1 + 1 = 2. Really. Honestly.
March 25, 2005 5:53 AM Subscribe
The New York City Department of Education has recalled 3rd-7th grade basic math prep materials after finding multiple errors. Like what? Multiplication errors, addition errors, poorly worded questions, and incorrectly spelling Fourth on the cover of the Fourth Grade Book. "The fact is, if third- or fifth-grade students made the mistakes made in the test prep materials, they would be flunked and no one would be asking them for an explanation."
troutfishing writes " Give the job to the kids. They need something to do so they watch less TV, maybe use their brains more."
A wise man (Robert Heinlien, unless someone has a citation earlier than 1968) once said that the best way to learn something is to teach it. So troutfishing may have a real point here.
posted by orthogonality at 6:17 AM on March 25, 2005
A wise man (Robert Heinlien, unless someone has a citation earlier than 1968) once said that the best way to learn something is to teach it. So troutfishing may have a real point here.
posted by orthogonality at 6:17 AM on March 25, 2005
Er, Heinlein, of course. I'm embarrassed.
posted by orthogonality at 6:20 AM on March 25, 2005
posted by orthogonality at 6:20 AM on March 25, 2005
Here's my plan:
1. Post the material on the web a couple weeks before it's officially distributed.
2. Offer $25 for each error found.
3. Write the contracts so that the errata reward comes out of the prep material author's compensation.
posted by electroboy at 6:40 AM on March 25, 2005
1. Post the material on the web a couple weeks before it's officially distributed.
2. Offer $25 for each error found.
3. Write the contracts so that the errata reward comes out of the prep material author's compensation.
posted by electroboy at 6:40 AM on March 25, 2005
troutfishing & electroboy - those are excellent ideas, though it's far more likely to get some serious play in private schools before getting full-time coverage in the 'majors' of public education.
(Actually, it sounds like the kind of initiative one might find in an ambitious college-level initiative, but still...)
posted by vhsiv at 7:06 AM on March 25, 2005
(Actually, it sounds like the kind of initiative one might find in an ambitious college-level initiative, but still...)
posted by vhsiv at 7:06 AM on March 25, 2005
Aside from being bad proofreading, the fact that the proofreader wasn't the only one who overlooked the errors is an example of one of the myths of "it ain't what it used to be" --what we expect our kids to be able to do is far more than adults can generally do, or ever did.
posted by Peach at 7:21 AM on March 25, 2005
posted by Peach at 7:21 AM on March 25, 2005
i was edukated in nyc and it dint do me no harm.
posted by QuietDesperation at 8:14 AM on March 25, 2005
posted by QuietDesperation at 8:14 AM on March 25, 2005
Both.
posted by NotMyselfRightNow at 8:27 AM on March 25, 2005
posted by NotMyselfRightNow at 8:27 AM on March 25, 2005
Same thing happened in my school district (in addition to many errors of spelling and mathematics, the cover of the Language Arts test actually misspelled Language as Languahe). The tests actually made it to kids and we were forced to administer them - but since we're a smaller district the story never reached the media.
Part of the blame lies with the people who made the tests. Those people lie in the "middle management" area of the school district structure. There are some good people in those jobs, teachers who wanted to make a district-wide difference by becoming curriculum coordinators. But often the best teachers want to stay in the classroom, and the people in middle management were the teachers who were dissatisfied and who applied for the job because of the higher pay.
It's frustrating, because the people who are making the tests are under immense pressure from the upper administration - and that's part of the response to No Child Left Behind.
NCLB has the superintendents scared out of their wits, and in some places the response is to do lots and lots of district-wide testing in addition to the NCLB testing. The idea is to catch those kids at risk of failing the NCLB tests, and offer them extra support. But there's no institutional extra support to be found. The only extra support they get is when I work with struggling kids before school or after school. I do that, of course, but it's only a drop in the bucket.
Once all of the provisions of NCLB go into effect, and the full set of district-mandated tests are implemented (this is supposed to happen by 2006-2007), a child in my school district will be faced with fully 104 standardized tests between kindergarten and eighth grade. Since most of these tests take more than one session to administer, we closing in on ensuring that one entire school year's worth of time is spent testing.
That's above and beyond any tests that an individual teacher decides to give as part of his or her curriculum. Many teachers are cutting their own tests because they can't in good conscience devote any more time to testing. And since you can't machine-score critical thinking, many of the teacher-designed tests that are cut are more thoughtful than the mass tests now being mandated.
The testing movement is utterly out of control - at root, it's the all-testing-all-the-time mentality that's leading to situations like the one in the FPP.
posted by Chanther at 8:32 AM on March 25, 2005
Part of the blame lies with the people who made the tests. Those people lie in the "middle management" area of the school district structure. There are some good people in those jobs, teachers who wanted to make a district-wide difference by becoming curriculum coordinators. But often the best teachers want to stay in the classroom, and the people in middle management were the teachers who were dissatisfied and who applied for the job because of the higher pay.
It's frustrating, because the people who are making the tests are under immense pressure from the upper administration - and that's part of the response to No Child Left Behind.
NCLB has the superintendents scared out of their wits, and in some places the response is to do lots and lots of district-wide testing in addition to the NCLB testing. The idea is to catch those kids at risk of failing the NCLB tests, and offer them extra support. But there's no institutional extra support to be found. The only extra support they get is when I work with struggling kids before school or after school. I do that, of course, but it's only a drop in the bucket.
Once all of the provisions of NCLB go into effect, and the full set of district-mandated tests are implemented (this is supposed to happen by 2006-2007), a child in my school district will be faced with fully 104 standardized tests between kindergarten and eighth grade. Since most of these tests take more than one session to administer, we closing in on ensuring that one entire school year's worth of time is spent testing.
That's above and beyond any tests that an individual teacher decides to give as part of his or her curriculum. Many teachers are cutting their own tests because they can't in good conscience devote any more time to testing. And since you can't machine-score critical thinking, many of the teacher-designed tests that are cut are more thoughtful than the mass tests now being mandated.
The testing movement is utterly out of control - at root, it's the all-testing-all-the-time mentality that's leading to situations like the one in the FPP.
posted by Chanther at 8:32 AM on March 25, 2005
I see your objections to NCLB -- and I'm not a fan myself -- but I'm not sure about what it has to do with a publishing contractor doing work that turns out to be of poor quality.
posted by clevershark at 9:44 AM on March 25, 2005
posted by clevershark at 9:44 AM on March 25, 2005
What a disgrace. Public schools in New York City are a disgrace. Like, putting more money into this system will improve it?!
posted by ParisParamus at 10:05 AM on March 25, 2005
posted by ParisParamus at 10:05 AM on March 25, 2005
Like, putting more money into this system will improve it?!
Like federally legislating "No Child Gets Ahead" laws without adequate funding will improve the system?
Like mandating impossible improvement levels in schools already doing well will improve the system?
Like rewarding "dumbing down" tests so more kids pass each year will improve the system?
(This is fun.)
If the clueless administrative asshats would just let the teachers alone and let them TEACH, the kids would be better off, which really would improve the system.
posted by Enron Hubbard at 10:28 AM on March 25, 2005
Like federally legislating "No Child Gets Ahead" laws without adequate funding will improve the system?
Like mandating impossible improvement levels in schools already doing well will improve the system?
Like rewarding "dumbing down" tests so more kids pass each year will improve the system?
(This is fun.)
If the clueless administrative asshats would just let the teachers alone and let them TEACH, the kids would be better off, which really would improve the system.
posted by Enron Hubbard at 10:28 AM on March 25, 2005
I sense the mighty invisible hand of market forces ! Bow down, you're being led by ....
...the Spirit of Cost Reduction !
*superhero intro, gingle*
Let's get rid of that librul educamation thing ! All you need is a piece of bread, lotsa praying and a lot of leaders that will tell yo what to do ! And you'll be able to marry your cousin !
Forgit responsability, blame the librul ! It's easy
Does it rain ? blaim the gubment ! Was your school test bad ? Get rid of dat educamation thing or better, blame the liberul and ask for more private masters to tell you what to do ! Was the test wrong ? NO , it's the answers that are librul !
Save money from dat librul school and donate to your local Lord Teaching camps were peeling the potatos is mixed with praying and chanting to the Lord ! Your money will be spent to advance the teaching of the Lord, now that's edumacation yo need !
posted by elpapacito at 10:30 AM on March 25, 2005
...the Spirit of Cost Reduction !
*superhero intro, gingle*
Let's get rid of that librul educamation thing ! All you need is a piece of bread, lotsa praying and a lot of leaders that will tell yo what to do ! And you'll be able to marry your cousin !
Forgit responsability, blame the librul ! It's easy
Does it rain ? blaim the gubment ! Was your school test bad ? Get rid of dat educamation thing or better, blame the liberul and ask for more private masters to tell you what to do ! Was the test wrong ? NO , it's the answers that are librul !
Save money from dat librul school and donate to your local Lord Teaching camps were peeling the potatos is mixed with praying and chanting to the Lord ! Your money will be spent to advance the teaching of the Lord, now that's edumacation yo need !
posted by elpapacito at 10:30 AM on March 25, 2005
There are megabucks in publishing textbooks. Anybody who has purchased even one knows that. The emphasis at the publishers is on sales, not quality content. Sales occur through greasing the correct hands with money. Profits increase with less emphasis on the quality of content and more on the price to generate said content. Corporate behavior through and through. How these books got queued for even the possibility of approval is what needs investigated.
posted by nofundy at 10:35 AM on March 25, 2005
posted by nofundy at 10:35 AM on March 25, 2005
Why aren't there open-source textbooks that schools could have printed at cost? Stuff like math doesn't even change much from year to year. Find something that works well, and repeat it.
Oh geez. That would be a cool project, if I were any good at pulling stuff like that together. Hey somebody, run with it!
posted by beth at 10:49 AM on March 25, 2005
Oh geez. That would be a cool project, if I were any good at pulling stuff like that together. Hey somebody, run with it!
posted by beth at 10:49 AM on March 25, 2005
NYCBOA is a large, bloated blob of mediocrity. That's not true of all school districts, and probably not all large city school entities.
"Let teachers teach" is a nice slogan, but I suspect a large segment of teachers shouldn't be teaching. Actually, I question the whole paradigm of full-time teachers: before college, the set of smart, talented, ambitious individuals who are interested in teaching is rather small. Teaching is a profession which largely attracts those who are can't do. Good teachers? Look for second career people and part-timers.
But, unfortunately, that's a discussion that's somewhat off-topic, and I have a motion for summary judgment to write.
posted by ParisParamus at 11:12 AM on March 25, 2005
"Let teachers teach" is a nice slogan, but I suspect a large segment of teachers shouldn't be teaching. Actually, I question the whole paradigm of full-time teachers: before college, the set of smart, talented, ambitious individuals who are interested in teaching is rather small. Teaching is a profession which largely attracts those who are can't do. Good teachers? Look for second career people and part-timers.
But, unfortunately, that's a discussion that's somewhat off-topic, and I have a motion for summary judgment to write.
posted by ParisParamus at 11:12 AM on March 25, 2005
Opps. Sorry for the tag problem.
posted by ParisParamus at 11:13 AM on March 25, 2005
posted by ParisParamus at 11:13 AM on March 25, 2005
"Math textbooks change dramatically in response to radical shifts in what areas in math are deemed most important to teach children, and what is emphasized most on standardized tests that are required to pass a grade.
posted by 23skidoo at 2:21 PM EST on March 25 [!]"
That, alas, is part, a small chunk, of the problem.
posted by ParisParamus at 11:24 AM on March 25, 2005
posted by 23skidoo at 2:21 PM EST on March 25 [!]"
That, alas, is part, a small chunk, of the problem.
posted by ParisParamus at 11:24 AM on March 25, 2005
Remember, kids: public schools were created to keep the poor kids off the streets, not to teach them.
Note: I attended Chicago public elementary and high schools, and did not use SpellCheck on this comment.
posted by davejay at 11:40 AM on March 25, 2005
Note: I attended Chicago public elementary and high schools, and did not use SpellCheck on this comment.
posted by davejay at 11:40 AM on March 25, 2005
Good teachers? Look for second career people and part-timers.
I agree with you there. I would love to see a National Guard for teachers; you learn how to teach one weekend a month, then get "called up" to teach for two weeks a year at a local school. Ideally, your job would be held for your return just as it is for a member of the National Guard.
The regular teachers get a few weeks off to create lesson plans and get caught up with grading papers, and the kids get a few weeks to learn from someone new who isn't burned out, jaded or otherwise uninterested in teaching -- and who is used to dealing with adults on a daily basis.
posted by davejay at 11:45 AM on March 25, 2005
I agree with you there. I would love to see a National Guard for teachers; you learn how to teach one weekend a month, then get "called up" to teach for two weeks a year at a local school. Ideally, your job would be held for your return just as it is for a member of the National Guard.
The regular teachers get a few weeks off to create lesson plans and get caught up with grading papers, and the kids get a few weeks to learn from someone new who isn't burned out, jaded or otherwise uninterested in teaching -- and who is used to dealing with adults on a daily basis.
posted by davejay at 11:45 AM on March 25, 2005
Save money from dat librul school and donate to your local Lord...
elpapacito, I am sorry to inform you that you have been banned for inappropriate conduct. (Or maybe you're heretofore branded an outlaw for inappropriate use of language. Oh, never mind.)
posted by nobody at 11:55 AM on March 25, 2005
elpapacito, I am sorry to inform you that you have been banned for inappropriate conduct. (Or maybe you're heretofore branded an outlaw for inappropriate use of language. Oh, never mind.)
posted by nobody at 11:55 AM on March 25, 2005
PP: Teaching is a profession which largely attracts those who are can't do.
Glass house, meet stone.
posted by joe lisboa at 12:05 PM on March 25, 2005
Glass house, meet stone.
posted by joe lisboa at 12:05 PM on March 25, 2005
No, Joe, typos on a blog created in between elements of real work are not the same as a dysfunctional education system.
Nor is your comment funny. Or quick, or clever.
posted by ParisParamus at 12:07 PM on March 25, 2005
Nor is your comment funny. Or quick, or clever.
posted by ParisParamus at 12:07 PM on March 25, 2005
Somebody's got some thin skin, methinks.
So are you a 1-L or a paralegal, Mr. Paramus?
posted by joe lisboa at 12:11 PM on March 25, 2005
So are you a 1-L or a paralegal, Mr. Paramus?
posted by joe lisboa at 12:11 PM on March 25, 2005
Somebody's got some thin skin, methinks.
You can actually watch his food digesting. Combined with his constantly jerking knee, PP has a difficult life indeed.
posted by sonofsamiam at 12:14 PM on March 25, 2005
You can actually watch his food digesting. Combined with his constantly jerking knee, PP has a difficult life indeed.
posted by sonofsamiam at 12:14 PM on March 25, 2005
I have been practicing law since 1990.
posted by ParisParamus at 12:20 PM on March 25, 2005
posted by ParisParamus at 12:20 PM on March 25, 2005
clevershark:
I see your objections to NCLB -- and I'm not a fan myself -- but I'm not sure about what it has to do with a publishing contractor doing work that turns out to be of poor quality.
The point is, these things weren't written by publishing contractors. The link between NCLB and this FPP is that many school districts are responding to NCLB by making tests and test prep materials on their own, with the intention of identifying kids who will fail the "real thing" - the high-stakes tests mandated by NCLB. Since few districts (even large ones) have people in their curriculum coordinator positions who have knowledge of test design, it leads not only to much more testing than even NCLB requires, but to badly designed tests and errors like the ones reported in the FPP.
posted by Chanther at 12:31 PM on March 25, 2005
I see your objections to NCLB -- and I'm not a fan myself -- but I'm not sure about what it has to do with a publishing contractor doing work that turns out to be of poor quality.
The point is, these things weren't written by publishing contractors. The link between NCLB and this FPP is that many school districts are responding to NCLB by making tests and test prep materials on their own, with the intention of identifying kids who will fail the "real thing" - the high-stakes tests mandated by NCLB. Since few districts (even large ones) have people in their curriculum coordinator positions who have knowledge of test design, it leads not only to much more testing than even NCLB requires, but to badly designed tests and errors like the ones reported in the FPP.
posted by Chanther at 12:31 PM on March 25, 2005
Good for you, PP. I was just awfully curious what all this "real work" was that kept you from spell-checking a post about, um, declining educational standards and misspellings in curricular material. The fact that it was in service of spreading that ridiculous "teachers-can't-do" meme just invited further scrutiny. Good luck with your summary judgment motion.
posted by joe lisboa at 12:40 PM on March 25, 2005
posted by joe lisboa at 12:40 PM on March 25, 2005
Seconded on the tired "teachers-can't-do," which is most often propagated by those who cannot (and should not) teach. Granted that many teachers do burn out, but that is a separate argument with many root causes, none of whihc have anything to do with instructional designers and buck-passing administrators who apparently do not value copy editors.
posted by beelzbubba at 12:58 PM on March 25, 2005
posted by beelzbubba at 12:58 PM on March 25, 2005
My vision of the kind of person who should be teaching is based on having grown up in supposedly very good public schools in the NYC suburbs (Rockland County). I encountered teachers who, for the most part, were uninspiring (with two or three exceptions that come to mind, over those 13 years of school Nursery-12th Grade), and mediocre. Kids with parents who were professionals did well; those whose parents were more middle-middle class (me) or working class didn't gain much upward social mobility. And if this is what goes on in a "very good" school, I must assume it's many times worse elsewhere.
I want people teaching who are smart, funny, engaging and not burned-out. The best way to achieve that is to radically change the system.
NYC: the elite go to the elite public schools, and the rest--have pity on them.
posted by ParisParamus at 1:09 PM on March 25, 2005
I want people teaching who are smart, funny, engaging and not burned-out. The best way to achieve that is to radically change the system.
NYC: the elite go to the elite public schools, and the rest--have pity on them.
posted by ParisParamus at 1:09 PM on March 25, 2005
I work for the NYC DOE. It gets kind of depressing/frustrating when there's bad news about the Department every time you open the newspaper - today, unfortunately, was no different.
posted by moxyberry at 1:25 PM on March 25, 2005
posted by moxyberry at 1:25 PM on March 25, 2005
Teaching is a profession which largely attracts those who are can't do.
And too, obviously, so does the legal profession. Don't judge all teachers by the few and I won't judge all ambulance chasers by you.
Whatever shall we do with these teachers since a publishing company can't do a decent job with textbooks? Perhaps give Chris Whittle (Edison schools, Channel One) a shot at it? I mean, that's always worked so well before!
posted by nofundy at 1:31 PM on March 25, 2005
And too, obviously, so does the legal profession. Don't judge all teachers by the few and I won't judge all ambulance chasers by you.
Whatever shall we do with these teachers since a publishing company can't do a decent job with textbooks? Perhaps give Chris Whittle (Edison schools, Channel One) a shot at it? I mean, that's always worked so well before!
posted by nofundy at 1:31 PM on March 25, 2005
Sorry, nofundy, but it's not a "few bad teachers." It's that, in my opinion, even most of the "good" teachers aren't that good. It's true that getting the New York City Schools to the level of the Ramapo Central School district (my schools) would be an incredible accomplishement, and it's also true that my complaints are, for a place like NYC, almost frivolous. But I think mediocrity of varying degrees plagues all public schools.
I repeat: the whole public education institution needs to be done over.
posted by ParisParamus at 1:46 PM on March 25, 2005
I repeat: the whole public education institution needs to be done over.
posted by ParisParamus at 1:46 PM on March 25, 2005
Kids with parents who were professionals did well; those whose parents were more middle-middle class (me) or working class didn't gain much upward social mobility.
PP-if this is your definition of what school is supposed to provide, then yes, the entire system does need to be redone. Your initial argument, however, was that the teaching profession "attracts those who are can't do." This is my area of disagreement. I think that the profession attracts people who do truly care (I teach teachers, btw, and this after a long career in the business and IT world). That people, once in the job, are largely ineffective, or mediocre, or burned out, is no different than any other job or profession. Apply the 80/20 rule here as well as any place else.
I do not disagree that the system could use reengineering--of course, that point of view probably comes from my last two corporate jobs as a business-process engineer and as a organizational change-management consultant--but I do not think that the blame should be placed so heavily on the shoulders of the teachers. Part of the problem resides with state bureaucrats who try to design and engineer social policy through the schools; another part resides with politicians (of either stripe, but the current interferants from the right who want to revoke the Enlightenment era and take us back to the halcyon days of Church-driven and "divinely" inspired curricula are in my view the more harmful than those of the left who want to ensure that we are all equal by none of us excelling [and I fully acknowledge that these arguments are reuctionist]).
I think we would probably agree many issues, but I am with nofundy here, teachers are no more responsible for the morass the education system is than are trial lawyers responsible for the high cost of health care. Place the blame for the bad education elsewhere, it is a systemic problem, not an instructor problem.
posted by beelzbubba at 2:05 PM on March 25, 2005
PP-if this is your definition of what school is supposed to provide, then yes, the entire system does need to be redone. Your initial argument, however, was that the teaching profession "attracts those who are can't do." This is my area of disagreement. I think that the profession attracts people who do truly care (I teach teachers, btw, and this after a long career in the business and IT world). That people, once in the job, are largely ineffective, or mediocre, or burned out, is no different than any other job or profession. Apply the 80/20 rule here as well as any place else.
I do not disagree that the system could use reengineering--of course, that point of view probably comes from my last two corporate jobs as a business-process engineer and as a organizational change-management consultant--but I do not think that the blame should be placed so heavily on the shoulders of the teachers. Part of the problem resides with state bureaucrats who try to design and engineer social policy through the schools; another part resides with politicians (of either stripe, but the current interferants from the right who want to revoke the Enlightenment era and take us back to the halcyon days of Church-driven and "divinely" inspired curricula are in my view the more harmful than those of the left who want to ensure that we are all equal by none of us excelling [and I fully acknowledge that these arguments are reuctionist]).
I think we would probably agree many issues, but I am with nofundy here, teachers are no more responsible for the morass the education system is than are trial lawyers responsible for the high cost of health care. Place the blame for the bad education elsewhere, it is a systemic problem, not an instructor problem.
posted by beelzbubba at 2:05 PM on March 25, 2005
and as a further point, I completely disagree that the aim of education should be to provide upward social mobility. That should not and cannot be the charge of public (or any) elementary or secondary education.
posted by beelzbubba at 2:07 PM on March 25, 2005
posted by beelzbubba at 2:07 PM on March 25, 2005
I repeat: the whole public education institution needs to be done over.
So how would you fix it, out of curiosity?
posted by Chanther at 3:39 PM on March 25, 2005
So how would you fix it, out of curiosity?
posted by Chanther at 3:39 PM on March 25, 2005
Hi! I'm blunt, how are You?
If your kids live in Texas, and take the TEKS... go take a look at some of the very odd language used in the "standardized" state TEKS TAKS TOKS TIKS TWAKS TIKS (whatever the nomenclature is this year... it will change soon enough....$$$) and ask yourself...
"Gee, I have a college degree, am an adult, and work a professional job, yet have difficulty understanding this (ahem) junk. My tax dollars are PAYING for this? Excuse me?"
Oh, and a day spent volunteering/meandering in your childs school might answer a few questions about what is wrong with schools today also. Good Luck!
posted by buzzman at 4:18 PM on March 25, 2005
If your kids live in Texas, and take the TEKS... go take a look at some of the very odd language used in the "standardized" state TEKS TAKS TOKS TIKS TWAKS TIKS (whatever the nomenclature is this year... it will change soon enough....$$$) and ask yourself...
"Gee, I have a college degree, am an adult, and work a professional job, yet have difficulty understanding this (ahem) junk. My tax dollars are PAYING for this? Excuse me?"
Oh, and a day spent volunteering/meandering in your childs school might answer a few questions about what is wrong with schools today also. Good Luck!
posted by buzzman at 4:18 PM on March 25, 2005
Yes nofundy, textbooks are a big business. As is Channel 1, and textbook wrappers/protective covers.
Our schools, and the minds of our young people are officially for sale. Advertising rules.
As an "unaccomplished 35 year old" (thanks Albert Jr.) I have seen kids scream in pain about having to watch channel one each day. Yes, believe it or not... recruitment ads for the US Army. Not that serving our badass nation is poor or cheap, but good God; advertisments and commercialism in our schools? HELP!!!!!
Take a "sick day" from work. Hang out at areas of your childs school. Rent a disguise if you must. Hire a P.I. Be there! On a day to day basis; I honestly believe I witness the near purposeful slavery of the less able and disabled of our country. And as for the able; they learn to consume; consume, consume....
Caveat: I can AFFORD to be a teacher. I have NO spouse. NO kids. And a given future as a *caretaker* of land (
If you do not witness what our schools produce.... do not complain about the results.
posted by buzzman at 4:43 PM on March 25, 2005
Our schools, and the minds of our young people are officially for sale. Advertising rules.
As an "unaccomplished 35 year old" (thanks Albert Jr.) I have seen kids scream in pain about having to watch channel one each day. Yes, believe it or not... recruitment ads for the US Army. Not that serving our badass nation is poor or cheap, but good God; advertisments and commercialism in our schools? HELP!!!!!
Take a "sick day" from work. Hang out at areas of your childs school. Rent a disguise if you must. Hire a P.I. Be there! On a day to day basis; I honestly believe I witness the near purposeful slavery of the less able and disabled of our country. And as for the able; they learn to consume; consume, consume....
Caveat: I can AFFORD to be a teacher. I have NO spouse. NO kids. And a given future as a *caretaker* of land (
If you do not witness what our schools produce.... do not complain about the results.
posted by buzzman at 4:43 PM on March 25, 2005
When I first started out (after two years spent observing in public schools for my doctoral dissertation), I taught in an urban public school for three days and quit. I had a stack of required curriculum guides a yard high, no paper, no copier, no support, and 33 kids in a class. We were required to administer standardized tests back then, and it was a joke then. It's a worse joke now.
Since then, I've been teaching in an independent school for twelve years. I have 19 per class, computers for every kid, plenty of support staff, and the freedom to do what I want. I'm a master teacher with a good income. My colleagues and my administrators respect me.
Anyone who stays teaching in public education, especially urban schools, is either a hack or a saint. Bringing in second-career or alternative-certification teachers is basically a cruel trick on both the teachers who have survived and the hapless would-be teachers. The problem isn't that good people don't go into teaching. It's that so many don't stay.
posted by Peach at 6:54 PM on March 25, 2005
Since then, I've been teaching in an independent school for twelve years. I have 19 per class, computers for every kid, plenty of support staff, and the freedom to do what I want. I'm a master teacher with a good income. My colleagues and my administrators respect me.
Anyone who stays teaching in public education, especially urban schools, is either a hack or a saint. Bringing in second-career or alternative-certification teachers is basically a cruel trick on both the teachers who have survived and the hapless would-be teachers. The problem isn't that good people don't go into teaching. It's that so many don't stay.
posted by Peach at 6:54 PM on March 25, 2005
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Hey.
I think I may have just torpedoed the ETS. Or a big chunk of its racket anyway.
Give the job to the kids. They need something to do so they watch less TV, maybe use their brains more.
Heh heh. This is fun.
I'm frikkin' serious.
Give people, kids and adults alike, a little responsibility - or, rather, ask them nicely to take on responsibility - and they grow up mighty fast and in the best possible way.
The Marines know that.
posted by troutfishing at 6:07 AM on March 25, 2005