This is [part of] what's wrong with America

[NFS4]

My girlfriend is a first grade teacher at a low-income school in Charlotte, NC. She has a class of 18 and 14 of the kids are horrible little sh!ts. They cuss, fight each other, yell at my GF, throw things at her, throw fits and roll around on the floor, steal stuff stuff from each other and my GF (my dad bought her a whole bunch of school supplies including an expensive white board marker set. One kid stole two of the markers).

There is absolutely NO parent involvement. Homework goes home everyday, only two of them bring it in regularly everyday.

My GF called one parent a few weeks ago about his son acting up in class and punching another kid. Here's how the conversation goes:

GF: Hello, this is Ms. *****, *****'s first grade teacher at ****** Elementary School
Dad? Who dis?
GF: **Repeats above**
Dad: Well??
GF: I was calling to see if you received the previous notes I sent home regarding ****'s behavior in class.
Dad: NO!
GF: Well, **** is being disruptive in class, is not listening, and punched another student today.
Dad: AND!?
GF: I just thought you should know about your child's behavior
Dad: **CLICK**

And today, out of a school of ~350 students, only 3 parents, THREE showed up for the crucial parents/teacher meeting tonight which goes over the curriculum and how to help parents work with their kids on school work and develop critical skills. The higher grade level teachers were also there to help parents prepare for End of Grade Testing.

It's like it's fruitless endeavor. The kids don't care, the parents don't care. The teachers are at an all-time low in moral (out of the 5 teachers in the 1st grade, 3 are leaving -- including my GF) trying to get through to kids that don't want to be there and don't have the home support to make things work.

**SIGH**

 

[jpeyton]

No Child Left Behind!

 

[Queasy]

More money will solve the problem.

 

[Gunslinger08]

It's a low income area. People with a low income usually don't have a great education... meaning their parents probably didn't value education either. And so the cycle continues.

 

[paulney]

That's just too bad.
I hope those two that do their homework can transfer to a better school and have the will and support from parents to at least complete high school education.

 

[0roo0roo]

depends on school district. some areas are more affluent/care more about schooling/scores and will fight their way into such neighborhoods. its a culture thing, teacher can't do squat.

 

[EKKC]

blame canada

 

[Accipiter22]

time to abandon ship and leave the savages to their own devices.

 

[MrWizzard]

Yea it's sad the public school system is really going down hill. Private schools still have a very good turn out for parent teacher meetings.

Unfortunately some people think the best way to fix the problem is to just throw more money at the schools. See is your GF can get in the private sector; people actually will appreciate her there.

My little sister has gone from public to private to public schools; she is a senior in HS. She hates how the teaches all try to push their agenda's and crap on the students and all seem to hate their jobs and not care. Most of the students don't care either.

Edit: I know how it can get dumped on you though, a girl that lives with our family had to do the whole intern teaching thing in the public sector for a while, in COMPTON, CA. That place needs help she would come home so discouraged every day.

 

[imported_stev]

Maybe some of the parents can't make it to evening meetings due to many service-related jobs running late? Anyway, the telephone conversation is F'ed up. No excuse for that. Very, very sad.

 

[Ultralight]

Originally posted by: 0roo0roo
depends on school district. some areas are more affluent/care more about schooling/scores and will fight their way into such neighborhoods. its a culture thing, teacher can't do squat.

My wife is a teacher in an affluent environment and her stories of parents that a) blame the school and b) blame the teachers for Johnny's failing grades is repeated more times than she can count.

Even when she sends reminder notes, has assignments displayed on the internet, and calls to let the parents know of their child's refusal to finish or hand in work, some still have the gall to blame others rather than Johnny.

Its everywhere.

 

[ponyo]

low-income school

 

[NFS4]

Originally posted by: Ultralight

Originally posted by: 0roo0roo
depends on school district. some areas are more affluent/care more about schooling/scores and will fight their way into such neighborhoods. its a culture thing, teacher can't do squat.

My wife is a teacher in an affluent environment and her stories of parents that a) blame the school and b) blame the teachers for Johnny's failing grades is repeated more times than she can count.

Even when she sends reminder notes, has assignments displayed on the internet, and calls to let the parents know of their child's refusal to finish or hand in work, some still have the gall to blame others rather than Johnny.

Its everywhere.

The Internet does not exist to the kids at this school.

My GF student taught at a VERY affluent school in Charlotte. Her experiences with the parents mirror your above comments.

 

[imported_bum]

I have great respect for the teachers that stay in that type of environment (low income, etc) and try to make a difference. It's a TOUGH job. I know a couple people who thought they wanted to teach in low income areas and gave up FAST. Hard to make progress that way :\.

 

[imported_stev]

Originally posted by: MrWizzard
Yea it's sad the public school system is really going down hill.

Maybe it is in your town, but I had a fairly positive public school experience and I didn't grow up in a wealthy community either.

 

[NFS4]

Originally posted by: bum
I have great respect for the teachers that stay in that type of environment (low income, etc) and try to make a difference. It's a TOUGH job. I know a couple people who thought they wanted to teach in low income areas and gave up FAST. Hard to make progress that way :\.

My GF felt the same way. She thought she could make a difference. Her first day, she called me crying her head off. I thought someone died or something. The kids absolute destroyed her (she came in in late January to take over for a teacher leaving... hmm, wonder why).

She has learned to deal with the kids, but their behavior has NOT gotten better and she's has become a much more bitter person (not to me) per se, but I can tell that this experience has forever changed her.

 

[everman]

You obviously must throw more money at them. duh

 

[Jawo]

Sounds like the apple doesnt fall far from the tree. Up until 4th grade I went to an elementary school that was in a good neighborhood, but bordered cheap housing where mostly hispanic immigrants lived. Out of a class of 30, 25 went to ESL (English as a second language). In that time, myself and the other kids did practically nothing since the teacher couldnt teach with most of the class gone! It was amazing though how they would always have the latest Air Jordans, but couldnt afford $100 for a field trip to Williamsburg!

Moved in 4th grade to a county that wasnt over run by immigrants (then) and had a much better experience...students actually spoke English and I learned a whole lot more.

 

[OS]

damn, what country should i move to in 20 years.

 

[Gunslinger08]

The problem isn't the schools. It's the parents. You can get a good education anywhere if your parents support you and push you to be a good student.

 

[irishScott]

Stupid people will breed stupid kids 99% of the time.

 

[NFS4]

Originally posted by: irishScott
Stupid people will breed stupid kids 99% of the time.

I don't think that George H.W. Bush is stupid.

 

[randomint]

how are they gonna make money if they show up to these useless meetings?

 

[NFS4]

Originally posted by: joshsquall
The problem isn't the schools. It's the parents. You can get a good education anywhere if your parents support you and push you to be a good student.

I agree. You may get some sh!tty teachers too along the way, but if you have a good support system at home, you should be able to excel (at the elementary level). From middle school on up, I think you should be able to handle things mostly on your own.

 

[JohnCU]

most of the schools in upstate SC are pretty good, i thought that carried over the border.