allows it, the bright kids will learn on their own, in spite of the teacher, not because of the teacher.
The best teachers would fail in the inner city schools.
This is really about trying to dumb down the bright kids, not educate the inner city hard core uneducable .
Heck, even many almost wholly white school districts are not places where a self-respecting person will teach. In the eneys of many parents, the kid can do no wrong, or if he does, then mom and dad don’t want to hear about it. In wealthier districts. many of these kids are orphans with credit cards.
NJ has the same thing about to be, or is in the process of being, implemented. I have to proposal up on my blog if anyone wants to review it. It is coming to a state near you.
http://blog.newyorkcitycommunity.us/2007/10/15/habla—espanol-senor-corzine.aspx
GOVERNOR CORZINE ANNOUNCES RECOMMENDATIONS BY THE WORKING GROUP ON LATINO AFFAIRS
The group was established with the mandate to recommend the most efficient ways to deliver services to the New Jersey Latino community
Most good teachers don’t want to teach in cruddy , dangerous schools to student populations with a large percentage of thugs in them. If they cant transfer , they’ll quit or go to private schools to work.
I agree that most education courses are ridiculously easy, though.
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