A Teacher's Perspective on Education Reform

[Bluefish]

Very interesting thread here.  From an historical perspective, I'm wondering exactly when (in terms of years) things started going to hell in American public education, and what were the causes.  I've got my own theories, but I'd be interested to hear from the educators out there as to what the view within their profession is.

[Kieren]

Apathetic kids are a problem, for sure. This is where the motivational side of the game comes to play. Even then there are some that will remain unaffected by anything you do. People do fall between the cracks, and that will always be so. The trick to staying alive in the game for me is to understand that I have to satisfy myself that I have done everything humanly possible to make the situation work for a student. After that they are accountable for their end of the bargain.

Here's a true story for you... this sounds made up it is so ridiculous, but sadly it is true...  I had a conference with the parent of a child who was failing in my elementary class. The mother showed up drunk, I mean literally slobbering, rolling out of her chair reeking of Jack Daniels drunk. She was upset that I was singling her son out for persecution, and that I wasn't giving him a chance.

Now mind you, I had never raised my voice, said anything critical to him in front of the class, nothing of the kind.

"But ma'am, he is failing because he won't turn his work in."

"Right! You are embarrassing him by making him walk up to your basket and turn work in every morning!"

"Ma'am, all the students do this. They come in in the morning, put away their coats, dig out their work, and place it in the basket. The basket is in the back of the room, so no one is singled out."

"Can't you give him a break!?"

"I would love to. He can still do the work and turn it in, that's all I ask."

"See!? You are singling him out! Give him a break!"

That is an extreme example to be sure, but that kind of thing happens more often than you may think. Some of my other favorites include the mother of the 14-year-old failing 5th grade student who looked me in the eyes and said "School doesn't matter, she's gonna quit at 16 and make babies.", or the dad who was going to sue me because I was not allowing his daughter to play on the basketball team- she had failed 5 of 7 classes, all with his full knowledge. Another clear-cut case of discrimination on my part....

The sad thing is that these people even had their ridiculous arguments heard, and that I was pulled from a classroom full of students to hear them. It is depressing when you look at those moments too hard...

[This message has been edited by Kieren (edited 01-31-2001).]

[Dowding]

We have a huge shortage of Science and Maths teachers over here. The government has decided to offer £6000 ($9000) to people who enter training (the fees of which are free), and another £6000 on completion. I almost considered it (I have an MSc in Applied Physics and might get even more incentives), but I think to be a good teacher you have to be passionate about it. In a similar way to the medical profession. I don't possess that desire to teach.

Graduates can earn far more outside of teaching. I just took a temporary contract with a company for £18,000 a year to do some environmental analysis. I have a friend who works for Anderson Consulting earning £30,000 a year. Another works in the IT industry earning a huge amount. We all graduated last July, and earn more than my mate's girlfriend who has been teaching for a year. I think that is unfair.

[jihad]

I'm wondering exactly when (in terms of years) things started going to hell in American public education, and what were the causes.

 When: The 1960s and early 70s, when the "me" generation vomited its hippy liberalism.

Causes: The mass media ate that vomit like a starving dog and has been regurgitating it every since.

[Eagler]

 

Originally posted by jihad:
I'm wondering exactly when (in terms of years) things started going to hell in American public education, and what were the causes.

BUSING!

Lowered all learning to the same sub standard level.

Eagler

[mietla]

 

Originally posted by banana:
Mietla, I don't belong to any club ...
The difference between me and a rock ribbed Republican, or a die hard Democrat, is that I think independently on each issue.

That is clear from your post, I was only pulling your chain <S>

[Lephturn]

As someone who spent time in a private school, I believe that going to a private school system of some sort would be a benefit.

Yes, it would have to be regulated, but I can't see any other way to do it.  Despite the well-meaning cries of the left, there is only one motive that drives any organization to be effective and efficient, and that motive is profit.

Some sort of a regulated private school system is the best way to go IMHO.



------------------
Lephturn - Chief Trainer
A member of The Flying Pigs  http://www.flyingpigs.com
 
"A pig is a jolly companion, Boar, sow, barrow, or gilt --
A pig is a pal, who'll boost your morale, Though mountains may topple and tilt.
When they've blackballed, bamboozled, and burned you, When they've turned on you, Tory and Whig,
Though you may be thrown over by Tabby and Rover, You'll never go wrong with a pig, a pig,
You'll never go wrong with a pig!" -- Thomas Pynchon, "Gravity's Rainbow"

[Udie]

 Good post banana   I read it at work and I agree with all of it.  

 I went to public school for most of my school career except for 7th and 8th grades when I went to a great private school in Houston.  Public school was a joke and a waiste of my time.  I learned more in my 2 years in private school than the 4 years following.  My first year of high school was review from what I had learned in the 7th grade.  I got bored in the 10th-11th and ended up dropping out, best move I ever made. I had my GED b4 I should have graduated. There is no doubt in my mind that I could have passed the GED b4 I went to high school.  

 Anything that will get kids out of large overpopulated inner city schools is a good thing.  I heard on the radio that in LA they pay something like $9,000 to $10,000 a year per student.  Everybody should be making 99.999% scores for that money.  That's abhorent, and should not be tollerated by anybody.  I only hope that our politicians can do like you banana and keep the politics out of our education system.

 S! banana, thanks for the "non" devisive post  

Udie

[This message has been edited by Udie (edited 01-31-2001).]