What would you do?? (Education question)


skyvolt2000

skyvolt2000

Well-Known Member
http://dallasisdblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2009/01/the-grading-dustup-what-does-s.html#comments

Well this comment pretty much sums up what teachers are having to think about with this grading policy.

Posted by Ray @ 11:12 PM Sat, Jan 10, 2009

Combine the grading policy of how to give a grade with the "you can't fail 10-20% (depending on your grade level) without having to fill out mountains of documents on what you the teacher need to do to improve" and you can see why teachers are getting frustrated.

Case in point: I have classes in which many of the students did NONE of the five projects for this six weeks (and by projects I'm talking about 5-45 minutes work tops each depending on their choices). I emailed, I talked, I begged, I pleaded...and after having the assignments for 4 weeks, got NOTHING, not even one I could try to grade. 20% of their grade is a zero right now and sadly enough all of them are failing.
One has a grade of 39 (needless to say this student did nothing all six weeks).
What do I do? Fail them, they got the grade, and then have to answer to my principal, area office, and whomever else, because I didn't have less than 15% fail? Or do I pass them and forget any academic integrity I ever had? Or do I give them yet another chance not to turn the assignments in sending the message that deadlines just don't matter?

Why do I have to risk losing my job as a teacher because there are students in my class who choose not to work? There is absolutely nothing I can do to force them to complete the assignments, but if I don't get them to make a 70, I could lose my job?

And you wonder why 1. good teachers leave the profession, 2. we're graduating kids with little or no employable skills, 3. our education system is the laughing stock of many countries....
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Oh BTW for finals- if a kid gets 55% of the questions right-THEY PASS.
 
This is one that isn't on that link, but a good one.
And I know Cee Dog won't like the end of it.

http://dallasisdblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2009/01/this-weeks-comment-of-the-week-17.html

The reading is no big deal anyway since a great many of the students at my urban high school usually do not do the reading anyway. They simply do not care no matter what I do for them. At the same time I hear them telling me that they want to go to the University of Texas, UCLA, and Michigan to become a beautician/obstetrician-gynecologist. What the hell??? You’ve got to be kidding me!!!!

Yeah, talk with me about motivation while I let you in on the fact that approximately 80% of my school’s students live in deep poverty, many possess minimal utility with standard English (immigrants and African Americans), many hope to be their family’s first high school graduate, and many others plan to work in the construction trades or in the underground economy. All the while my CEI and TAKS scores will determine my effectiveness.

Given these conditions, you will find me teaching in an affluent and white suburban district as soon as it is possible. The odds are stacked against teachers while false assessments are used to determine success… Give me a break and please let teachers return to teaching.
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Affluent white kids are just as trifling and sorry as their less affluent, Black counterparts.

The schools look better, but the output (or lack thereof) ain't that much different. That grass ain't always greener.
 
Maybe they think your projects are a waste of time. What is the teaching point? For example as the Director a teacher brought a student to me because he refused to do an assignment. His response was the teacher asked the class to write a US Senator and ask the questions she wanted wanted address. He said she allow the class to ask their own questions. After hearing what the student said, and reading the assignment, he made sense.
 
Vinita said:
Affluent white kids are just as trifling and sorry as their less affluent, Black counterparts.

The schools look better, but the output (or lack thereof) ain't that much different. That grass ain't always greener.
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They're passing more tests! Their schools are not on AYP to the extent that many Black schools are, therefore it is providing a measure of job security. In Houston we are getting incentive bonuses for kids passing the TAKS and also for improvements individually as well as school wide(between $1500-$9000). So now $$$ is being thrown into the equation.
 
Vinita said:
Affluent white kids are just as trifling and sorry as their less affluent, Black counterparts.

The schools look better, but the output (or lack thereof) ain't that much different. That grass ain't always greener.
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Preach. :read:

It's everywhere. :read:
 
Vinita said:
Affluent white kids are just as trifling and sorry as their less affluent, Black counterparts.

The schools look better, but the output (or lack thereof) ain't that much different. That grass ain't always greener.
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You shole is right......


The American Education System is subpar period. Meaning rich, black, white, or poor.........

We are behind other countries big time right now. We don't take Education serious enough. When you start dealing with these other folks from other countries you understand just how far behind our system is.
 
JR said:
You shole is right......


The American Education System is subpar period. Meaning rich, black, white, or poor.........

We are behind other countries big time right now. We don't take Education serious enough. When you start dealing with these other folks from other countries you understand just how far behind our system is.
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You're right. And part of the reason is that mess about passing a student if they do 55% of the work or the teacher getting reprimanded because more than 15% of the students fail. Now granted, there are some poor teachers... But there are also some lazy azz students who know that somebody gonna get them out of a jam when the time comes. Case in point. I taught middle/high school for 8 years. During the last semester of my public school teaching career, I had a coach come to me and beg me to pass this one football player who A. Was a sorta good player and; 2. hadn't been to my class in a whole 18 weeks. :retard: During this same semester, the principal and guidance counselor admonished all senior teachers to not pass a student if they hadn't done the work - especially if they were seniors. (I didn't get the memo about seniors having all these privileges that fresh, soph, and juniors didn't have. Like the luxury of only going to classes that could sleep in.) But 2 days before graduation, the gc comes abeggin' and apleadin' for this other one student who also hadn't been to my class in a whole 18+ weeks. Talkin' bout "can you just give her something to do to make up the work..." Yeah, I can give her something to do - next year. I taught Alg I, Phy Sci and Chem - all REQUIRED class for graduation. How you NOT gonna come to class? I sent out the required notices to parents after three absences, I called, notified the principal, etc. etc. I hear nothing until it is damn near too late. Those babies graduated on time folks... It was then that I realized that that semester would be my last....See, as long as we have administration like this, we are gonna be behind.
 
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DR. GSUAKA93 said:
You're right. And part of the reason is that mess about passing a student if they do 55% of the work or the teacher getting reprimanded because more than 15% of the students fail. Now granted, there are some poor teachers... But there are also some lazy azz students who know that somebody gonna get them out of a jam when the time comes. Case in point. I taught middle/high school for 8 years. During the last semester of my public school teaching career, I had a coach come to me and beg me to pass this one football player who A. Was a sorta good player and; 2. hadn't been to my class in a whole 18 weeks. :retard: During this same semester, the principal and guidance counselor admonished all senior teachers to not pass a student if they hadn't done the work - especially if they were seniors. (I didn't get the memo about seniors having all these privileges that fresh, soph, and juniors didn't have. Like the luxury of only going to classes that could sleep in.) But 2 days before graduation, the gc comes abeggin' and apleadin' for this other one student who also hadn't been to my class in a whole 18+ weeks. Talkin' bout "can you just give her something to do to make up the work..." Yeah, I can give her something to do - next year. I taught Alg I, Phy Sci and Chem - all REQUIRED class for graduation. How you NOT gonna come to class? I sent out the required notices to parents after three absences, I called, notified the principal, etc. etc. I hear nothing until it is damn near too late. Those babies graduated on time folks... It was then that I realized that that semester would be my last....See, as long as we have administration like this, we are gonna be behind.
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:vomit: How can you not care about <b>sincere</b> education? :smh:

Man this is almost sickening. :vomit:
 
Panther88 said:
:vomit: How can you not care about <b>sincere</b> education? :smh:

Man this is almost sickening. :vomit:
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It is mos def sickening... I tried. I really did try to stay in the classroom because, while there are those students that just have a differing agenda from those who sincerely want to learn, I really, really loved teaching. I still miss it. It's the administration that I could not deal with. I could take getting a headache from a child - because they are young. They are supposed to be lazy, be immature, need guidance, etc... I don't even have a problem with adults who really mean well but just fall short, don't fully understand the rules, etc... But it was those administrators who didn't know isht, wouldn't tryin' to learn isht, but thought that the teachers were the dumb ones; as well as the political shenanigans of the local school board that I just couldn't stomach. I don't do well administrator incompetence or with azz kissing...:shame:
 
I hate the way the educational system is now. Kids get multiple chances to pass classes and don't take advantage. If I had these types of resources I would have never made a B in high school.

Then you have the state tests that do not allow teachers to TEACH a subject, just run through and teach kids how to pass the test.

I saw a study guide for a final in a middle school U.S. history class... there was ONE, (1) UNO question about slavery!! ONE for the ENTIRE school year.
 
juggarnaut91 said:
AMERICA doesn't care! If they did , teachers wouldn't live so close to the poverty line!:mad:
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chisweet601 said:
:clap:
This is what I have been preaching for years. Pay a ball player millions and a teacher $30,000. Damn don't get me started on this subject.
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DR. GSUAKA93 said:
It is mos def sickening... I tried. I really did try to stay in the classroom because, while there are those students that just have a differing agenda from those who sincerely want to learn, I really, really loved teaching. I still miss it. It's the administration that I could not deal with. I could take getting a headache from a child - because they are young. They are supposed to be lazy, be immature, need guidance, etc... I don't even have a problem with adults who really mean well but just fall short, don't fully understand the rules, etc... But it was those administrators who didn't know isht, wouldn't tryin' to learn isht, but thought that the teachers were the dumb ones; as well as the political shenanigans of the local school board that I just couldn't stomach. I don't do well administrator incompetence or with azz kissing...:shame:
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*sigh*

I've got to leave this thread. I'll joke around a lot but I don't play when it comes to academics. :|

Hence the reasoning why I distanced myself from professional sports. :| It's not right. I don't care how you slice it, it's not right (society's priority as a whole).
 



Vinita said:
Affluent white kids are just as trifling and sorry as their less affluent, Black counterparts.

The schools look better, but the output (or lack thereof) ain't that much different. That grass ain't always greener.
Click to expand...

You know you my favorite girl don't you? With them pretty eyes. :ebrow:
 
Vinita said:
Affluent white kids are just as trifling and sorry as their less affluent, Black counterparts.

The schools look better, but the output (or lack thereof) ain't that much different. That grass ain't always greener.
Click to expand...

You are right.

The white schools (and magnet schools) are viewed as better because there are things that they won't allow that the black ones do. Especially if you are a SMART student (no matter the race).

A teacher from a white school told me their school has just as many issues as the low performing black school. The difference is that her school deals with those issues differently. Because those kids know their rights, as do their parents and having good grades protect them from certain punishments.

In other words clown, but have good grades and you will be in ISS for month versus be a clown and have bad grades and get sent to the AEP for 90 days.

A school can handle a few knuckleheads. It's when the knuckleheads outnumber the smart ones that the trouble starts.

How can you not care about sincere education?
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You have teachers that care. We want kids and parents that care. The hood has too many of us that don't care and that's why so many black folk flock to white schools or even magnet schools. Everybody Hates Chris is true to life than some of us will admit to.

AMERICA doesn't care!
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I will be happy if BLACK America cares.
 
The ancestors of those who created this mess, are responsible for cleaning up this mess. You know it's funny, you give folks inadequate books, old learning materials, put them in schools with asbestos, under fund the schools, cut programs that help and push standardize test instead of basic skills learning for years up until the early 90's and now in 2009 you expect these same kids to be Albert Einstein. Wow!!! One thing that is true, those who don't know and understand their history and where they came from will for ever be in the dark!!!!!! To thy own self be true!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
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Another thing that pisses me off with folks like some of yall is that you come from rural areas and act like you don't know how the education system got this way. Let's be honest, there were parts of Mississippi, Arkansas, Louisiana and certain other parts of the south that shut down schools for cotton season and certain crop season up until the late 90's around what 96 or so. Folks just like the economy, this mess didn't happen by itself. Some of our families are just getting to second generation of high school graduates, let alone first year college grads. Stop the crazy talk now okay!!!! If you don't have classroom management or only in education to get a check find a new job. If you are as educated as you say you are, then you would know that graduation rates among blacks are now higher than ever. More black males are graduating from college than ever. If you go back to 95 you still had half of the black rural and inter city area house holds that couldn’t read or write. Remember folks were still signing documents with a X. Most of them were our baby boom generation family member. My how we have for got. :shame: How do think title one came about? :shame: Don’t worry though. I am going to personally educate you all until you get it. You want for get where you came from as long as I am around. :tup:
 
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juggarnaut91 said:
They're passing more tests! Their schools are not on AYP to the extent that many Black schools are, therefore it is providing a measure of job security. In Houston we are getting incentive bonuses for kids passing the TAKS and also for improvements individually as well as school wide(between $1500-$9000). So now $$$ is being thrown into the equation.
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Two schools in my district, including the affluent "white" school, did not meet AYP last year. This same school was a hearing away from being "low performing" the year before. This is the school that people in move to the district to send their kids to, because it is the "best."

Like I said, the grass ain't always greener.
 
Also let's not for get that the Southern states always finish in the bottom for education. Ga, Al, MS, La, and Ark always fight for what 46, 47, 48,49,and 50. Tell the truth, shame the devil. Now yall one get all uppity. :shame: The number one reason we finish in the bottom is poverty people. Yeah we now have what is the new south, but let's be honest areas like Tunica and Pear River were cotton fields less than 10 years ago. You can't take a child from generations of poverty and make them compete with those who have had all their lives over night. It is not going to happen. No excuses, just keeping it real.
 
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skyvolt2000 said:
You have teachers that care. We want kids and parents that care. The hood has too many of us that don't care and that's why so many black folk flock to white schools or even magnet schools. Everybody Hates Chris is true to life than some of us will admit to.

I will be happy if BLACK America cares.
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I was speaking from the perspective of asking how KIDS cannot be sincere about their education. I've never understood that. I take education like I take oxygen. It's required and I take it <b>overly</b> serious and I almost DESPISED being about people who didn't take it as seriously as I took it. Too many people wanted that right... were never given that right... couldn't enjoy the nice a/c and heated rooms in comfort... nice studying materials/resources, etc... and we "half-step?" :confused: It's not a paren/parens who are tasked w/ learning... it's all upon the young (or old) individual. :| It's not about the instructor other than to be PUSHED by the student(s). :|

My mother's jr high/HS classmate (Mrs H.) asked me last week was it true that I never missed a <b>single</b> day of school in 13 years. :| I told her that was a lie. :| I factually hadn't missed a single day of school from grade pre-K through 12. We called "pre-K" nursery school back then and from that point forward, both myself and my older sister did not miss a SINGLE day of school and we certainly made the most/best out of whatever redneck situation we were in. lol Ditto for undergrad and grad school. Never missed a SINGLE day. :| I don't understand how/why someone wouldn't want to take the opportunity to become educated seriously. :smh:

Let me stop. I'm the same old square geek who taught @ a local community college for 2 years and donated my entire CC salary to charity, every penny of it. :read: It was so disheartening witnessing those old "geezers" from Texas Instruments taking advantage of my vast computing knowledge so they could come up to speed on C/C++/JaVa/SmallTalk/Unix-Win related and the kids of color wouldn't show up half the time or showed NO interest whatsoever unless I was speaking about offered salaries in the computing field during that time. :smh: Piss poor pitiful! :tdown:
 
http://factfinder.census.gov/servle...SF3_U&-_MapEvent=displayBy&-_dBy=040#?403,331
Percent of Families Below the Poverty Level in 1999
Geography: Alabama
Value: 12.5 Percent
(universe = 1,223,185 families)

(United States: Value: 9.2 Percent )

Geography: Alabama 2007
Estimate:
16.8 Percent
Margin of Error:
+/-0.3 Percent
(universe = 4,466,259 people)

(United States: Estimate: 13.3 Percent ,
Margin of Error: +/-0.1 Percent)

http://factfinder.census.gov/servle...e&-errMsg=&-geo_id=01000US&-_dBy=040#?408,333
 
Ohhhhhhhhh lord I can't let this go...

I think <b>everyone</b> of color NEEDS to hold hands w/ someone elder who has worked HARD... listen to their stories of all they had to do in order to survive as long as they have... and subsequently look upon their face as they go on to glory when and/or if that day arrives. :( AND remember their words as you view them that one last time. :|

One of my earliest driving forces was my maternal great-grandfather who was recorded as dieing @ 107 yrs young BUT according to relatives he said he was 114 yrs young. I <b>voluntarily</b> spent a TON of time around "grand-daddy." I listened to all his stories w/ GREAT interest... I used to hold hands w/ him as we walked hither and yon. I remember how hard those callouses in his hands were, how knarled up his knuckles were from picking cotton, et al hard labors. How he'd come close to dieing as a youth @ the hand of anglos in Texas. :| And it was those SAME hands that would cook cornbread/fish/bacon/greens/peas/etc on top of a wood burning stove he used (he had NO utilities and indoor plumbing). How decrepit that old house was and how cold it was in the winter time as he and I would go outside to chop wood for the stove. How we'd huddle around the stove trying to keep warm and he'd start talking about his past... 3 years old. I remember it like it just happened yesterday. I learned to read to him @ an early age (the bible). I also learned to spell his name and sign his paperwork for SS not for only him but his daughter (big momma) and her husband (pop) too. They trusted me (for whatever reason :( ) out of all my other 1st cousins and even their own children/grandchildren. :|

Education isn't a right, it's a choice and seems to me all should CHOOSE it while it's still freely offered. :read:
 
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