Marketplace
![[SeMissourian.com]](http://www.semissourian.com/images/nameplate.gif)
|
|
Fair ~ River stage: 26.02 Rising Monday, July 6, 2009 |
 Print
 Email link
 Respond to editor
 Read comments (82)
 Share link
Speak Out 12/12/08Friday, December 12, 2008Beautiful decorations I THINK the downtown merchants and Old Town Cape have done a good job with the street decorations. They're beautiful. Downtown should be very proud of them. Time for change THE CALLER who was offended by the comparison of president-elect Obama to Abraham Lincoln needs to chill out. After Lincoln was elected, he named some of his most bitter rivals to Cabinet posts. That is exactly what Obama is trying to do: move us forward from the poisoned partisan policies of the past. In doing this, he is going to anger both Democrats and Republicans bent on maintaining the status quo. He campaigned on change, and he has a clear and refreshing vision for our country, which we all need. Let's give him the chance to succeed or fail trying to do something positive. With our country in the shape it's in, this is no time for sour grapes. Change is needed, and change is good. Wearing coats IT HAS come to my attention that some elementary schools have been requiring children whose coats have been lost or stolen to wear one from the school's lost and found pile. The argument is that the child is required to go to recess. This is a health concern, especially in a time when staph infections are on the rise. Teachers would, no doubt, be offended if their forgotten coats were loaned out to complete strangers. I understand the need to address a situation where responsibility for personal property is repeated, but this is ridiculous. Have you never misplaced your coat, keys or wallet? Teacher assessment MY CHILDREN all graduated in the top 5 percent of their classes, taking AP courses and advanced courses from ninth grade on in the Cape Girardeau School District. They rarely had to study, not because they were so smart, but because the curriculum in those classes was watered down. The exception was AP chemistry. All three went to college, and two are in graduate school. All of them found they were woefully unprepared, especially in writing. I work with at-risk junior high and high school students. They say their teachers act like they are a waste of the teacher's time. Get some teachers and administrators who love children and love teaching, not those who are merely working toward retirement. Don't blame unions UNIONS ARE not the downfall of American companies. Businesses succeed or fail from the top down, period. There are plenty of businesses with no union affiliation, such as AIG and Lehman Brothers, that failed because of mismanagement. The automakers made massive profits for decades with union workers. These automakers are failing because no one wants cars that get 12 mpg anymore. Employees of the year I WANT to congratulate the city's 2008 employees of the year for the police and fire departments. They have earned it. I also want to make sure that all of the city's employees of the year are recognized. We shouldn't forget those in public works, parks, city hall and developmental services. They are no less important than the police and fire department and deserve to be recognized just the same. Congratulations to all of our city employees of the year. The public works department would like to have our 2008 employee of the year recognized. We want to publicly thank Cyndi Laster for all of the hard work she does and let her know just how appreciative we are. Thank you so much for everything that you do, Cyndi. Marking the lanes I AGREE that lines on streets needing to be better marked. When it is raining, you cannot see the white lines or the yellow lines on hardly any street in Cape Girardeau or Jackson. This situation has been mentioned in Speak Out for a long time, and nothing is being done about it. Route K-William Street is especially bad. Are we going to wait until someone loses his life? We need to take tax dollars and get these lines painted immediately. Academic success I AM a parent who gets free lunches for my child. My child is on the A honor roll. I would like to see a survey in the Cape Girardeau School District of the grades of students who don't get free or reduced lunches. Preparing for academic success in the freshman year is useless. Do this in third grade. And who cares if teachers have advanced degrees? If they don't teach, it doesn't matter anyway. Last week the English teachers took off two days to grade papers. If they're not in the classroom, they can't be teaching. Free air for tires THIS IS to answer the person who has a problem with paying for air to put in tires at the gas station. There are a lot of places where you don't have to pay for your air. Go to another station. Finding graves I WANT to commend Terrell Weaver for the wonderful job he's doing in helping families locate the unmarked graves of their loved ones buried in Cape Girardeau's cemeteries. I understand he has spent many hours searching records and working with funeral homes trying to locate burial sites. He recently helped me locate a grave site and place a marker for my great-grandmother. Thank you, Mr. Weaver. Comments  Note: The nature of the Internet makes it impractical for our staff to review every comment. If you feel that a comment is offensive, please Login or Create an account first, and then you will be able to flag a comment as objectionable. Please also note that those who post comments on semissourian.com may do so using a screen name, which may or may not reflect a website user's actual name. Readers should be careful not to assign comments to real people who may have names similar to screen names. Refrain from obscenity in your comments, and to keep discussions civil, don't say anything in a way your grandmother would be ashamed to read.
|
|
del.icio.us
Digg
StumbleUpon
Technorati
Newsvine
Facebook
Furl
Reddit
Google
Good Morning Rick and All,
Off-topic observation...Hum...Did seMissourian change their blogging policy? Noticed the Weather or Not blog lacks a personal photo and author.
Wearing coats,
I'd inquire about the precise policy. For example, bailment responsibility (and expectations) of property mislaid last week would be much different than mislaid (abandoned) property from the last school year.
Teacher assessment & Academic success,
Please Speak Out to your child's Teacher(s) and Administrator. If that does not beget positive results, then contact the School Board. This is the type of parental involvement (interest) our Public Schools needs more of.
I share the concern regarding teacher classroom attendance affecting academic progress. Teachers are often out of their classrooms for professional development and in-service. (Some teachers have stated they'd prefer to remain in the classroom also.) IF a study of inclusive--years 2000-date were done, I think inferments could be made--professional development increased during this period, yet graduation and drop-out rates increased to 3 times MO's average level
THE cause? Probably not. Is Teacher classroom attendance one variable? Absolutely!
Time for a change
Change is all you're going to have left out of your paycheck.
Academic success
I'm tiring of hearing the percent of students receiving free or reduced lunches directly correlates to poor grades.
Babe,
While some might be tired of hearing about the corelation; there are hard-fast facts linking poverty to student performance.
The key, IMO, is NOT allowing districts/teachers to use these facts as a cop-out. Instead, districts/teachers must embrace this knowledge and change there way of teaching.
Did you notice how awful the Black and Hispanic numbers were in every school within District 63's report card? Truly makes one wonder IF the district's teachers are effectively teaching to sub-groups? (And that is an extremely nice way to phrase my thoughts.)
Ah...what the heck...might as well stir the pot up really good. :-)~
Are teachers treating students from impoverished homes differently?
Do the students and parents feel, as if, they are being treated differently?
Ok...here comes the really harsh one...
Are our teachers focusing most of their attention on students from middle income "ta" well-to-do parents? (Thus, looking down on and ignoring sub-groups academic needs.)
Sorry Suelyn...but after reviewing the District's report card, those are questions that should not only be asked, but addressed immediately. IMO
fyi...I can not stay to debate, but will check back to read thoughts. Hope everyone has a great day!
morning all
I can see the point in wondering about teachers effectively teaching the sub groups BUT then what about the town like Chaffee where the average income for a family is right at poverty or barely above and yet the kids are doing well. Maybe it is from being in a small town but I just do not see how techers can be the sole reason for the bad grades and I do not see how any one who dedicates their lives to teaching would be able to look over a child because his parents re poor. Sorry Me'Lange but I feel if a child WANTS to learn they will no matter what their social standing is. IMO I also feel part of the reason with the low progress in the Hispanic sub group is the language barrier that many are over coming. It is hard for teachers to teach English if it is not the primary languae for that child.
On a whole I feel teachers are doing the best job they can. Yes you have some bad ones just as you do in any field but you can notblame teachers, income levels, and race all the time eventually you have to see the child and parent also ha a responsibility in their education as well.
Babe
I agree with you I too am tired of hearing because a child recieves free or reduced lunches they are going to be one of the ones with lower grades. you spend years telling your kids that money isn't what matters and then they hear excuses like that.
morning Me'Lange , Semoangel , BABE
i'm the worst person in the world to say anything
about schooling...i do agree with Semoangel , if a
child wants to learn --it doesn't matter what color ,
amount of money , sex , etc. they are -- they will learn ..
as far as lunches go , they should all be free to
all students all the time..
semoangel70...on ur avatar , is that a boomerang
in the background behind the bull ?
Rick
School lunches are gross anyway! Here is is $1.50 a day for lunch and the kids come home hungry because they never get enough on their tray.
Rick
I don't know never noticed it before....lol
Semo,
Actually, what you stated about your school district is one of the reasons I'm asking those tough questions. IF some districts/teachers CAN get the message across to sub-groups...then why isn't OUR district?
Agree with you all about IF kids WANT to learn, but... when kids start school who instills/teaches that desire to seek education? Granted parents should encourage it, but it IS the teachers role too? No? And obviously, in small districts impoverished parents DO take an active role in their childs' education...thus...why NOT in Cape? (Could it be because these parents/students feel like it wouldn't matter because of the way they are treated when they do take an interest?
Guess a few of Nickey's thoughts echo in my thoughts about HER school district and the way some families were treated when they WERE trying to be involved in their child's education.
~hunches~Don't have the answers...but after reading the districts report card...had a lot questions.
Beautiful decorations: *sigh* They should have saved that money for hard upcoming economic times.
Time for change: *yawn*
Wearing coats: Interesting.
Teacher assessment: Amen on that.
Don't blame unions: I don't exactly agree with all of this. True, the big 3 profited from union collaberation, but people didn't stop buying cars because of 12mpg engines. (In fact, over the summer...most of the posters in this forum were bragging about big boat motors and buying SUVs when the price of gas was $3.89.) So...since we believe we have the pulse of the nation in this forum...that can't be true.
No...the reason they are failing is the Big Three Got Greedy. They could have charge $3000 less for their cars, and still made profit. Additionally, GM got too big for their britches making too many types of cars, (and no good ones)
Ford came up with a slogan several years ago. "Quality is job one." Great concept for ALL three IMO. Now...take OUT the automated assembly, hire MORE "hands" on workers...and lets start making "QUALITY" products in America...instead of shipping in plastic parts from China, Taiwan, and Mexico. And...slap a huge tariff on all these imports!
Employees of the year: hmmmm.
Marking the lanes: No No No, I can't believe this.
Academic success: Caller, you are very insightful. I applaud your call. Two days to grade papers? Are you kidding?? Back in the..."Time that land forgot" Teachers would grade these papers at night...at home. What happened to that?? You mean to tell me...teachers want parents who work all day...to come home and study and do homework with their children, but when it comes to doing "after hours" work for the school...these teachers don't have the time?? Fire Them!
Free air for tires: Where??
Finding graves: But is he witching the graves??
Me'Lange
Nickey's kids school is about the same as here, a little bigger and most of te roblem she had are the same as we faced here with our son and that wasn't the teachers but more the administration. I tink ALL school districts have those same issues and most brush the special education services aside except for wen they fail on testing andthen use it as part of the excuse.
In Cape schools, if a parent wants to be involved then they can be just a we are here. I could have gave up andwalked away when fighting the school on my son but wasn't going to happen. If a teacher sees the parent and chid are trying, are intersted and want to succeed then they are not going to ignore that. If they do then they are not a teacher.
I guess my question is why is it ok for everyone to blame a teacher for a chid not getting an education when the child or parents fail to get involved but then when the same child becomes an adult and lives off welfare they are told they could do something more if they wanted to? The point is the same no matter what the school district if a child WANTS to learn they will. How any people have been told they could not do something because they were poor and then ended up becoming very successful in life.
Teachers are the scape goat for others not wanting to accept or be responsible.
John
I am glad my kids brown bag it. At least I know they get enough to eat and a lot better choice than the school. $2 a day is to much for a school lunch.
John in Jackson,
You make a very good point! IF the cycle is not ended in/by the process of education...it will only get worse!
Semo,
Don't forget...like other occupations...to SOME teachers their job, is ONLY a pay check. In any other occupation...one could NOT ******* placing blame for poor results on other variables/obstacles (like parents, poverty, "rules" etc).
For example, a sales person could easily say, my results are the product of the economy, customers attitude, the weather etc. Eh...they still get canned if they don't make their quota.
Again, not placing ALL the blame on teachers...but with this knowledge...feel districts must find a way around this obstacle.
Guess we will have to agree to disagree on this one,
btw...*** were g.e.t o.f.f.
One more thought, then I must go...
Everyone is so quick to hold the cry "personal responsibility" (parents, students). But WHAT about the teacher's personal responsibility? IMO...Our district's results are a direct reflection of SOME of our teacher's attitude about the obstacles they face. And this attitude is being worn on their sleeve (chip on their shoulder ie...forum comments by teachers), thus parents and students perceive (feel) it doesn't matter how much they "want" to learn or be involved...
Success (, involvement, encouragement and positive attitude)...in any organization, begins at the top--the leaders (administration/teachers). Just my take on the situation...for what it is worth.
Me'Lange
I did say just as in with any field you have some bad ones but I honestly feel as a whole they are doing the best that they can.
I have never had to deal with Cape schools so I do not know what those parents go through. I do know some of the teachers there though and they taught in other schools without "failing" the students that is whattells me the issue is more administration and student than teacher.
semoangel70
are school lunches worse then hospital food ?
tell me it ain't so...
rick
they are running a close tie!
Teachers bad, greedy corporations etc...
Why don't you just post MAKE PEOPLE BE BETTER! WHAAA!
You can continue to complain about how bad people are or you can start trying to fix how the problem effects you. Your kids have a bad, lazy or just uninterested teacher? Grab a book and pick up the slack at home. Send them to a private school with (supposedly) better teachers.
Don't like what the big 3 are doing? Buy another brand. Buy used from individuals. Vote with your wallet, don't just buy another gas guzzler with shoddy parts and exploding tires just so you look cool going to buy beer to watch Nascar like everyone else.
Time for change: Please, not another Lincoln, we still haven't recovered from the last one.
Wearing coats: I can't remember misplacing my coat or keys, but I have misplaced myself after a rough night out.
Teacher assessment: Home school
Don't blame unions: They are as much a part of the company as management. If management must suffer so should they.
Academic success: Home school
Free air for tires: I feel for you. Times must be tough when you can't afford air for your tires.
Me'Lange,
I thought we were having an intelligent debate over the government schools' bundle of problems over here...
http://www.semissourian.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081209/NEWS01/712099925/
You dropped out fairly early on though; I assumed you were either bored or had something else to do.
Why are you attempting to continue the conversation over here with the crass here in the playgroup known as SO online?
There are plenty of other solutions to this problem that don't involve government indoctrination, the theft of individuals' wages, violence, bullying, cheating, lying, immorality, drugs, alchohol, disrespect, worldview conflicts or any of the other hundreds of thousands of symptoms that are inflicting the grand social experiment of public school education.
John it might be lower for elementary, but it is $2.50 for Jr. and SR. High. This for a fish patty, 4 pineapple chunks and frozen milk (sigh).
Theorist
Sad when that is all the kids get, here the also have the salad bar which is mostly brown lettuce, fake cheese and dressings. Have a few other topping options but not many takers, they can't get past the look ofthe lettuce.
MeLange
You mentioned students of colour in one of your posts. Do you have any information on the percentages of minorities receiving free or reduced lunches compared to caucasian students?
lumpy
"Why are you attempting to continue the conversation over here with the crass here in the playgroup known as SO online?"
Maybe MeLange is just slumming. giggle
To the person complaining about kids wearing someone else's coat, ARE YOU SERIOUS? Kids are kids and they are going to lose stuff. I can't count all the things my kids have lost, and yes they have even lost their coats. The thought of my child having to stay inside while the other kids get to go outside, (That's right - GET - to go outside. You sound like we are forcing our children to go to recess. I haven't found a child yet who doesn't want to go to recess) FAR exceeds the possibility of catching an infection from a borrowed coat. As far as the teachers I can't speak, but if I had lost my coat and thought that it was sitting in a box somewhere while someone who didn't have one went cold, I would be absolutely ashamed of myself. Let go of your selfishness and put a little trust back into society.
wearing coats
Bring a spray bottle of Lysol and have the teacher spray the borrowed coat. That should take care of your problem unless you want the schools to buy a coat-sanitizer machine. giggle
wearing coats
wouldn't a parent wonder where their kids coat
went when they came home without one ?
i would ...
rick
If my kids came home without their coat I would definitly wonder where it was and would be going and looking through the lost and found myself if it didn't come home the next day.
Babe
coat sanatizing machine. Now you done it someone will demand one of them next!
Time for change
Then please explain why you feel it perfectly valid to laude him when he hasn’t done anything? Are you not also guilty of working without the facts or anything more substantial than a campaign slogan?
Wearing coats
As to the health concern, have you ever really seen what kids get into? Wearing someone else’s coat is not very high up on the list of risky behavior. As to the property of others, nothing should be placed in the “communal pile” until a set period of time has passed and it has been determined that the property is not going to be reclaimed.
Teacher assessment
I don’t know anything about the Cape schools, but I would not place blame on a whole organization based on what a few “at risk” kids or any kids told me.
Don't blame unions
Is it possible that management and unions share the blame? I agree with Megalomania, build good quality cars and people will buy them. Don’t build junk and expect us to “Buy American” just to show our patriotism and concern for the American worker.
Employees of the year
Don’t know about Cape, but my department’s employee of the year was always the one with sore lips.
Marking the lanes
Don’t hold your breath.
Academic success
Not really sure what you are getting at with the free lunches and then teachers being out for two days. Where is the connection? I don’t think two days is going to make any difference in the grand scheme of things or we wouldn’t have vacations/holidays off.
Free air for tires
The air is free; you pay for the machinery to inject it into your tires. If you can get it in there on your own, you can take all you want. Go price a compressor.
Babe,
I took yesterday's civics test. Geez, brought back memories of my junior high social studies teacher who was awesome. She had us dress up like Puritans once, and in knee britches and wigs once to reinact the constitutional convention.
Have to thank her for my 29/33 score, along with 9hrs of economics in college since I missed none of those questions.
Neat test. Gonna' give it to my teenage daughter to see how she does.
Meglo and Theorist, not surprised that you two made the top of the curve! Teacher's pet!
Semoangel
My six year old grandson has left his coat at school or on the bus six times this year already. And that is not counting all the assorted hats and mittens. Then he has to wear his old play coat the next day. His mother gets so aggravated but she has no room to talk. She sets a record for losing her keys five times in one day. giggle
Babe
Had to laugh your daughter sounds like me. I am always "forgetting where I put the keys, my purse and cell phone.
My kids remember heir coats but the hoodies, hats, gloves all of that yep well have replaced more than I care to think about!
suelynn
From last night. Taking a comment originally delivered towards an individual and than broadening it out as a generality. Where I come from, that's called back-peddling. Used quite frequently on this forum. But in real life, normally, a person's hands are up, palms out, and thay are saying "Officer, it wasn't me. That's not what happened, officer. I'm sorry. I didn't mean it. Boo hoo." All the while they are backing away.
Still clutching my Ronald Reagan Pillow...whimper.
BTW, suelynn, it's called sarcasm. Breaks up the stupidity of hyper-seriousness from everyday life.
Hope the holiday shopping hasn't gotten to you too much.
semoangel and Babe: Advice I gave my wife, which she took. Don't carry a purse, carry a wallet in your back pocket, and keep your keys in a pocket and never take them out with the exception of use.
Hilleco
I have to carry a purse. I can't put my firearm in a pocket.
fajar, are you STILL referring to this post?
Good grief, why are the Republicans so hyper-sensitive. Every article I saw about Gov. Rod Blagojevich, mentioned that he was a Democrat...so it's not only Republicans that are identified when they get caught with their pants down or with a "wide stance".
-- Posted by suelynn on Tue, Dec 9, 2008, 11:56 pm CDT
If so, get over it...the truth hurts sometimes.
Hilleco
It wouldn't matter with me I spent an hour one day looking for car keys only to find them in the ignition or better yet don't know how many times have looked for my subnglasses only to find them on top of my head! See having kids destroys more brain cells than anything, I never did that till I became a mother!
Beautiful decorations
I used to live out past Notre Dame HS and every holiday there were these two neighbors, up the street, who would deck out their homes. When I say EVERY Holiday. I mean exactly that. Valentines Day, St Patties, Halloween, even the Summer and Winter Solestice. And Christmas was a particular decorative time as well.
Mrs Fajar would comment when giving directions "Down the road from the Grizwalds." I would worry about 747s being stuck on a holding pattern mistaking their homes as a outer beacon for a runway.
Since I've moved, there is no one up here who decorates to that degree. Everything is regulated by some trustee who goes by to make sure the "cheer" isn't too cheery. That a string of lights doesn't blind an old lady taking a nightly stroll.
I took the wife and kid to see the town's Festive Light drive, and was appauled when I was charged $8 and it was a quarter the size of the one in Cape. What really sucks is that one has always been free and I took it for granted.
Sorry, rambling. Just trying to say I miss the Grizwalds. Go by if you get the chance.
Merry Christmas everyone.
BTW fajar, I know what sarcasm is, but you only seem to recognize it when it's coming from yourself...others use it to. LOL
semoangel
Insanity is inherited. You get it from your children.
suelynn
Again
"BTW, suelynn, it's called sarcasm. Breaks up the stupidity of hyper-seriousness from everyday life."
Sarcasm is a form of speech or writing which is bitter or cutting, being intended to taunt its target.[1]
Just making idle chit chat.
semoangel: Age and fine, well some not so fine, drink killed my brain cells.
Babe: A good reason to carry a purse.
Babe
I will have to tell them that. You sound a lot like my mother, she loves to watch her grandchildrendo things so that she can sit back and remind us o what we did and how we are getting paid back! GGGRRR love her but man that just so aint fair.
fajar, me too (just chit-chat) - did you just look that up?
fajar, me too (just chit-chat) - BTW did you just look that up?
Sorry about 2 posts - having computer issues today. Don't know if it's the Missourian or me. LOL
Oh great! Wall Street is at it again. Enter lawyer Marc Dreier trying to defraud to the tune of $380 million. But, hold on, not to be outdone by a long shot is NASDAQ guru Bernard Madoff to the symphony of $50 BILLION! Makes the president of the Jackson PTO's $3,350 seem like chump change. But, hey, money is money and a crime is a crime.
Me'Lange,
I have read your recent posts regarding education.
Do you suggest that a student who has a documented IQ of 50 on repreated diagnostic inventories over the students course of education due to a brain injury or other serious disability can be "taught" to reach the proficiency level or his/her same age, non-disabled peers? If so, all of your arguments regarding education and teacher excuses are invalid. Your answer, if "yes", will suggest that you are an out of touch with reality idealogue.
Schools: Why be concerned about evaluations of your schools by the least talented among us, government bureaucrats? I might be an uneducated hillbilly, but at least I don't work at a job that rewards failure.
Education is for those willing or want to be educated, it is not for society or for Washington and state bureaucrats. The children will make it just fine.
suelynn
No, I have half of Wikeapedia memorized, so when times are necessary, I can wipout a pointless definition to seem like I am smart(er) than I really is.
Learned that little trait through my 12 years of education at SEMO! SEMO! SEMO! U!
And all I got was a Liberal Arts Degree.
Oh Gawd! I'm a LIB. EEEEEHHHHH!
poorteachr
I've known students who's IEPs say that all they to accomplish is "Lift their head two times during the day."
Now, to say that they will ever attain anything more in life is a fantasy, but we should still try. To teach a student who has other shortcomings, my example is the extreme, gives the parents hope and maybe something might just click one day.
Also, unfortunately, I've seen where a disabled student's education is public paid babysitting for the parents.
poorteacher,
I do believe the accountability language of NCLB Act was intended to promote implementation of IDEA- Individuals with disabilites (thus, including learning disabilities), as well as other sub-groups. AND I believe MO/DESE is working on a graded AYP program for such individual cases. Please correct me if my understanding is wrong.
fyi...I hold many of the same principles and values others have expressed. For example, I DO feel ultimately it should be the parent's and student's responsibility. However, I see additional concerns that need to be addressed ...since the districts AYP is NOT where it should be.
It is NOT a matter of what I want to see happen. It IS a matter of what NEEDS to happen to avoid the consequences of specific rules for Accountability (MSIP/NCLB) state law (Section 167.131). AND I'm truly starting to wonder IF Teachers understand the choices parents WILL have our district becomes unaccredited or continues to fail to meet AYP?
Babe,
Sorry for the delay in answering your question. No I don't have specific numbers on sub-group v. school lunch programs.
However, I did review the district's report card very well. And sub-groups did quite poorly in every school compared to whites and asian.
Lumpy,
Just been busy and pretty much said all I could that day. As far as reintroducting the topic in SO v. the article...find the article conversations die out after about 24 hours and today's SO comments stirred my passion again. :-) Always great to debate with you...and we agree more than you might think. If I had a child in the District right now, probably would decide to home school or send them to private school. AYP numbers are awful.
fajar,
"Sarcasm is a form of speech or writing which is bitter or cutting, being intended to taunt its target.[1]"
I especially like the way you remembered to put the "[1]" in. I wouldn't have remembered that. LOL
Just playing with ya.
poorteachr,
Now, I toss your smartie remark right back at you...just tell me...how many of the average 17 students in YOUR classroom have an IQ of 50 ???
Wouldn't like fajar suggest these students be in special needs classrooms, with IEP's?
STOP making excuses!
Don't be so ******* children who don't learn. We live in a new economy now, just ask any politician.
"Remember: it is human nature to try to beguile Mother Nature. Mankind’s defining feature isn’t that complex brain…nor that set of opposable thumbs; it’s his unwavering belief that — despite overwhelming and universal evidence to the contrary — there is some way to get something for nothing."-Gary Gibson of Whiskey & Gunpowder.
Ok, I can feel the SLAP through the line already, but I going to state my opinion anyway....
If a teacher gives a test and 85 percent of the students fail, then the teacher isn't doing something correctly in the teaching process. Now if only 10-15 percent fail, then it is the students not doing something correctly in the learning process. And yes, again, I think that the class should move forward and not be held back by the 10-15 percent that did not bother to pass.
NCLB will never work, except at the expense of the educational process of those students that would normally meet or excel at their education.
Me'Lange, not trying to defend anything really, but poorteacher does have a point. He/she may or may not have that student, but schools/districts are not judged by a classroom’s performance, but overall and those students do impact the results. We (my district) are not anywhere near the shape Cape is in, but we do know the impact of those students too (and we also realize, as do all teachers, we won't make the target in 2014). We know of other students who don't try to do well on the test, but just mark a,b,c,d,a,b,c,d etc. Those scores are also included. It's frustrating and it's sometimes hard to move on from that kind of info, but of course we do.
Most people have a very limited view of what it's really like to teach - both the positive and negative aspects. Thought I did when I went into this, but nope. Most of us try to have a life outside of teaching and most of us believe we deserve it, but to be the kind of teacher who could give enough to satisfy the public (and perhaps even myself), I'd need to be an old maid without a life. Teaching is one of those careers, which if you haven’t done it, you don’t know what it is. And sorry, but being a student in the classroom won’t tell you the story either. With what my family knows of what it takes, it drives my husband crazy and neither of my kids would even consider teaching as a career.
Honestly, we want our students to do well or we wouldn’t be here. We get nothing out of their failure.
suelynn,
I have always suspected that there are students out there that know these tests are important, as far as reflecting on the school, and they tank them on purpose.
suelynn,
Curious, do the students know they are taking tests that are meant to reflect on the school? Meaning do they know that scores will not reflect on their grades, but on the school before they take them?
suelynn,
Correct, no one can truly understand till they walk a mile in another's shoes. I was a "Big Sister" threw my secondary school years, worked in a principal's office my senior year and worked for a school district (as staff) for several years recently. Thus, I do have a little understanding of the process and frustrations teachers experience.
Like I've stated over and over, I don't blame this all on teachers...NOR do I blame it all on parents.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The conversation with SemoAngel stirred some more thoughts while I was away from the forum. IF impoverished parents are actively involved in OTHER school districts...then why...when they move 10-15-20 miles into Cape city limits...would they all of a sudden LOSE interest??? Is there something in our water? (very sarcastic joke)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Pups,
I know better than to read THAT comment! LMAO
Pups,
15% Pfftt!!!!! I'm NOT debating this issue with you! You haven't even read the dog gone district report...HAVE YOU???
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Changing the subject (before I march over there and toss a pillow at you):-)~
Movie Hint...Name that movie...
Context...date of birth...quote As long as my tongue, a bit older than my teeth.
Melange,
And here I was looking forward to the slap. hehe j/k
Babe. You keep carrying your gun. Texas only has had concealed carry since 1995.
The concealed carry bill was passed with incredible testimony from Susanna Gratia-Hupp. She was one of the main reasons that the bill passed. Hupp's parents were killed in 1991 when a crazed man drove his truck into a Luby's Restaurant then started firing. 23 people were killed and another 20 were wounded.
I know most of you gun rights people have seen her testimony before the U.S. House back in 1996, but it is worth the 5 minutes to watch it again even for those who hate guns. She makes Chucky Schumer and others squirm in their seats. http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-4069761537893819675&hl=en
Melange,
Can you provide a link to the report and I'll read it. Though you know me, I'm pretty bull headed when it comes to education. hehe
Pups,
After reviewing, page down and check out the area below the bright red...this is the area the sub-groups are broken down and where my new-found concerns are.
District Report Card:
http://dese.mo.gov/planning/profile/arsd016096.html
Individual Schools Report Cards:
http://dese.mo.gov/planning/profile/rc016096.html
Pups, yes they know it's important to the school and they are aware it will not impact their grade. Some think it's funny and brag to their friends, while others just don't want to make an effort. Now to be fair, most kids want our school to do well and are proud to be students here. But it doesn't take a lot to hurt our results.
NCLB should have been better planned and thought out before it was put in place. It's done a lot of unfair damage as they've tried to work out the kinks. It's caused damage to people, to programs, to how the public think of education in general. And that's too bad, because the intent was good.
Meglo and Theorist, not surprised that you two made the top of the curve! Teacher's pet!
-- Posted by gofigure on Fri, Dec 12, 2008, 11:33 am CDT
?? What in the blazes have I said or done now??
Movie hint #2 (same movie)
quote not too hot, extra chocolate, shaken, not stirred
MeLange
Let's quit tip toeing around the minority issue as the school district does. I think they use them as an excuse for not having higher scores and it is wrong of them to do so.
suelynn
my daughters teacher said that most of the teachers she knew and worked with supported the concept of NCLB but that because of some of the wording and guidelines that the real meaning behind it was lost. Of course that is one persons opinion.
Me'Lange
I think a lot of parents don't get involved because they don't care not because of where they live. It doesn't take money, education, being a certain race or anything else to care about your childs school or education it just takes parents taking 15 minutes out of their day to check and see how things are going. Most teachers even have email now which makes it even easier. Just don't see how it is fair to blame a teacher if parent can't take a few minutes to at least make an attempt. I am with Pups if all of the class is doing well and few aren't then it isn't the teacher.
Melange,
I see your concern in the 'red' areas.
The 70.2% rate of students taking the ACT is pretty good, but noticed they don't include the students that maybe took the SAT's instead.
In a class of 17 students ...
14.3 Students are basic or better in Com. Arts
13.5 students are basic or better in Science
13.6 students are basic or better in Math (10th grade)
So again 3 to 4 students per class are ruining it for everyone else. How is that fair to the teachers or the other 13/14 students in the class if all the attention is given to those 3/4 students when it's possible that 1 or 2 of them are just being lazy??
And I will give you that I was part of the upper 14 that got irritated with the bottom 3 or 4 that disrupted or didn't keep up with the rest of us. I freely admit to being an academic snob. lol
Thanks Suelynn.
My advice to teachers in public schools; ignore NCLB and just teach the subject. If someone chooses not to keep up forget them, it's their choice. I know, you don't have a choice but give in to the bureaucracy.
I went to my granddaughter's Christmas play at the Advance School this week. The cafeteria which housed the stage was overflowing with people. Not one empty seat in the place. People were standing outside in the hall.
This is the mark of a small community school, most people in town support school activities. Go the school just a few miles above me, Leopold, and you will see the same support. The schools belong to the community, and not to a Washington bureaucracy.
***Academic Success*** (Brace yourself for a Mom tirade--probably you should skip over it!)
One of my brothers and myself were always on the Honor Roll (until my D in Algebra); one brother and a sister never were. We all received 'free' lunches (in return for working in the cafeteria one day a week). It isn't necessarily the income of the family that determines whether or not a child does well in school ... It's the individual, the parents (the teachers, perhaps) and the family environment. I have seldom placed 'blame' on bad or lackadaisical teachers, because the other elements necessary for 'learning' have as much or more to do with it than the 'teaching.' Unfortunately, many children are not being taught, by whatever means, that it is their responsibility to learn as much as they can; no teacher can actually pound an education into a child who doesn't have the desire or ability to learn the subjects. Evidence that by how much a child (and an adult) can 'learn' to do without being taught. Even the government cannot change those things, no matter how many 'studies' or 'programs' there are. Blaming the teachers or even the system is rather a cop-out for creating more governmental 'solutions' that obviously, considering our nation's ranking in education in the world, solve nothing.
As for the racial/ethnic statistics: Facts are just that in this case--facts without considering the underlying cause. Recalling one of Obama's speeches, in which he chastised Black families for not putting enough emphasis on the importance of their children's education ... and no, it isn't just a 'black' problem. I saw that in the programs for minorities at a University, where the state was more concerned with their education than the students (or high-school students in the summer programs who were brought in from another city--free of charge for 6 weeks--to 'experience' higher-education life) themselves were. Side Comment: A student worker whose parents were Mexicans worked for our department for months before a co-worker and I discovered, in the dead of winter, that he was living in his old car! Just one instance that makes me believe students themselves do have a stake in whether or not they get educated.
Worked in Dean of Students/Minority Student Affairs Department for about 6 years, then in Chancellor's Office where the Recruitment and then Retention Programs of minority students were administered. All the free tuition, free text books, free housing, free tutors, free vouchers for bowling, swimming, movies, and get-out-of-jail-free passes did not improve their attitudes as far as getting an education. You might be surprised to know that parents of these students were even paid a 'stipend' to make up the lost wages their children MIGHT have contributed to the family income if they worked rather than attended college. When the 'recruitment' programs showed that the majority of those students did not complete even two years of college, the 'retention' programs were instituted to try keep them. The figures did not change appreciably. You might also be surprised to know that some minority students wanted NOTHING to do the programs, considering them an insult to their intelligence. BTW: Those programs were for minorities regardless of family income. Bottom line: The DESIRE for education is necessary--and where would one suggest that desire begin? If you answer 'in the schools' ... Wrong! I could write a book ... but I'd have to do it under a pseudonym for my safety probably! ~wink~
Geez, MeL, you 'stirred the pot' and I took it right up, didn't I? SIGH Might be a rousing topic for a lunch sometime!
The above are my opinions only, and not based upon anything but 'life's experiences,' including having lived for several years in a rather frightening 'wrong side of town' neighborhood, with son attending the schools in the area plus ending up being bussed back to them in Middle School after we moved to a 'better' neighborhood. Oddly enough, son was an Honor Roll student, regardless of the schools he attended--can't believe the teachers in those predominantly Black schools focused more on him than any other students. Oh, and great points in several of your comments, semoangel!
Me'Lange,
I can tell you that after teaching for 10 years, by no means do I spend more time on the middle class or "well to do" students. The students who require most of my attention are the lower income students who usually are more disruptive in the classroom AND/OR require more academic help. I am not saying that EVERY low income student requires this special attention, but most of them do. If anything, I feel remorse for the students who "want" to be at school and are eager to learn, because a select few constantly win over the attention because of their lack of maturity behaviorally and academically. I am required to wear so many hats in my job. This group will be the students to bring the all mighty MAP scores down, so that is where I need to focus my attention. The average ability and high students simply get to skate on through. Now you tell me, who is getting a disservice here?
Thanks for putting the longer version up of the video. I have met Suzanna a few times here in Austin. She is a sweetheart of a person, but I would not want to be on the wrong end of her gun.
I am so glad she told the world that the 2nd ammendment is meant to protect we the people from the government officials.
Funny...Never talk Religion, Politics or Money?? I guess we can add Education to that now.