Concerns about children's education

[I have WHAT in my yard?]

Question to freshman college students: "What type of economic system do we live in?"

It was sort of rhetorical I assumed they would at least say capitalist. They did not......... They swore they had no idea.

 

[Q9]

I have WHAT in my yard? :

Question to freshman college students: "What type of economic system do we live in?"

It was sort of rhetorical I assumed they would at least say capitalist. They did not......... They swore they had no idea.

Wow. And these people vote, too...

Dang. You people are scaring me.​

 

[WriterofWords]

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Wow,, where do you live? They must get paid a lot more than I do!

 

[WriterofWords]

I don't think the question is what are we teaching your children, it's what are your children learning? They will learn what they put the effort into learning. We are in the middle of 3 weeks of testing mandated by the State of NM, yes we do have to teach what's on the test because it is our State Content Standards, Benchmarks, and Performance Standards. It is what we are supposed to teach all year. It is a measure of their reading, writing, and math capabilities. If they have paid attention, done their work, both in class and AT HOME, they should not have a problem.

With President Idiot, and our new Governor Moron, putting grading systems on the schools and teachers, they are taking away even more of the tiny amount of student/parent responsibility. Where is the accountability grade for parents who do not ask if their kids have homework and then help them with it? Where is the accountability for the student who has been held back, cannot be held back again, and knows it so they have to intention of doing any work. Why should I be blamed for this? Parents want to know why I sent a truant officer to their house when their child is failing, has not done any work, and has been absent 17 times in 18 weeks? They call the main office and say I am harassing them, I get yelled at, then their kids fail and I get blamed.

I'm a parent too you know,, my son graduated last year. My two nephews graduated from this district, my niece will next month. I have made every single parent/teacher meeting, college info. meeting, band concert, cheer leading competition, spelling bee, geography bee, you name it, for every single one of them. Why can't parents answer the phone for me? Why can't they show up for meetings with me? Why don't they accept responsibility for their children? Don't give me that line that you just don't know what is wrong with Jr. he's always been like this. I recommended testing for SPED, you refused, I recommended counseling, you refused, I offered tutoring after school, you refused.

Can I teach a child who refuses to learn? No, all I can do is try to reach them. Can I force a parent to come to a meeting? No, I can call them, send home notes, and then send a truant officer though.

Not all teachers are lazy, in it for the money (ha ha ha ha!), mean, etc. Just like not all parents are like the ones described above. I love my job, I love what I do in-spite of those parents, students, and politicians who want to blame me for the problems of every dysfunctional family out there. I stay after school most days until 5 or so with my Kid's Club, with tutoring, trying to come up with ways to help certain students and families. I go to counseling with a few families to help and support them, I do a food drive and clothing drive to try and teach the kids civic awareness.

What I really want is for everyone to stop blaming teachers and the educational system for all the problems and all the issues they have in their lives. I'm truly sorry you hated your 3rd grade teacher 25 years ago, but get over it and move on, and don't think every teacher out there is like that one. We aren't.

 

[Spookwriter]

The single most important teacher in my daughters life is ME.

Speaking as a parent, my child's education is also one of my important
responsibilities.

While I am certainly not alone in her education, I am at the helm. My wife
is also responsible. I hold her responsible, just as she is to hold me responsible.
We, as the parents, find time to look at graded papers, check homework, attend
PTA functions, parent-teacher meetings, and a whole host of other things.

We see that she has breakfast, money for a hot lunch, clean clothes to wear, and
any item she may need to do her work. I know where the library is, we have many
reference books ourself, and if that isn't enough, I know the teachers phone number.

Yes, the teacher is to a degree responsible. To do what? To teach the things the state
mandates.

When did the concept of the school alone being responsible for a students education
catch on? Parents need to catch on...your child is YOUR responsibility.

We attend church, that she may learn of God. We go as a family, that she may learn
family values.

We attend 4-H together...she needs a ride, so either her mother or I hang out, not really
part of 4-H but involved.

My sole point is that the PARENTS are the very people who need to be involved in their
childrens life. I'm not into latch-key kids. Not happening.

Can my daughter read and write? Well enough to have just won a state competition for
her age bracket. Is she on the honor roll? She's in trouble if she isn't. Yes, I know the principal,
the teachers. Most of their familys. Part of my job : I KNOW who my child knows, and just as
importantly, I know who knows my child.

 

[WriterofWords]

I like you!!!!

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[I have WHAT in my yard?]

ME TOO!!! Would that there were more parents like you!!

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[EweSheep]

3x, I really like your thoughts!

 

[equine623]

Where we live there are a lot of city transplants, they move here because its cheaper but commute back to the city, leaving the kids alone. Schools cater to the lowest common denominator in order to pass the "No child left behind" rules, they don't strive for anything higher. There are tons of opportunities for those children with learning disabilities or mental problems. However for those parents who have a gifted child, there is no help at all. We chose to use a cyber school for our daughter's education, because the last thing I want is my child becoming bored while in kindergarten. I spent my entire high school years bored and getting in trouble because of not being challenged, I want my daughter to continue to enjoy learning and thrive as a student and as a productive member of society. But its a lot of work and there is no support from the "normal" public support systems like local schools. My feeling is that we chose to be parents, it is our responsibility to teach our daughter and give her the skills she needs to be a successful adult with a well rounded life. Life skills like financial literacy, how to have successful relationships, compassion and generosity are just as important as the date the Constitution was signed...if not more so.

It IS a parent's job to be a parent, not just the taller person in the house that decides what's for dinner and can drive. Teachers do what they can, but as Writer said they can't teach those who have no desire to learn.

Just my two cents - as a mom.

 

[Patchesnposies]

Quote:

I laughed so loudly, when I read this post, that all of my dogs came running to see what was wrong with me.

Edited: To remove all errors, spelling and grammatical. lol