Thank you for your thoughts and insight on this subject.
With both teaching and learning there are many styles. Teachers should know several teaching styles in order to adapt to the many learning styles of their students.
I agree that an emphasis on grammar and punctuation is sorely lacking.
I guess some states were going to fight the NCLB Act set in action by President Bush. Unfortunately, one of the high courts struck it down. I hope these states keep fighting and don't give up.
I agree with those states when they say that while they have no problem with mandates for improvement, they DO mind those mandates not being fully funded. Many inner city districts struggle as it is. I feel that requiring improvements makes sense, but not funding them makes no sense.
Thank you for your well-said response. I guess some of responders are not as concerned with the education system in this country as we are.
I thought the 'new' version of this forum would lead to some great and informative discussions, but it seems as if some people are not interested in that process per se. Maybe the Editor would be willing to allow a section or topic dedicated to comments about slamming and degrading other members ? That way when one felt like being mean, they could get their frustrations out there, then come back and truly discuss the issues.
You are so right on that one Pat. I would truly like to have a discussion on this issue. You have some valid questions. Not all teachers are good. Yet, there are a lot of teachers out there like Miss Randall.
I have two other friends who were both teachers, members of 'the union', and served in leadership roles. I remember them talking, and advising several 'colleagues' to find another career. While they wanted to protect teacher rights, they also did not want any 'deadwood' giving the good educators a bad name.
I do not believe that students should be socially promoted. The federal government is putting so many 'requirements' into education these days, why not a requirement that students must read and write at grade level before 'moving on', unless said student meets the conditions by which they can be classified as a 'special education' student ? Maybe the government could also require that parents be involved in their students lives as well as in their education. That these same parents should make sure their children live in a safe environment, get good nutrition at home, a proper amount of sleep on school nights, etc..
I understand that this can be a very personal and at times a bit volatile of an issue. I just hope that in the discussion, we look at ALL of the information completely.
In a previous post, I mentioned I had a friend who teaches. In his district last year, all of the charter and private schools did not meet the federally set standard for AYP (Adequate Yearly Progress), yet the inner city school where he teaches did. It is a school where most of the parents have at least one job, and a lot have 2 jobs, and can't be as involved at the school as they would like. Through the hard work of the teachers and the students, and the parents when they could, this school met and exceeded the necessary requirements.
I know that some charter schools have done some very good work and will continue to do so. But public schools should get the credit they deserve.
I would like to respectfully ask for the data that documents: "Most charter schools do a better job of teaching." If it's a personal opinion, I can respect that. Just state it that way please.
I hope that all of you are angry with or upset with the public school system will take a few hours of your valuable time and visit a school or two. Once I did that, my eyes were opened to some very wonderful things that were happening there that I had never been aware of before. I have a whole new outlook on the public school system and the hardworking teachers I have had the honor of observing in action. As Americans we have to freedom to beleive as we wish, I just hope that when you judge the public school system and public school teachers, that you have all the information. There is more than one side to the story.
I have always wondered about vouchers. If there isn't enough money for the government to give to the schools now, where is the money going to come from to cover vouchers ?
Am I to understand that you believe that you feel that a teacher who teaches an honors or accelerated class, and a teacher who teaches kids who don't meet special education requirements but who may be low-level readers for instance, should be given pay to how their students 'score' on THE test ?
I can understand it happening if they monitor the progress attained by the students through pre/post test (results) monitoring. Also, students who are on the lower end of academia will suffer because, as I said before, who will want to teach them if they know their jobs depend on how high the test scores are ? If a teacher can get a child to show progress, that should count for something. Some children will never be able to meet 'mastery' standards, but that doesn't mean they cannot/will not learn at least something.
Holding kids 'back' until they master or nearly master a concept could also be a viable option. Promoting them strictly as a social thing is so harmful. Some have said to not promote a student to the next grade for academic reasons, to hold them back, lowers their self-esteem and humiliates them. Well, how humiliated will they be when they can't move onward and upward in their jobs because their literacy level is so low ?
I guess unless we actually spend time in schools and classrooms, it's hard for us to know exactly what teachers are going through, the conditions they work under, what they do, how hard or not hard they work. Maybe if we are going to tear them down and say from our seats on high what constitutes a good educator, we ought to have all the information, not just some of it.
If you strongly feel that only teachers who have students who pass 'the test' should be given continued employment, then who will we get to teach the kids that need extra help, extra guidance ? No one will want to work with lower end kids if they are just going to be fired when their kids 'don't pass the test'. I have a friend who teaches in an inner-city school (out of Arizona), and he works with kids who he is glad when they show 'progress'. For some kids, 'progress' is a small miracle. For some of my friend's students, just getting TO school everyday is a challenge, let alone learning. He is will to work with kids others, including their parents even sometimes, have pretty much given up on. His students will probably never compare academically to those students who pass 'the test' because they have support at home, as well as good teachers. I must tell you all, that there are great teachers out there who have students who will not pass 'the test', but those same students WILL learn something.
1 December 2005 at 11:26 p.m.
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lilmsmargarita (Anonymous) says…
Using sales tax revenue for public education could be a very good idea.
On New Teacher Requirements
25 November 2005 at 6:13 p.m.
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lilmsmargarita (Anonymous) says…
llandproud,
Thank you for your thoughts and insight on this subject.
With both teaching and learning there are many styles. Teachers should know several teaching styles in order to adapt to the many learning styles of their students.
I agree that an emphasis on grammar and punctuation is sorely lacking.
I guess some states were going to fight the NCLB Act set in action by President Bush. Unfortunately, one of the high courts struck it down. I hope these states keep fighting and don't give up.
I agree with those states when they say that while they have no problem with mandates for improvement, they DO mind those mandates not being fully funded. Many inner city districts struggle as it is. I feel that requiring improvements makes sense, but not funding them makes no sense.
On New Teacher Requirements
24 November 2005 at 12:36 p.m.
Suggest removal
lilmsmargarita (Anonymous) says…
Pat,
Thank you for your well-said response. I guess some of responders are not as concerned with the education system in this country as we are.
I thought the 'new' version of this forum would lead to some great and informative discussions, but it seems as if some people are not interested in that process per se. Maybe the Editor would be willing to allow a section or topic dedicated to comments about slamming and degrading other members ? That way when one felt like being mean, they could get their frustrations out there, then come back and truly discuss the issues.
On New Teacher Requirements
23 November 2005 at 8:04 p.m.
Suggest removal
lilmsmargarita (Anonymous) says…
You are so right on that one Pat. I would truly like to have a discussion on this issue. You have some valid questions. Not all teachers are good. Yet, there are a lot of teachers out there like Miss Randall.
I have two other friends who were both teachers, members of 'the union', and served in leadership roles. I remember them talking, and advising several 'colleagues' to find another career. While they wanted to protect teacher rights, they also did not want any 'deadwood' giving the good educators a bad name.
I do not believe that students should be socially promoted. The federal government is putting so many 'requirements' into education these days, why not a requirement that students must read and write at grade level before 'moving on', unless said student meets the conditions by which they can be classified as a 'special education' student ? Maybe the government could also require that parents be involved in their students lives as well as in their education. That these same parents should make sure their children live in a safe environment, get good nutrition at home, a proper amount of sleep on school nights, etc..
I understand that this can be a very personal and at times a bit volatile of an issue. I just hope that in the discussion, we look at ALL of the information completely.
On New Teacher Requirements
23 November 2005 at 5:31 p.m.
Suggest removal
lilmsmargarita (Anonymous) says…
In a previous post, I mentioned I had a friend who teaches. In his district last year, all of the charter and private schools did not meet the federally set standard for AYP (Adequate Yearly Progress), yet the inner city school where he teaches did. It is a school where most of the parents have at least one job, and a lot have 2 jobs, and can't be as involved at the school as they would like. Through the hard work of the teachers and the students, and the parents when they could, this school met and exceeded the necessary requirements.
I know that some charter schools have done some very good work and will continue to do so. But public schools should get the credit they deserve.
I would like to respectfully ask for the data that documents: "Most charter schools do a better job of teaching." If it's a personal opinion, I can respect that. Just state it that way please.
I hope that all of you are angry with or upset with the public school system will take a few hours of your valuable time and visit a school or two. Once I did that, my eyes were opened to some very wonderful things that were happening there that I had never been aware of before. I have a whole new outlook on the public school system and the hardworking teachers I have had the honor of observing in action. As Americans we have to freedom to beleive as we wish, I just hope that when you judge the public school system and public school teachers, that you have all the information. There is more than one side to the story.
Thank you.
On New Teacher Requirements
20 November 2005 at 1:52 a.m.
Suggest removal
lilmsmargarita (Anonymous) says…
I have always wondered about vouchers. If there isn't enough money for the government to give to the schools now, where is the money going to come from to cover vouchers ?
On New Teacher Requirements
20 November 2005 at 1:49 a.m.
Suggest removal
lilmsmargarita (Anonymous) says…
MJA,
Am I to understand that you believe that you feel that a teacher who teaches an honors or accelerated class, and a teacher who teaches kids who don't meet special education requirements but who may be low-level readers for instance, should be given pay to how their students 'score' on THE test ?
I can understand it happening if they monitor the progress attained by the students through pre/post test (results) monitoring. Also, students who are on the lower end of academia will suffer because, as I said before, who will want to teach them if they know their jobs depend on how high the test scores are ? If a teacher can get a child to show progress, that should count for something. Some children will never be able to meet 'mastery' standards, but that doesn't mean they cannot/will not learn at least something.
Holding kids 'back' until they master or nearly master a concept could also be a viable option. Promoting them strictly as a social thing is so harmful. Some have said to not promote a student to the next grade for academic reasons, to hold them back, lowers their self-esteem and humiliates them. Well, how humiliated will they be when they can't move onward and upward in their jobs because their literacy level is so low ?
I guess unless we actually spend time in schools and classrooms, it's hard for us to know exactly what teachers are going through, the conditions they work under, what they do, how hard or not hard they work. Maybe if we are going to tear them down and say from our seats on high what constitutes a good educator, we ought to have all the information, not just some of it.
On New Teacher Requirements
16 November 2005 at 10:24 p.m.
Suggest removal
lilmsmargarita (Anonymous) says…
If you strongly feel that only teachers who have students who pass 'the test' should be given continued employment, then who will we get to teach the kids that need extra help, extra guidance ? No one will want to work with lower end kids if they are just going to be fired when their kids 'don't pass the test'. I have a friend who teaches in an inner-city school (out of Arizona), and he works with kids who he is glad when they show 'progress'. For some kids, 'progress' is a small miracle. For some of my friend's students, just getting TO school everyday is a challenge, let alone learning. He is will to work with kids others, including their parents even sometimes, have pretty much given up on. His students will probably never compare academically to those students who pass 'the test' because they have support at home, as well as good teachers. I must tell you all, that there are great teachers out there who have students who will not pass 'the test', but those same students WILL learn something.
On New Teacher Requirements
7 October 2005 at 5:40 p.m.
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lilmsmargarita (Anonymous) says…
Wow. I haven't thought about Lizzie Bordon for a while. I remember that movie from years ago. Elizabeth Montgomery was so good in it !
On LIZZIE & PHAYE AT THE LIBRARY OCT 6TH
26 September 2005 at 11:04 p.m.
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lilmsmargarita (Anonymous) says…
You are in my prayers
On McComb, Mississippi resident says it all