tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4636072180687067092.post6058149116023622498..comments2023-10-22T03:02:15.844-07:00Comments on Mood-Disordered Mama: The problem with education......is not educationCARRIEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13137602199313584768noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4636072180687067092.post-55660983395777654622011-09-30T10:50:20.528-07:002011-09-30T10:50:20.528-07:00Hot button topic! :-)
Several points:
1) I agree...Hot button topic! :-)<br /><br />Several points:<br /><br />1) I agree - parental involvement makes a monumental difference in a child's education. Common sense, observation, and numerous studies all support that statement. <br /><br />2) The reason increased parental involvement makes a difference is because more children are then receiving (from their parents) individualized help when they need it, whether through help with homework or the hiring of a tutor when necessary. Also, fewer bright children slip through the crack of mediocrity due to their own laziness or lack of the teacher's ability (time/energy/knowlewdge) to challenge them sufficiently. <br /><br />3) It is 100% absurd to expect 27 kids in a classroom to all learn in the same way - yet that's what is expected in a typical classroom (public OR private). And as a former teacher, you know that it's impossible <br />to truly differentiate as needed for 27 (or 90) students. That's where the parent volunteers that you mentioned would come in quite handy, helping to clarify assignments and guide students along in the ways that make sense to their individual brains.<br /><br />4) I had never thought about the absurdity of comparing Mrs. X's students from this year to Mrs. X's students from last year....that really is quite pointless, isn't it?<br /><br />5) Another big part of the problem (related to #3) is that generally speaking, schools teach in a style geared for left-brain, auditory/verbal learners. That means that kids who learn visually/kinesthetically sit there confused much of the time, taking in about 10% of what is taught. And then to complicate matters, most assessments are also geared for the auditory/verbal learners, which means that the right-brained kids fall behind both on the intake and the output side of things. <br /><br />5) More money is not necessarily the answer. Some of the poorest-performing school districts in the country are also the best-funded.<br /><br />6) In my ideal world, every child would be homeschooled, thereby eliminating this whole conversation. :-)<br /><br />7) Since this isn't the least bit realistic, my next favorite idea is charter schools. Charter schools allow for more creative ideas to be implemented, for less bureaucratic B.S. to be involved, for more kids to find their niches in the system, and for competition between schools to raise everyone's respective games, so-to-speak. <br /><br />Whew. I think I'm done...now I'm stepping down from my soapbox.<br /><br />On a very related note, if you have any free time, you should Google "New Orleans schools after Hurrican Katrina" and read some of the articles or watch some of the videos that come up. I saw a story about it a couple weeks ago, and it was truly inspiring, the way they revolutionized their terrible school system after Katrina.Kerihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05544930173539144894noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4636072180687067092.post-81276676512866784942011-09-28T06:02:32.837-07:002011-09-28T06:02:32.837-07:00I totally agree with you here! I have always said...I totally agree with you here! I have always said that a lot of parents are failing their kids these days. It's not just in the education sense but overall. So many kids these days are brats and it's the fault of the parents. Being a parent is tough and if you aren't willing and ready to do all that it takes to ensure that your child is well taken care of then you should not have children. I also thing that too many kids are overextended. Why do elementary age children need to play on a soccer team that requires they attend two weekly practices as well as a game on the weekend? When I was a child we didn't even have organized sports until middle school. We simply played soccer/football/etc... with our friends in our yards! <br /><br />One of the reasons I began homeschooling my children is because of Annie's experience in her public school. The classroom had 27 students with one teacher. Yes, she had an aide but the aide was there to help with a special needs child, so she was basically on her own. I am sorry but one person cannot teach that many children. If a parent or two had volunteered to help out it would have been much better. Maybe that parent could have spent time reading with a child who needed a bit of extra help or practiced spelling words with a child that just wasn't getting it. It would have made the teacher's job a lot easier. At the time, I was taking care of three children and pregnant with my fourth and I still managed to get into the classroom to help out! So, the other stay at home parents could certainly have given a bit of their time. <br /><br />Anyway.... I could go on and on. I just wanted to tell you that I totally agree with you. :)Shelbyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13184742797059205076noreply@blogger.com