By Jeff

February 12, 2008 9:08 AM | Link to this

Laura:

DANG I like your topics! GOOD JOB!!!

How are schools supposed to do both? GREAT question. I am of the view that they CAN NOT.

In balancing both, what happens to the quality of education students receive? Quite frankly, if you sacrifice education in the name of social experimentation, by definition the quality of the education suffers.

So the answers are quite simple. But I am sure the discussion today will be quite entertaining…

By Ernest

February 12, 2008 9:30 AM | Link to this

Laura:

Jeff is right, this is a GREAT topic! Many programs have been added to schools to address social concerns yet the length of the school day and year has remained the same over the years. We can each decide whether the programs are worthy but without question it has compromised the quality of education delivered.

IMO, we may need to make hard choices. The job market will be far more competitive for our children because they will be competing with children from around the world. Many of those children want to enter the middle class that some of us ‘may’ have taken for granted. If we want to do both as asked in the topic of the day, we need to begin having conversations about extending the school day and/or year.

By 5th yr in HELL

February 12, 2008 9:34 AM | Link to this

A school’s job is to….apparently raise lazy parent’s children. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, If a baby is going to be nothing more than an accessory DON’T GIVE BIRTH!!! I teach in an inner city school and I am so friggin depressed seeing the huge amount of neglect that goes on in this city. Ad a shot for teen girls, make it required so that they CAN’T give birth until after high school. I’m literally staring at a teen mother as I type this and by the way she acts and her lack of maturity scares the hell out of me that she in in charge of another human being….it sickens me.

By Mathlovingmom

February 12, 2008 9:56 AM | Link to this

Living in North Fulton where many families have so much, I think it is great to talk about social problems and allow the children to make donations through school. From my observations, these types of things are discussed during homeroom and do not take away from classroom work. I think helping children become more aware of social problems is an important part of their overall education. In affluent areas, it is too easy for children to focus only on their next video game purchase. I think the small projects done in schools (often through Student Council) are a good way to enhance social awareness.

By JustMe

February 12, 2008 10:43 AM | Link to this

Wonderful topic/question!!!

I agree with the previous posts. Schools cannot be successful in doing everything for society.

IMHO, we need to return schools to their original intent - to teach content. Schools should simply expel badly behaved students until the parents do their job, first.

If we were to do this, I see at least two things happen. One, scores will rise by any measure (CRCT, SAT, GHSGT, whatever). Two, these bad parents will wake up because suddenly their little monsters are at home 24/7 - maybe then the parents will do their job.

Other agencies such as social services would likely have to step up and do their part in ensuring child safty, etc. However, that is outside the realm of schools.

By jim d

February 12, 2008 10:49 AM | Link to this

AH HA,

Another one that JM and I will agree on!

It ain’t the schools job. Parents and community organizations such as churches and voluntary groups should be soliciting young people to contribute to social ills and issues we face. Hell, the schools can’t do the job they are being paid for now. Dumping more on their plates only adds to their dismal failure and will eventually result in their demise.

By JustMe

February 12, 2008 10:59 AM | Link to this

jd - I don’t agree entirely with you….. I would say that the #1 cause for schools failing today is because we already expect them to do everything. Society needs to remove everything off of the plate of schools except for teaching content.

If you look at the “successful” schools (public or private), you will see that the parents are good parents and are involved with education. You will see parents that care about everything from quality teaching to quality lunches for their child.

The main difference between failing schools and successful schools isn’t really the teachers or the administrators, it is the parents.

By Jeff

February 12, 2008 11:01 AM | Link to this

jim:

But it is another that all THREE of us agree on!

OK Laura… your job just got more complicated: Come up with enough stimulating topics that somehow manage to break Bridget’s streak of 2 (or was it 3?) days where myself, jimd, AND JustMe agree! :P (I’m joking, though if you ever need a challenge for something new and creative to do with the blog, that could certainly be an idea!)

By Tony

February 12, 2008 11:06 AM | Link to this

One of the things that sets our schools apart from those in other countries is the number of interruptions during the school day. Our school tries very hard to guard learning time and minimize interruptions, including parents wanting to get a message to their child.

It is important for students to learn about and understand the world around them. So, some of the school assemblies that are held related to important social issues easily fit with schools’ missions of educating children. The school leadership has to weigh the issues and decide whether it is appropriate. My favorite word when asked about assemblies is, “No.”

By DB

February 12, 2008 11:11 AM | Link to this

Schools are there to educate and teach, they aren’t there to shape the Great Society.

Sadly, and I say this with a great deal of caution, since I’m a woman, but I think schools started sliding downhill when more and more women starting entering the workforce, and began to depend more and more on the schools to pick up the slack — you starting having before-and-after school child care, breakfast for kids, then the next thing you know, we have day care centers in high schools for all the pregnant teens and their baby daddies.

That sorta dovetails with other’s observations that the best schools tend to have the most involved parents.

By TeacherSam

February 12, 2008 12:14 PM | Link to this

You know, DB, RE:* schools started sliding downhill when more and more women starting entering the workforce, and began to depend more and more on the schools to pick up the slack*” Many of the ills of society that we , as teachers [ and just as citizens ] are concerned about can be traced to that time, albeit many other factors played a role. I , too, am a woman and certainly would not want to give up my option/opportunity to have a career AND raise children, However, some women are better at the juggling act than others. THere are lots of factors that enter into the ability to do a good job of parenting. Some stay at home moms do a lousy job, too.

By HS Teacher Too

February 12, 2008 1:10 PM | Link to this

Mathlovingmom,

I agree that the social programs can be wonderful, but I really wish that schools would focus more on “doing” and less on “giving.” I have been fortunate to teach in some schools in reasonably well-off areas and they did the same kinds of programs that you describe, and like yours for the most part, the programs did not take away from the academic day. The thing that always bothered me (and still does) is that all it really amounts to is soliciting for monetary donations, which translates to the kids asking Mom and Dad for money. It’s a wonderful, noble, goal, raising money for the poor – but I think students would learn far more about what it is to be charitable and to be socially aware if they DID things. Instead of doing a canned food drive, for example (or perhaps in addition to it), set up an after-school or weekend program to allow kids to work at a soup kitchen. That kind of thing. I’m just not convinced that asking Mom and Dad and the neighbors for money to raise towards the cause-of-the-week is a realistic way to teach students what it is to be charitable. For one thing, it teaches them nothing of the VALUE of that dollar Mom and Dad donated… or how they got to the position to be on the donating side at all.

As to what schools should do, I really believe that schools always have, and will continue to, reflect society’s values. Years ago, society strongly valued education, responsibility, and being a productive member of society. Our schools reflected that. We taught how to do those things, through strong academics, home-ec, art and music (because a valuable member of society is, after all, well-rounded and at least minimally culturally aware), we had physical education on a regular basis, and – and this may be an unpopular view – touchy-feely teaching and special education did not exist. (For better or for worse, probably in degrees.) BUT – because society valued these things, parents supported what went on at school. To a greater extent than today, schools were no-nonsense and discipline problems were not even comparable to what we see today. Mess out too many times, and you were gone. To that extent, if a school contacted home and said there were problems, parents valued what the schools had to say.

I am not really sure where all this broke down, or when. Many people point to the 70s and the new-math and all that stuff. I don’t know that I disagree – and you can certainly see that in the decades since the 70s, we have become a nation of passing the buck, shifting responsibility, and suing when we don’t get our way.

So, what should a school do? In my opinion, a school should be ALLOWED to do what it USED to do. Forget all the standardized testing that takes class time. Go back to reading, ‘riting, and ‘rithmetic. Throw in some arts and phys. ed. Bring back home-ec and wood shop. Teach students the skills they need to be responsible adults. And when they buck at that, or don’t behave, KICK THEM OUT. Someone posted earlier – they and their parents will figure it out in a hurry. Schools CAN teach about the arts, about going green, about preventing obesity, and pretty much about what amounts to current events, and being socially aware and physically fit. I believe that schools have a moral obligation to teach those things. But I don’t think that they ought to be discrete carved out issues. For example, we don’t need a special unit on obesity. We need to talk about healthy eating and making smart decisions as part of our health classes – and we should model that not by taking away all the junk food that is available to students (although much of it should go, I agree), but rather by showing kids that if they have an ice cream with their lunch today, they ought to balance it with carrots tomorrow. Or even today. And they need to RUN in gym class. And COOK in home-ec. Etc. etc.

By Tater

February 12, 2008 1:19 PM | Link to this

JustMe

Other agencies such as social services would likely have to step up and do their part in ensuring child safty, etc. However, that is outside the realm of schools.

Unfortunately our social services in Georgia are worse than the public schools.

I also don’t agree that it is just the failure of parents for little Johnny’s problems. The apathetic school administrators are somewhat equally to blame.

I agree that teachers should teach, not force social programs on students.

By Tater

February 12, 2008 1:23 PM | Link to this

HS Teacher Too

Couldn’t agree with you more..

By me

February 12, 2008 1:36 PM | Link to this

Schools should teach students and the staff should lead by modeling with a good example. The failing schools in bad areas are failing because of the bad students there. It comes by not saying that those schools have some good teachers and adm. but also have some bad teachers and adm. It is just natural. There are some good veteren teachers in those schools but they are retiring. There are some really good young teachers just starting in those schools but they stay just long enough to find another position in a good school. A percentage of the teachers and adm. that stay any period at all are ones that could not get a job somewhere else. If they could they would not be there. And even them when they get a change are gone. Why would one stay at a bad school if you had the choice to go somewhere else. The only why to help these schools is again to get the bad students out in another setting and improve the work and learning eviroment. I teach at one of these schools. Even some of the students that want to do right are finding ways to get out and even begging thier parents to move so they can go to another school. Get the bad students out and good teachers and good Adm. will come and stay. Then the school will improve with the students left. If not the failing schools will stay the same. A ceretain percentage of students will be failing and a certain percentage of teachers and Adm will be sorry ones.

By SET

February 12, 2008 2:18 PM | Link to this

I think I’m on record saying what the schools should do.

But I don’t have a problem with schools having outside agencies come in as well as field trips (to the morgue, the jail, ER, etc) to get the kiddies to apply what they are reading to what is going on all over town.

There ahould be a clear mission statement that the public sschools will prepare the students for a good transition to the military, to service & industry work suitable for a mere HS grad, or to higher education - their choice. By 10th grade they should be on separate campuses for the various programs.

This mission statement does not lend itself to making sure the kiddies have a good time, feel warm and fuzzy inside, or have high self-esteem.

By JustMe

February 12, 2008 2:35 PM | Link to this

Tater - Those apathetic administrators are apathetic because the bad parents allow it to be. If the parents were involved with their child’s education, they would be involved enough to get rid of those bad administrators, won’t they?

I have seen and know of some schools that may get a new Principle that is horrible. The parents quickly started the process to get rid of that Principle, and that Principle only lasted one year at the most. Those would be the parents that are active and the ones I describe as “good.”

Bad parents are the ones that don’t care enough to do anything. Or worse, they don’t care enough to do anything, yet wealthy enough to run from the problem and pay for private school!

By Tater

February 12, 2008 3:11 PM | Link to this

JustMe

*yet wealthy enough to run from the problem and pay for private school! *

Give me a voucher for my kids and you won’t hear another peep out of me.

By Tater

February 12, 2008 3:20 PM | Link to this

JustMe..

This just in… The Georgia Senate votes to freeze property tax assessments… Praise God.. Finally, a way for the school systems to perform.

I’m optimistic that the house will agree and if we can get the bonehead from Bonaire to sign it this will be a tremendous step in the abuse of the school boards to take advantage of the property owners.

Tater = Happy Camper

By Lee

February 12, 2008 3:22 PM | Link to this

“Somewhere along the way, schools became the go-to place to fix society’s problems”

I think you can point to Brown vs Board as the pivot point between educating and indoctrinating. That one ruling effectively wrested control of the schools away from the parents and local boards and gave it to the federal government.

The rest, as they say, is history. Politically correct history, but history nonetheless.

“Bad parents are the ones that don’t care enough to do anything. Or worse, they don’t care enough to do anything, yet wealthy enough to run from the problem and pay for private school!”

You’re right JM, I should have just left my daughter in that cesspool of a public school for a few more years instead of sacrificing to send her to private school. How f*g elitist of me to put her best interests ahead of those poor unfortunates who are stuck in that pig sty. What was I thinking?

By catlady

February 12, 2008 3:22 PM | Link to this

One day, during a faculty meeting that droned on and on, I started a list of things teachers at our school are expected to do, participate in, etc. AFTER TWO PAGES, my colleagues became intrigued and began to add on to the list. These are “responsibilitie” that someone decided schools/teachers should do, beyond “plan lessons, teach lessons, and evaluate lessons”. (Remember that I am speaking as an elementary teacher).

By Jeff

February 12, 2008 3:30 PM | Link to this

catlady:

I wonder two things here:

A) Do you still have that list?

B) Would Laura post it?

By eyeroller

February 12, 2008 3:47 PM | Link to this

So many of you have hit the nail on the head. If parents would do their jobs, the schools wouldn’t have to do it for them.

I didn’t find that the private schools we tried were much better.

Reason #687,421 that we homeschool.

By JustMe

February 12, 2008 4:09 PM | Link to this

Tater = confusing

Why does freezing property taxes mean that it will force schools to perform? Where is the connection?

IMHO, property taxes should be lowered (not frozen) to match the decrease in property values due to the mortgage crisis. This has nothing to do with school performance.

And, regarding the money schools do get…. remember that our dear (cough! cough!) Sonny made a ‘temporary’ reduction in State contribution to education years ago and has never reinstated it. Yet, he finds ways to fund his ‘education initiatives’ that amount to nothing more than PR for politicians. Gotta love the bone-head republicans!

eyeroller, Please be careful not to lump all schools into the ‘bad’ category. There are some very excellent public schools - even here in the Atlanta area. If you made a decision to home school, then I certainly wish you the very best. But, please don’t condemn all public (or private) schools - the good ones don’t deserve it.

By Tater

February 12, 2008 4:20 PM | Link to this

JustMe Less money means that schools HAVE to behave with the funds that are available. Reduced administrative overhead (or do you need more administrators at your school?).

If you read my post, I agree with your assessment of the idiot from Bonaire. It’s not a republican issue, Roy Barnes wasn’t an angel to education either..

Give me a voucher and watch the public schools self implode. I know that I will never see that day unfortunately.

By Cobby

February 12, 2008 4:41 PM | Link to this

Schools should provide the other 2 Rs—- one is rigor and the other is relevance. It seems we are too busy lowering standards in the classroom to allow more success. That is not making it more rigorous, but easier. I have 32 years experience in the classrom; I cannot come close to being as demanding as I used to be. Too many parents and students want to be on the honor roll without doing the work required. We must not only expect the best, but demand the best from students.

By jim d

February 12, 2008 4:41 PM | Link to this

The Schools job is to —dumb us down. And I’d say they are doing a hell of a job.

JM, I’m sure you’ll disagree as will several other bloggers. You can lay all the blame on parents but the fact remains.

Pick up a copy of Dumbing Us Down: the Hidden Curriculum of Compulsory Schooling—- By John Taylor Gatto and educate yourself

By jim d

February 12, 2008 4:45 PM | Link to this

Tater,

Gatto predicts it would take 5 years for free choice to be exercised by the majority and that indeed public education as we now know it would disappear within another five.

You need to read his works or just google him—there are plenty of video interviews on the web where he explains many of the educational ills we are facing and why.

By jim d

February 12, 2008 4:54 PM | Link to this

Tater,

Some lite reading you might enjoy.

By Mathlovingmom

February 12, 2008 4:56 PM | Link to this

Until this debacle with the change in the math curriculum, I have to say that my experience with the public school system here in North Fulton has been excellent. I have never felt the need to send my child to private school (or home school) because I have always felt her teachers were meeting her needs and even exceeding our expectations. She has been introduced to authors, artists, and musicians who have talked about their careers and have encouraged the children to expand their horizons. We have not just donated money for charitable causes but have collected items such as shampoo for homeless shelters, school supplies for children in lower income areas, books for Katrina victims… the list goes on and on. The schools up here have been doing a great job! That being said, the adoption of this ridiculous math program pretty much trumps it all, so we may soon be either home schooling, looking into private schools, or moving to a state which isn’t locked into fuzzy math. We are not uncaring, but as with every concerned parent we are going to look out for our child’s best interests.

By Tater

February 12, 2008 5:00 PM | Link to this

jim d

Thank you for the information..

We have to keep in mind when dealing with JustMe, that she is employed by a government school so she is financially married to her postings.

Additionally, I believe she has been drinking the government school kool-aid entirely too long.

By jim d

February 12, 2008 5:12 PM | Link to this

Yo, Mom,

Gatto explains why we feel safe with our schools as well. Check him out. This guy was a teacher for over 25 years and was even teacher of the year once in NY. He has an interesting perspective on public education and will give you a lot of history along with it.

By jim d

February 12, 2008 5:18 PM | Link to this

Children in public schools are literally trained in bad habits and bad attitudes!

Teachers and Principals, “scientifically”certified in teachers college practices, are made unaware of the invisible curriculum they really teach.

By jim d

February 12, 2008 5:25 PM | Link to this

A few other things wrong with education

By jim d

February 12, 2008 5:38 PM | Link to this

Doug Newman wrote in one of his columns entitled “What’s Wrong With Education?” “It’s the Government,Stupid!”

I have heard it said that education is so-o-o-o-o important that the government must, for the sake of the prosperity of the nation, have a heavy hand in it. Well, eating is important, too! Let us, therefore, have a state agricultural monopoly just like they did in the Soviet Union. During the 1980s, the average Soviet consumer spent two hours a day in line to buy groceries, while America was the world’s number one food exporter and Americans still had so much access to food that overeating was a major problem.(1)

*(1)I know, I know. The US does not have a true free makret in agriculture, but we do have a measure of property rights and profit motives which the Soviet Union did not have.”

Here’s the entire article

By the truth

February 12, 2008 6:04 PM | Link to this

Government schools were, at one time, decent. Now that liberalism is taught to students we can now bask in the light of crime, stupidity and lack of discipline. Teachers Unions are probably the biggest problem that education has faced. Always crying for more money and yet we have a dumbed down generation of students who can’t read and do basic math. It’s the parents who should raise the children and not Hillary Clintons Village.

By DB

February 12, 2008 6:25 PM | Link to this

JustMe: Bad parents are the ones that don’t care enough to do anything. Or worse, they don’t care enough to do anything, yet wealthy enough to run from the problem and pay for private school!

Why is there the assumption that going head-to-head and changing the entire school culture that has been in place, sometimes for years, is something that a parent necessarily feels is a good investment of their time.

My responsibility is, first and foremost, to my children, their education and well-being. If I judge that their educational needs are better met elsewhere, then I suggest that you simply enjoy my tax donation towards the schools and stop sneering at me for refusing to volunteer for that particular army.

Every single day, we discuss something about issues here that arise because the Georgia Public Schools seem to have major probolems with regards to executing their Prime Directive: TEACH AND EDUCATE. I know my talents, and beating my head against a brick wall for 14 years is NOT one of them.

By fedup

February 12, 2008 6:58 PM | Link to this

It is the school’s job to pick up students early in the morning and feed kids breakfast. It is the school’s job to make sure that kids get to class on time. It is the school’s job to feed a child lunch. It is the school’s job to provide tutorial, athletics and extracurricular entertainment for kids. It is the school’s job to transport children home in the afternoon. It is the school’s job to provide a nurse to dispense medication or babysit sick children that parents will not pick up. It is the school’s job to call parents to remind them to send their children to school. It is the school’s job to deal with all mental, physical and emotional issues a child might encounter. It is the school’s job to call parents and remind them to come to school to check up on their children’s grades. It is the school’s job to discipline children. It is the school’s job to provide remediation to children that were ignored from age birth-age five. It is the school’s job to provide awareness about post-secondary opportunities. After all of this is said and done it is the school’s job to teach children so they will pass all of the test so the school can make AYP. If the school does all of this what does a parent do?

By TeacherSam

February 12, 2008 7:43 PM | Link to this

Here is a fairly good summary of the duties of a teacher today. It could translate into A School’s job is to…. wiht maybe a few additions.

http://home.earthlink.net/~judylightfoot/multiplying.html

By catlady

February 12, 2008 7:52 PM | Link to this

Jeff, no I don’t have the list. However, during a lucid, (free! hahahaha) moment, I could begin to reconstruct it, IF I can find enough paper! It was several years ago, and the list has expanded since then!

I was meeting with a counselor (stress and anxiety—guess why?) and he suggested I ask my supervisor what the priorities were from the list. I looked at him incredulously and patiently explained to him that EVERYTHING was a priority, and that NOTHING EVER COMES OFF THE LIST!

By John

February 12, 2008 8:18 PM | Link to this

The schools are suppose to teach reading, writing and arithmetic, and maybe how to be a responsible citizen. Has someone who has hired high school graduates, they’ve failed.

By Cobby

February 12, 2008 9:14 PM | Link to this

Well said Fedup!!! What is the role of a vast majority of parents. I once had a parent ask me how come we teachers could not do anything in school— after all we had them for over 6 hours! My response was —-you have them the other 18—what is your excuse???

By Cobby

February 12, 2008 9:38 PM | Link to this

We cannot require a student to have a pencil or paper.We even provide binders and notebooks. I do not mind when a student comes from economic hardship , but now ,most students realize that they do not have to be held responsible for being prepared.What happened to having ownership in your education?

By HS Teacher Too

February 12, 2008 10:32 PM | Link to this

DB, I agree with you about choosing to not join the “particular army” to change schools as they are. Your first duty is to your own child. I think — no, I know — that I feel similarly. Although I taught in public schools, I have made no pretenses that I will allow my child(ren) to atted public schools (at least here, in Georgia, where I have seen first-hand how broken they are).

I’d say that the best way to describe your sentiment is that it is a problem too big to want to take on for limited — if any — effect for your efforts. The worst part is that that applies to teachers as well. It’s so easy to be defeated (I’ll speak for teachers collectively here) and discouraged as to trying to effect a meaningful change. I think the best teachers just resolve to have things be better in THEIR classrooms; the worst teachers just be-bop along in the sysem and think life is peachy.

By Janine

February 12, 2008 11:21 PM | Link to this

We made this list [ at the request of the one of our administrators,] of our duties as middle school teachers. I’m sure we left out a few things. MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITES MIDDLE SCHOOL CLASSROOM TEACHER

• *Prepare lesson plans which use varied instructional techniques and media • Provide specialized instructional strategies designed to ensure progress and acceleration as well as to meet the educational, social, and emotional needs of each student • Implement plans and engage students in activities that promote their development and do so with flexibility for meeting the needs of individual students, staff, and the school • Incorporate technology into lessons while monitoring all web sites for appropriateness • Incorporate lessons that demonstrate the importance of patriotism, good citizenship, sportsmanship, and fair play in activities • Encourage respect for cultural diversity • Contribute to the team planning of units by taking a share of the leadership in unit development • Communicate individual plans to the team and to supervisors • Select, make, order and/or purchase developmentally appropriate classroom materials • Choose and administer appropriate formal and informal assessment instruments pertinent to the instructional area in order evaluate student progress on a regular basis and provide feedback to students and to parents • Maintain records and adjust instruction based on assessment data • Supply progress reports to school personnel, parents, and students upon request • Complete reports for local, state, federal and educational agencies • Collect and maintain records to support and document the school’s progress in the selected state or county mandated program whatever it may be at the time •
• ENSURE THAT ALL STUDENTS PASS THE STATE MANDATED TEST[S] WHETHER OR NOT THEY ATTEND SCHOOL ON A REGULAR BASIS , AND WHETHER OR NOT THEY SPEAK and/or READ THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE

• Develop and maintain an inviting and developmentally appropriate classroom environment conducive to effective learning • Observe students for signs of abuse, drugs use, antisocial behavior, and contraband • Raise self esteem of students • Behaviorally modify disruptive behavior • Instill a sense of pride in his/her ethnicity • Take all necessary precautions to protect students, materials, equipment, and facilities • Assist in upholding and enforcing school rules, administrative regulations, and school board policies • Provide for professional growth through ongoing reading, workshops, seminars, conferences, and/or advanced course work. • Participate in staff development sessions conducted by the district and/or the school • Establish and maintain cooperative relations with other employees • Establish and maintain communications with students and their parents concerning academic and behavioral progress • Refer those students who require further evaluation or follow-up services to the appropriate school personnel or community agencies • Assist with the staffing of students for specific services, i.e. special education, speech therapy, ESOL • Attend and participate in faculty meetings. committee meetings, or other meetings as required or requested by the administrators • Attend Parent Conferences at designated times after school hours, as well as when requested to do so by parents or administrators • Other responsibilities as directed by the administration

By Katie

February 13, 2008 5:44 AM | Link to this

Schools are there to teach math, English, History and Science. It is the parents job to teach their children about the other things in life.

By WFC

February 13, 2008 7:09 AM | Link to this

• Great topic!

*Teachers are not social workers!

*NCLB is a hoax. There is no way that the child of a 17-year old single mom can compete (except in sports) with my son whose parents both have academic masters degrees and $250,000 to spend on their son’s education. No way, Jose.

• I studied to become proficient in history and pedagogy. That’s what I did as a teacher, now retired. I don’t think that schools should waste time on someone’s political agenda.

By Hick from the Sticks

February 13, 2008 7:31 AM | Link to this

“Provide specialized instructional strategies designed to ensure progress and acceleration as well as to meet the educational, social, and emotional needs of each student”

“Raise self esteem of students”

” Behaviorally modify disruptive behavior”

“Instill a sense of pride in his/her ethnicity”

“Other responsibilities as directed by the administration”

Good morning, all.

Janine, thanks so much for the post of responsibilities.

Just a few that stick in my mind, as I’m writing this—Eductaional, social, and emotional well-being, in that order, yes?

Ergo: First, foremost, educate. I know my throat is about to be jumped down. Hold still. This will only take a second.

After teaching in Clayton for a couple of terms, I ended up in a very strange suburban setting. The one thing I know about education is that it’s a bit tricky to get a kid pumped about the three r’s, when he/she is in an abusive home, is working to supplement the family’s income, has a child of her own on the way, or can flat-out make more money on the street by any means necessary.

Very well. Social. Hmm. I deal with teenagers. Social by their very design.

Okay, next?

Emotional.

Again, I deal with teenagers. Don’t like their emotion? Give it a few seconds. It’ll change. I so enjoy roller coasters. :)

Self-esteem of students?

Good job. Next?

Modify disruptive behavior.

Always a tricky one. My mother was kind enough to give to me the 1,000 yard stare when I was old enough to know how to use it. I have even stopped a teenager from fighting another one simply with this. (Unbeknownst to me, as I was standing less than two feet away from him, and instructing him to go home, it was later brought to my attention that the “child” was carrying a loaded .45. That’s always a good story to bring home to the wife…)

But, okay. Next?

Pride in his/her ethnicity…

Sure?…

Alright. Fine. I’ll say it.

If a white child walks down the hallway with anything to do with white pride, not only is it a instant referral (in some cases, folks, not all.), but it can turn into a smaller race frenzy among the students.

God knows I’ve been wrong before plenty of times in my life. If anyone knows of a different case, please let me know.

By JustMe

February 13, 2008 7:57 AM | Link to this

Hick from the Sticks

I very much disagree that schools should spend time on a student’s self esteem, emotion, pride in ethnicity, or any of that other bunk that you list. When schools focus on these, they will lose sight of their real objective - to teach content.

Yes, children need those ‘other things’ but it is not and should not be the responsibility of schools to provide them to the children. Children need to get those ‘other things’ from their parents, from extra curricular activities (meaning softball leagues, summer camp, etc.), from their Church, etc.

When you slap on those other responsibilities onto the backs of schools, what ends up happening is the dilution of education - and that is what’s happening today.

By Teacher33

February 13, 2008 8:05 AM | Link to this

One of the previous bloggers hit the nail on the head when he stated the schools are only reflecting society’s current values. It is unfortunate, but our government has forced schools to give into society. In order to fix this problem, we are going to have to go backwards first. The schools have to have the power to expel more students quicker. This will make the parents accountable because they will then be rsponsible for educating their child. As long as parents know that the schools will allow their son or daughter to screw up over and over again without repurcussions, they will never fulfill their parental obligations. It amazes me how much students are able to get away with until they face expulsion. Of course, we can’t leave any children behind! I hate to tell everyone, but statistics can be manipulated to show us anything we want. The schools are only going to get worse unless society gets its act together. SInce I don’t see that happening, our government has to give the power back to the schools. The schools shouldn’t not have to give into society! We should be able to set a high standard, and society should have to meet that standard or start thinking about homeschooling!

By Hick from the Sticks

February 13, 2008 8:17 AM | Link to this

JM—

Call your dogs off.

I was referring to what Janine posted.

I’m quite aware of the things diltuing the educational system today.

Thank you, drive through.

By Hick from the Sticks

February 13, 2008 8:42 AM | Link to this

Ah, fudge.

“diluting”.

Irony, or typos?

Eh…typos. Too early for irony.

By Tater

February 13, 2008 8:55 AM | Link to this

JustMe

I very much disagree that schools should spend time on a student’s self esteem, emotion, pride in ethnicity, or any of that other bunk that you list. When schools focus on these, they will lose sight of their real objective - to teach content

It’s pretty apparent to me that you are incorrect by the postings of teachers on this blog. This is EXACTLY what schools are teaching.. Content? Give me a break..

jim d Interestingly I couldn’t find the Gatto book at the Gwinnett Library System website. Could it be the same nut that make a mockery out of the Harry Potter debacle is banning books on the failure of education?

By jim d

February 13, 2008 11:40 AM | Link to this

Tater,

You may have to buy a copy.

Try Barnes & Noble

By jim d

February 13, 2008 11:47 AM | Link to this

Tater,

GCPL does have a few copies. It is call number 370.973 at collins hill and mountain park. both copies are out though.

By HS teacher

February 13, 2008 7:03 PM | Link to this

The root of the problem goes back to PARENTS. I cannot believe, as a HS teacher myself, that some parents are even allowed to reproduce. Teachers are supposed to be ‘miracle workers’ (well in the parents’ eyes) yet we’re picking up the slack of the poor (meaning BAD) parents out there. It’s amazing to see the difference between the students who have caring, involved parents and the students whose parents do not value education and back up the teachers. It’s pathetic to think your child is perfect. Do us a favor and support teachers and value your child’s education!

By ironmaiden

February 13, 2008 9:41 PM | Link to this

I have been aware of the increasing attempts to indoctrinate our children, e.g. character ed; diversity training; peer discipline reviews; post-secondary transition planning; ad finitum, over the last twenty years. However, during a recent 6th-grade social studies unit, I felt like I’d been hit with a Super Bowl ice bucket! The European Union was blatantly progandized as advantageous in every possible way. Young minds being trained for a New World Order??

By jim d

February 14, 2008 8:05 AM | Link to this

HS teach,

How wide is that brush you are painting “PARENTS“with?

By luvs2teach

February 18, 2008 10:16 AM | Link to this

“Schools were created to teach children. Somewhere along the way, schools became the go-to place to fix society’s problems.”

Actually, I think the factory model schools we have today that were started around the turn of the century were always designed with a dual mission: one) to educate and two) to socialize. There were concerns about immigrant children and the children of factory workers brought in from the rural areas. There was a mission of equalizing everyone to make them productive citizens.

The problem is that we are asking them to do to much - that society has become so much more complex. We can’t expect schools to solve every societal ill. We can’t let schools become the target for everyone’s pet “cause du jour.”