'Republicans turn their back on teachers'

[Dually]

They supported Gore, the republicans didn't turn their back on them, the teachers never liked them.

 

[Tiger]

Great article, although I don't know what the teacher in the trenches could do to rectify the situation. Ciriculum is set by the state and local school board.
I'm sending it on the both of my siblings to get their thoughts.

I was struck by this passage.



<< There is no need, of course, to ferret out the fact that the schools are in the business of teaching &quot;values&quot; at the expense of reading, writing, and ciphering. They boast of it publicly. Here are the words of a professor of educational psychology explaining to the public why they ought to accept with equanimity the fact that students do so poorly on tests of reading, writing, and ciphering. &quot;Those tests, you must understand, do not attempt to quantify such crucial concerns as students? self-perception; their attitude toward, and relationship with, people whose culture and social class differ from their own; their ethical behavior, values, personal philosophy and moral commitments; their creativity, emotional health and sense of ethnic identity?precisely the areas that schools have been emphasizing&quot;. >>



The problem in a nutshell.

 

[Pennstate]

Sorry, although the essay was a good one, the majority of classes students take in school are math, science (more than one many times), social studies, and english. TO say that we are emphasing on teaching &quot;ethical behavior, values, personal philosophy and moral commitments; their creativity, emotional health and sense of ethnic identity&quot; is an over-exaggeration.


One thing that I do agree is that we emphasize on computers too much; as if computer is to magic bulet to learning. THe magic bullet is a good teacher + a student willing to learn and DO HOMEWORK. However, with such low salaries, many potential talents go into the industry or academia where they command a higher salary, and receives more respect. In addition, you can not compare a inner city/rural school's failures to the image of well-funded suburban schools. Because most suburban schools succede in teaching its students. If a well-funded suburban school fails, It failed for a different reason.

 

[almostmakingit]

When I asked my superintendent where the math curriculm was and why the students were no longer drilled in math facts.. He told me that it wasn't necessary.....we have calculators now... In another school district. a relative of mine questioned why the students weren't taught the multiplication tables, she was told, it's the parents responsibility.. Unfortunately the parents were never notified..

Another thing I noticed in most of my local stores is that if you give the young cashier an extra nickel after the register has already calculated the change,, they are stumped... Anyone else have similar experiences...

Tiger.. I know that there are teachers who believe in the basics and see what has been going on.. They tried to do their best in an ever changing environment... (In my district they were honorable rebels) I only wish that these teachers would collectively demand that the basics be taught.. though I fear their numbers are dwindling