Academically troubled schools

smokeyjoe53

Six-man pro
TEA has released the list of academically troubled schools. Interesting reading. Some are surprising, others a case of " round up the usual suspects".........
 
Never understood this system... you are punishing schools, admin, teachers, who are doing their best with very little to work with.... having taught at inner city schools and schools in wealthy suburbs, there is only so much modelling you can do with the clay you are given...
 
topher80":1s8jch0q said:
Never understood this system... you are punishing schools, admin, teachers, who are doing their best with very little to work with.... having taught at inner city schools and schools in wealthy suburbs, there is only so much modelling you can do with the clay you are given...
You're trying to apply logic to a bureaucratic system. With the exception of some dedicated teachers, our educational system consists of preparing students to pass standardized tests mandated by federal and state agencies. Politicians give lip service and tickle our ears with slogans and catch phrases but provide no concrete solutions to the educational problems we face.
 
smokey, you're absolutely right. The fix for the education system is to stop these silly standardized tests because then teachers wouldn't be teaching for the test. That, however, will never happen because the politicians will then have nothing to pat themselves on the back. In Ontario, Canada there is no SAT test. You apply to college (community/junior college in the US) or university based on your top 6 marks in Grade 12. Not a fair system by any means but at least as teachers we don't have to teach to the test. We do have a Grade 10 standardized test but it is a complete joke. I believe the school I'm at currently has a 97% pass rate.
 
Johnny South":vf58il5z said:
How about, "Let's not leave any child behind"? Would that be a good slogan?

... some kids are going to get left behind, just like some adults get left behind in life. It's just the way the world works. Kids nowadays can get out of anything that they don't want to do by getting Mommy or Daddy to kick up enough of a fuss that administrators just throw their hands in the air and say "You win!". I cannot imagine what the system will be like in 25 years time.
 
Our Texas politicians don't give a squat about the problems and finances of Texas public schools. Why? Because their kids go to private schools!
 
smokeyjoe53":3c8pj2xl said:
topher80":3c8pj2xl said:
Never understood this system... you are punishing schools, admin, teachers, who are doing their best with very little to work with.... having taught at inner city schools and schools in wealthy suburbs, there is only so much modelling you can do with the clay you are given...
You're trying to apply logic to a bureaucratic system. With the exception of some dedicated teachers, our educational system consists of preparing students to pass standardized tests mandated by federal and state agencies. Politicians give lip service and tickle our ears with slogans and catch phrases but provide no concrete solutions to the educational problems we face.

Which is why homeschooling, charter schools, and private/parochial schools are becoming more and more popular options.
 
topher80":2djgzjc6 said:
Johnny South":2djgzjc6 said:
How about, "Let's not leave any child behind"? Would that be a good slogan?

... some kids are going to get left behind, just like some adults get left behind in life. It's just the way the world works. Kids nowadays can get out of anything that they don't want to do by getting Mommy or Daddy to kick up enough of a fuss that administrators just throw their hands in the air and say "You win!". I cannot imagine what the system will be like in 25 years time.

Even more broken than it is now, but bureaucratic inertia will keep things the same unless some politician with no ties to the system comes in and dismantles it. The powers-that-be will fight that politician to the last kid. Chicago teachers just voted to go on strike because a bankrupt system that spends almost $18k/yr/student cannot afford to give them their accustomed 5% raises every year and continue a pension that allows them to retire on 80% of their average 3 years salary at age 55.
 
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