FFDispatch, it sounds like a case of the teacher failing (as in betraying) the student. There is no such thing as an unteachable student - only dumb-ass teachers who have no imagination or will to grow. Here I agree with PureMagix that teachers should be hired, promoted, or fired on MERIT, not seniority, tenure, or anything else. We as a nation should have greater respect for education than to let people get through university with low skillsets and an even lower commitment to the teaching/learning covenant. Theological seminaries gave up teaching excellence decades ago - and we can see where that has gotten us... theology and worship indistinguishable from that of the Congo jungle or a Klan rally.
Oh, I failed to mention that if we continue to prepare our teachers to teach by 19th century standards - and if we continue to PAY them a barely-living wage, we cannot expect excellence from students. Children will rise to the level of expectation teachers have for them - and while I'm on a soapbox, government and the private sector COULD work together to make use of the best of technology. There is NO reason for a school to cut its arts programs when so much beautiful material exists for FREE on a common iPad. We waste money trying to fix a broken system instead of re-thinking education from the ground up. Government SHOULD be leading the way here - and in some countries, government is re-shaping education. We should be leading, not sleeping.
Puremagix, you're like a broken record - everything is government's fault. I agree that teachers shouldn't be coddled and protected, but to suggest that government is the enemy of education while the private sector (and here I am thinking of commercial TV, radio, etc.) has free reign over the public airwaves, injecting garbage into our homes every night, is ludicrous. Capitalism is to blame, pure and simple - it has no conscience, no aim but to make money, no commitment to the arts or to higher learning, nothing except creating workers for their machines to create fortunes. Countries where their government leaders champion the arts and excellence passed up the US a long time ago. Government CAN be our ally, and HAS, until it became corrupt on BOTH sides of the aisle. Capitalism needs to go away.
When will people learn that the government is behind dumbing down your kids? Ever since the Department of Education was expanded several years ago and out in charge of what was being taught in our schools, education has been on the decline. The schools today are more concerned with sports programs and their Triple A rating than teaching kids. Put teachers on the Merit Pay system and this will change. As it is now, all teachers fall under a blanket pay raise system that rewards the bad with the good teachers. It's the only organization I can think of where everyone get a pay increase at the same time. In the real world, you earn your raises, they are not handed to you on a silver platter.
I have an 8 year old son who has been having difficulties in school. When I spoke with his teacher she advised me that she was going to fail my son. When I inquired as to why she advised me that she felt that he was not passable. I addressed the difficulties with her and various ways to remedy them. She advised me that she did not see how the extra help would help him. Plainly she stated that she had more important students who she could better teach. When I addressed this with the school administrators, I was told that it is up to the teacher who passes and fails. Furthermore it is up to the teacher how much time and effort they put into a student. As a parent, if you as a teacher cannot help a struggling student, then why teach? I feel that ALL teachers should be evaluated on their pass/fail ratio, teaching methods, and student/teacher relationship. Furthermore, I feel that the school and county Board of Education should be accountable for the teachers actions and short comings. If
Walker
FFDispatch, it sounds like a case of the teacher failing (as in betraying) the student. There is no such thing as an unteachable student - only dumb-ass teachers who have no imagination or will to grow. Here I agree with PureMagix that teachers should be hired, promoted, or fired on MERIT, not seniority, tenure, or anything else. We as a nation should have greater respect for education than to let people get through university with low skillsets and an even lower commitment to the teaching/learning covenant. Theological seminaries gave up teaching excellence decades ago - and we can see where that has gotten us... theology and worship indistinguishable from that of the Congo jungle or a Klan rally.
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Walker
Oh, I failed to mention that if we continue to prepare our teachers to teach by 19th century standards - and if we continue to PAY them a barely-living wage, we cannot expect excellence from students. Children will rise to the level of expectation teachers have for them - and while I'm on a soapbox, government and the private sector COULD work together to make use of the best of technology. There is NO reason for a school to cut its arts programs when so much beautiful material exists for FREE on a common iPad. We waste money trying to fix a broken system instead of re-thinking education from the ground up. Government SHOULD be leading the way here - and in some countries, government is re-shaping education. We should be leading, not sleeping.
0 Agrees | 1 Disagrees | Report Abuse »
Walker
Puremagix, you're like a broken record - everything is government's fault. I agree that teachers shouldn't be coddled and protected, but to suggest that government is the enemy of education while the private sector (and here I am thinking of commercial TV, radio, etc.) has free reign over the public airwaves, injecting garbage into our homes every night, is ludicrous. Capitalism is to blame, pure and simple - it has no conscience, no aim but to make money, no commitment to the arts or to higher learning, nothing except creating workers for their machines to create fortunes. Countries where their government leaders champion the arts and excellence passed up the US a long time ago. Government CAN be our ally, and HAS, until it became corrupt on BOTH sides of the aisle. Capitalism needs to go away.
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Puremagix
When will people learn that the government is behind dumbing down your kids? Ever since the Department of Education was expanded several years ago and out in charge of what was being taught in our schools, education has been on the decline. The schools today are more concerned with sports programs and their Triple A rating than teaching kids. Put teachers on the Merit Pay system and this will change. As it is now, all teachers fall under a blanket pay raise system that rewards the bad with the good teachers. It's the only organization I can think of where everyone get a pay increase at the same time. In the real world, you earn your raises, they are not handed to you on a silver platter.
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KatyDid95
Amen to that!
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FFDispatch
I have an 8 year old son who has been having difficulties in school. When I spoke with his teacher she advised me that she was going to fail my son. When I inquired as to why she advised me that she felt that he was not passable. I addressed the difficulties with her and various ways to remedy them. She advised me that she did not see how the extra help would help him. Plainly she stated that she had more important students who she could better teach. When I addressed this with the school administrators, I was told that it is up to the teacher who passes and fails. Furthermore it is up to the teacher how much time and effort they put into a student. As a parent, if you as a teacher cannot help a struggling student, then why teach? I feel that ALL teachers should be evaluated on their pass/fail ratio, teaching methods, and student/teacher relationship. Furthermore, I feel that the school and county Board of Education should be accountable for the teachers actions and short comings. If
5 Agrees | 0 Disagrees | Report Abuse »