I've been a college aide for the past few months and observing how the education system works now, I can't help but wonder WTF are the politicians doing.
TESTS, TESTS, and MORE TESTS. I work in an elementary school and I cannot believe the amount of testings they are imposing upon the kids. It has gotten to a point where testings are the only means of measurement for a kids performance and poor at that. When I was in elementary school the only thing standing between a kid and passing onto the next grade was the teacher's judgement. There is the MAT6 but that was the only test. Now there are so many tests that I can't even remember their names. There's even a test on how many pushups, situps, etc. that a kid can do!!! And the teacher is no longer the person deciding whether or not a kid pass, it's their test scores. So what happens? The teacher adjusts his/her teaching style/plan to accommodate the tests. And you know what? That doesn't help. Why? Because at such a young age, kids do not know the importance of such tests. I have made SEVERAL observations where a kid is amazingly brighter than his/her test scores. So in the end, kids are being held back for their deemed "lower than average intelligence" when they are just bad test takers. There are even several kids that are approaching the age of 14 who are STILL in the 5th grade. Yeah wait until he is in high school and is in his early 20's. His social life will be all funked up because some politician decided his test scores were more important.
Just today I found out that the teacher, whom I aide for during the just past school year, got fired. I was aiding for him the first week that summer school started and he mysteriously left the job afterwards. I talked to one of his summer school students and apparently THAT student's parent is pressing charges on him. Why? Because the student was disobedient in class and he held her hand behind her back while talking to her. Total bullsh*t! If he can get fired and into legal trouble for that, then I am scared out of my pants where the education system is going. I was there when that happened and all he did was put her hands behind her back while talking to her. Kids are taught to keep their hands to themselves and he likes to practice that in his class. Observing him teach his class throughout the year, I can definately say he is one of the greatest teacher I have known.
I believe there are two components that make up a great teacher. First is obviously the education, which ANYONE can have. Second is dedication, heart, and commitment, which is very rare. This teacher has both. And I cannot believe such a thing can happen to such a great teacher while I see so many crappy teachers out there who don't even really care about their kids. I mean it pisses me off so much how not only the education system has changed, but society and it's view towards the borderline between discipline and abuse. I remember in the 3rd grade my teacher would wack me with a ruler across the palm if I was ever disobedient. Now a teacher can not even MILDLY discipline his/her kids without fear of legal retaliation.
In the end who suffers? Society and the kids. Good teachers will be scared away while those who treat this profession as just a job will not care. Teaching and discipline should go hand in hand. In a society with rising tensions, how can we expect to improve the system while scaring away the component essential to it's improvements?
TESTS, TESTS, and MORE TESTS. I work in an elementary school and I cannot believe the amount of testings they are imposing upon the kids. It has gotten to a point where testings are the only means of measurement for a kids performance and poor at that. When I was in elementary school the only thing standing between a kid and passing onto the next grade was the teacher's judgement. There is the MAT6 but that was the only test. Now there are so many tests that I can't even remember their names. There's even a test on how many pushups, situps, etc. that a kid can do!!! And the teacher is no longer the person deciding whether or not a kid pass, it's their test scores. So what happens? The teacher adjusts his/her teaching style/plan to accommodate the tests. And you know what? That doesn't help. Why? Because at such a young age, kids do not know the importance of such tests. I have made SEVERAL observations where a kid is amazingly brighter than his/her test scores. So in the end, kids are being held back for their deemed "lower than average intelligence" when they are just bad test takers. There are even several kids that are approaching the age of 14 who are STILL in the 5th grade. Yeah wait until he is in high school and is in his early 20's. His social life will be all funked up because some politician decided his test scores were more important.
Just today I found out that the teacher, whom I aide for during the just past school year, got fired. I was aiding for him the first week that summer school started and he mysteriously left the job afterwards. I talked to one of his summer school students and apparently THAT student's parent is pressing charges on him. Why? Because the student was disobedient in class and he held her hand behind her back while talking to her. Total bullsh*t! If he can get fired and into legal trouble for that, then I am scared out of my pants where the education system is going. I was there when that happened and all he did was put her hands behind her back while talking to her. Kids are taught to keep their hands to themselves and he likes to practice that in his class. Observing him teach his class throughout the year, I can definately say he is one of the greatest teacher I have known.
I believe there are two components that make up a great teacher. First is obviously the education, which ANYONE can have. Second is dedication, heart, and commitment, which is very rare. This teacher has both. And I cannot believe such a thing can happen to such a great teacher while I see so many crappy teachers out there who don't even really care about their kids. I mean it pisses me off so much how not only the education system has changed, but society and it's view towards the borderline between discipline and abuse. I remember in the 3rd grade my teacher would wack me with a ruler across the palm if I was ever disobedient. Now a teacher can not even MILDLY discipline his/her kids without fear of legal retaliation.
In the end who suffers? Society and the kids. Good teachers will be scared away while those who treat this profession as just a job will not care. Teaching and discipline should go hand in hand. In a society with rising tensions, how can we expect to improve the system while scaring away the component essential to it's improvements?
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