Public Education ~ wife's job was just threatened

[Melensdad]

[rant mode: ON]


My wife gave up a 6-figure job as a private banker to give back to the community and consequently became a high school teacher. She's been teaching for about 7 or 8 years. During her time at the school she was selected as one of the most influential teachers, she has received glowing job reviews, is popular with the students, was made a department head . . . but has had some issues with the administration.

Today is one of those bad days. Our school system, which from my personal perspective is run by a bunch of nincompoops, has done a great job of 'dumbing down' the curriculum in an effort to elevate grades. This has been an ongoing source of frustration for some of the teachers. "Honors" classes and "Advance Placement" classes used to have minimum academic criteria that had to be met prior to admission into those classes, now anyone can take them without the need to even know the basic subject matter prior to entry. Teachers have literally been threatened by both peer pressure and by the lower level administrators to NEVER fail a student. Again peer pressure and administrators urge teachers to accept homework late, accept assignments late, while still giving full credit without any penalties.

Today my wife was called in and given a warning of some sort. Its an official warning. Seems that there is a retarded student in one of her classes. (they are called "special needs" students to be politically correct). The retarded student had some problems with understanding the subject matter of a test. The parent of the retarded student then complained to the administration. The head of the special needs program had a little 'chat' with my wife. My wife has now been instructed to make the tests and course materials in her class more "fair" for everyone. Essentially she was told to DUMB DOWN THE ENTIRE COURSE to make the class easier for the retarded child.

The lady in charge of the special needs program was very adamant about my wife doing this. She then asked my wife she wanted our daughter to have to face tests like the one she gave to her students to which my wife replied that she expects schools to challenge the students because they won't learn if they are not challenges. Apparently my wife gave the WRONG answer. My wife was then directed to seek further "advice" from Mr. XXXXXXX concerning this matter if she did not comply as ordered.

My observation of the PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM in this state is that we NEED to get a "voucher system" put in place and we need to allow that voucher system to allow parents to choose private schools as well as other public schools.


[Rant mode: /OFF]

 

[jimbo]

IMO that is the problem with equal education programs. It is impossible to equal up as some simply are not capable. The alternative is to equal down, easily accomplished. Voucher systems are the best answer, but aren't going to happen as vouchers would pose a major threat to the NEA.

 

[Erik]

+1 for vouchers.
you now see part of why I'm no longer a teacher.
I couldn't even stick it out as long as your wife.
good luck to her!

 

[JEV]

Dumbing-down education is why we have so many school administrators who perpetuate advancement through laziness. They are a product of the same system they are promoting/forcing on the schools. They should all be taken an put in an institution where they can do no more harm to themself or to society. These people are nothing more than progressive liberals, just like the thieving bastards who are forcing their agenda on the American people. I wonder if these people would allow their threats/promises to be published in their local newspaper for the rest of their neighbors to see just how ignorant they are?

 

[Spiffy1]

Sounds too much like my wife; I've told her many times her talents would fetch salaries mutiples of mine if she wanted, yet makes less than I, pursuing her passion in education.

While quite supportive of making allowances [and in the context of this sentance I agree] for those with legitimate disabilaties but trying to stretch their ability, she too often laments the push to "target curiculum the slowest pupil" or "just make sure everyone passes" rather than driving the students to the potential of the curiculum.

I'll third [or fourth...] the fact that allowing privatization of education is part of the ulitmate answer, yet I still doubt there is any chance of education paving the way to the success of this country until the general philosophy goes back to the basics of reward based on achievement.

 

[bczoom]

Why is that student in her class as opposed to a special needs section?

A mixed group of mentalities is acceptable in certain areas, but school isn't one of them.

 

[darroll]

The libs put special needs students in the classroom.
And God help you if you mess up on their meds if they have a seizure. etc.
Our classrooms are a joke.

 

[JEV]

Why is that student in her class as opposed to a special needs section?

A mixed group of mentalities is acceptable in certain areas, but school isn't one of them.

I believe they call it "mainstreaming," which is high falootin' way of saying that they eliminated the budget for special needs. My sister-in-law taught LD for 25 of her 30 years as a teacher. They eliminated the budget for LD and put all those kids back into the mainstream where they failed to progress, and where they were abused by the ignorant kids who picked on and bullied them. My SIL was put into a middle school where she spent half of her time dealing with disciplinary problems, not leaving much time for teaching. Oh, they dumbed down her school as well. She got the hell out as soon as she had her time in, and refuses to go back as a fill-in.

 

[Spiffy1]

The libs put special needs students in the classroom.
And God help you if you mess up on their meds if they have a seizure. etc.
Our classrooms are a joke.

Both Bob's issue and hand and your tangent darroll, come back to wanna-be-parents. Actually, society in general, wanting the world, but not the responsibility for it.

I see nothing wrong with a choice for a special needs student to be inclusive - however, when it becomes a burden to the teacher [as you noted] vs. parents, or the curiculum, that I have a problem. Even worse is those without legitimate disability, who choose to slow the curiculum, because they [and/or parents] don't wan't the responsibility. Don't you just love No Child Left Behind?

 

[pirate_girl]

When I was in school we had Special Ed classes taught by teachers who were specifically trained in that area.
Now I believe they call it LD.
For the life of me, I can't imagine why a mentally disabled kid would be put into a class of more progressive students.
That only puts stress on the entire classroom environment, teacher, students and THAT poor student who must endure being in her class Bob.
Everything about it is just wrong.

 

[Spiffy1]

When I was in school we had Special Ed classes taught by teachers who were specifically trained in that area.
Now I believe they call it LD.
For the life of me, I can't imagine why a mentally disabled kid would be put into a class of more progressive students.
That only puts stress on the entire classroom environment, teacher, students and THAT poor student who must endure being in her class Bob.
Everything about it is just wrong.

My wife is certified in "SPED" and teaches both general classes as well as "LD" and even "life skills." A student desiring to push their ability has never been a problem, but she's had students 50 points to either side of the IQ scale far more problematic when they want achievement without effort - IQ isn't the problem: lackluster students [and far moreso when parents are the ambition tree the nuts dropped from] are.

 

[muleman]

This teaching down to the lower level puts a hardship on those who are never challenged to excel. The special needs child suffers also as the proper curriculum for their abilities is not pursued. More of feel good legislation that causes more harm than good. Passing kids who can't meet the level is a disservice to them and will set them back as adults. You see too much of it for it to be just occasional cases.

 

[ncroamer65]

Over 30yrs? ago the idea was to help the educationaly challanged
to feel more normal, over simplified. Bringing the level of education
down to special needs level does a disservice to both not just one.

 

[Dargo]

[rant mode: ON]


My wife gave up a 6-figure job as a private banker to give back to the community and consequently became a high school teacher. She's been teaching for about 7 or 8 years. During her time at the school she was selected as one of the most influential teachers, she has received glowing job reviews, is popular with the students, was made a department head . . . but has had some issues with the administration.

Today is one of those bad days. Our school system, which from my personal perspective is run by a bunch of nincompoops, has done a great job of 'dumbing down' the curriculum in an effort to elevate grades. This has been an ongoing source of frustration for some of the teachers. "Honors" classes and "Advance Placement" classes used to have minimum academic criteria that had to be met prior to admission into those classes, now anyone can take them without the need to even know the basic subject matter prior to entry. Teachers have literally been threatened by both peer pressure and by the lower level administrators to NEVER fail a student. Again peer pressure and administrators urge teachers to accept homework late, accept assignments late, while still giving full credit without any penalties.

Today my wife was called in and given a warning of some sort. Its an official warning. Seems that there is a retarded student in one of her classes. (they are called "special needs" students to be politically correct). The retarded student had some problems with understanding the subject matter of a test. The parent of the retarded student then complained to the administration. The head of the special needs program had a little 'chat' with my wife. My wife has now been instructed to make the tests and course materials in her class more "fair" for everyone. Essentially she was told to DUMB DOWN THE ENTIRE COURSE to make the class easier for the retarded child.

The lady in charge of the special needs program was very adamant about my wife doing this. She then asked my wife she wanted our daughter to have to face tests like the one she gave to her students to which my wife replied that she expects schools to challenge the students because they won't learn if they are not challenges. Apparently my wife gave the WRONG answer. My wife was then directed to seek further "advice" from Mr. XXXXXXX concerning this matter if she did not comply as ordered.

My observation of the PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM in this state is that we NEED to get a "voucher system" put in place and we need to allow that voucher system to allow parents to choose private schools as well as other public schools.


[Rant mode: /OFF]

This is exactly why Indiana schools (can't speak for other states because I do not know) have as many as 40 valedictorians from some of the large high schools. As a direct result, class valedictorians no longer have standing "full academic scholarships" offered at any state schools as they used to have. Based on how ties would have been resolved, my daughter would still have easily been the lone class valedictorian last year.

However, since that is now the case, state schools now only offer a $2000 per year "valedictorian scholarship" to high school valedictorians. I cannot blame this on Obama (so relax Joe ), but this dumbing down and falsely elevating grades has cost me tens of thousands in lost scholarships. It also cost my daughter admission to her first choice, Duke University, since they had several hundred "non-minority" valedictorians apply and, in their defense, they made no apologies about admitting that children of Duke alum get preferential treatment in admissions. I don't blame Duke, I blame the system Bob's wife is facing.

Sorry, but my rant continues...

 

[Dargo]

Bob, honestly, did you not see this to a certain extent where we attended undergraduate school? I had a particular minority student in most of my classes for the last 3 years I was there and I tried my best to move and prevent him from cheating off of my exams. Still, he did so. What was appalling was when he would almost always receive between a half to a full letter grade higher than me when he copied my answers!

I know as a private school they wanted to brag about what percentages succeeded from their school, but some things are just plain wrong. As mentioned before, I can easily claim that I am more than 30% "Native American" (another issue that bothers me; if you were born here, you are a 'native American'. I'm talking about an American Indian. In retrospect, I should have pursued that line. Heck, I very well may have ended up being your cardiac surgeon now if I'd done so. Oh well, your best vision is always hindsight.

Still, this is not right and it severely handicaps and, at times, stops some of our top scholars because they do not receive the proper academic academic scholarships when going to college. I know which physician I'd rather have operating on me; the one who truly earned their grades. In our school system, it's based on a 4.0 GPA and in no way, shape, or form can any student ever receive a GPA any higher than a 4.0. Maybe in your area some extra credit etc. counts to raise a GPA above the ceiling of 4.0 we have here? If so, more power to that setup!

 

[bczoom]

cardiac surgeon[/B] now if I'd done so. Oh well, your best vision is always hindsight.

Which is it Brent, surgeon or optometrist?

 

[Melensdad]

Brent, perhaps I missed it in college? I was 3 years ahead of you and took a different track of courses so maybe I got lucky. I do know of a few minority students from Wabash who graduated pretty far down the class ranks who were accepted to medical schools while some of the white kids at/near the top of the scholastic ranks were passed over, delayed or denied entry. But that is a different issue, one of racial profiling. Well I suppose its somewhat parallel.