Government screws up. Thank you Department of Education

[Patriot]

If you want something messed up, let government run it!  Look at Arne Duncan's statement in the last line below... Then remember that his department, instituted by well meaning Democrats, is charged with making US education superior.  What a moron!  Wait!  Let's give teachers unions another billion or three.  That'll surely make things better!  Garbage in - garbage out!


Nearly 1 in 4 Fails Military Exam

Wednesday, December 22, 2010
By Christine Armario and Dorie Turner, Associated Press

Miami (AP) - Nearly one-fourth of the students who try to join the U.S. Army fail its entrance exam, painting a grim picture of an education system that produces graduates who can't answer basic math, science and reading questions, according to a new study released Tuesday.

The report by The Education Trust bolsters a growing worry among military and education leaders that the pool of young people qualified for military service will grow too small.

"Too many of our high school students are not graduating ready to begin college or a career -- and many are not eligible to serve in our armed forces," U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan told the AP. "I am deeply troubled by the national security burden created by America's underperforming education system."

Full story:  http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/nearly-1-4-fails-military-exam

[Diane Amberg]

I'm not sure how poor health and criminal records can be improved on by schools, but there is no excuse for students with good attendance records being graduated out with not even the basics. It should not be tolerated! I know I'm running out of ideas but
I know I can't teach or remediate a child who isn't there.  Many parents and administrators don't take truancy as seriously as they should, especially past 6 th grade. Once kids fall behind because of unexcused absences it is almost impossible to catch up. The kids get discouraged and are expected to go to Saturday school or work with a tutor. The kids see that as punishment and may rebel even more. So now  we have more and more polarization.The top of the top is doing well. There is a very small "average" and the bottom is sinking into quicksand.  Some  kids quit school early with a really bad attitude. They figure they'll enlist, and then "up yours" to everyone who tried to tell them what they needed to do. After all, all military people get respect! Are they ever surprised when they really are turned down. Then they find out the school folks weren't just blowing smoke. Some go back to school. Some hit the streets.
Some schools that are trying to improve ask the kids what can teachers do to make school "better." Of course some think its a big joke, but the kids who take it seriously have come up with really good ideas. One of the biggest improvements comes when teachers are allowed to be creative and make the lessons real with more trips and speakers, role playing, art and music. Less seat work and more tapes and films and computer involvement and  research and real experiences involving critical thinking and problem solving. Now how do we get the administration in average and "at risk" schools to go along with breaking out of the box? It would also help if more parents would explain to their kids what the value of an education really is. Some kids just don't seem ready to learn or just don't get it. Parents could help with that.
  It is absolutely true that throwing more and more money at the problem isn't going to fix it. Respect is free. New ideas are free.  360 degree encouragement is free. Positive parent involvement isn't expensive. It can get better with less griping and more positive involvement from all.

[Patriot]

I'm not sure how poor health and criminal records can be improved on by schools, but there is no excuse for students with good attendance records being graduated out with not even the basics. It should not be tolerated!

No. it shouldn't.  And who promotes & graduates them?  Spineless teachers, administrators and bureaucrats afraid of confrontation with self-indulgent parents or who are more interested in getting the govt. money & meeting the quota, than in producing a quality product (read: educated student).

I know I'm running out of ideas but....

Yakkity Yack!  Here's a simple idea... Get the fed out of public education, do a U turn to a time where virtually all control in the schools was retained at the local/state level.  Remove the federal money incentives to 'fill the square', and return to a time when America excelled in education.  A time when some post-pubescent control freak government bureaucrat or union loyalist wasn't driving the bus!  A time when a teacher's job wasn't based on how long they've been there (tenure) but on the outcomes of their task.

It would also help if more parents would explain to their kids what the value of an education really is. Some kids just don't seem ready to learn or just don't get it. Parents could help with that.

God, grant me the courage to change the things I can,
The serenity to accept the things I can not,
And the wisdom to know the difference.

Some folks are just simple, stubborn, or poor performers... Parents aren't always gonna change that.  There will always be a percentage of people that just don't get it.. c'est la vie!

It is absolutely true that throwing more and more money at the problem isn't going to fix it. Respect is free. New ideas are free.  360 degree encouragement is free. Positive parent involvement isn't expensive. It can get better with less griping and more positive involvement from all.

True, the more money we throw, the worse the situation seems to get. New ideas may be the problem, not the solution.  Sometimes, admitting failure and returning to things that worked is the best course.  Humility on a grand scale. 

[Lookatmeknow!!]

I am going to get yelled at I just know it, but I think that we teach to much to the test. The government wants all students taking test to see where the students are at. The test are actually not a true record of what students can or can't do. The test are usually norm-referenced test, which means they are compared to other kids the same grade and age, scored on a bell curve, and are set to find the low and high learners. Does that tell you something right there? I also believe that the people in the government have no idea at all when it comes to actually seeing what students know. The test that they pick are not always the best. And of course, with this No Child Left Behind Act, teachers have to teach the students to the test. Well, they don't have to, but so much rides on the students passing the big test. What really needs to happen, is your right get governement out of the education system, and let the teachers do their jobs!!! I know that we have alot of very good teachers in our district!! Yes, they teach items on the State assessments, but they also find the time and energy to teach other fun and interesting things to teach the students that they will need to know. It takes alot of time to do all of that. People don't give teachers enough credit!!

When you are talking about the parents, Diane, I totally agree!! I feel the more the parent is involved with their childs education, the better. I love that we can check the kids grades here from the internet. I can always tell if my Jr. High student has turned her work in or not. I think that lots of parents feel that it is what they send the child to school for. Yes it is, but all the help from the parents shows the students that their parents care about their grades and their education. Some kids need this kind of attention. Parents need to be involved in their childs education. If they feel that their child is not getting what he needs at school, then he can go to the school and see what is the matter.

Very good post, Patriot!! Now Let me have it!! LOL!! I am just kidding!!

[Patriot]

I am going to get yelled at I just know it...
Now Let me have it!! LOL!! I am just kidding!!

Yelled at?  Let you have it?  I don't think so, your views were right on point.  Big government is manipulating curricula and methods such that good teachers must face a real dilemma. They have to tow the company line and still manage to do what they know is right...teach!  Thanks for 'getting it'.

[Diane Amberg]

Whether we like it or not life does move on and we "older'' people shouldn't allow ourselves to get stuck in the generation we grew up in. How does one return to "what worked?" Computers didn't exist, cell phones didn't exist" smart boards didn't exist.  Not everyone even learns cursive any more. Kids don't wear watches any more.Technology as we know it today didn't exist. My school didn't have an IT guy. Encyclopedias were big expensive sets that few could afford. We can't return to that. We have to learn how to pick the best of "now' and be allowed to incorporate that into the classroom.  We should take better advantage of what is available but we need the parents on board too. Get a few stubborn uncaring parents in every class room and it affects all the numbers and there is very little I can do about it.
  Colleges  also need to teach more modern methods classes to aspiring teachers. We need to teach to the world today's kids will be living in.
Newark Charter School is working on snow day lesson plans. School may be closed but there will still be some general assignments available on line. The school district can't figure out what to do with the idea. Give Newark Charter credit for the day so they don't have to make it up?They aren't used to such innovative thinking. I don't think there is one big fix nor does there need to be. Some schools are doing very well. Figure out what they are doing right and clone it.

[Lookatmeknow!!]

I was really thinking about this on my short drive from the daycare to home last night. Without the funding that the government gives the schools, what would they do for money?? I am a licensed K-9 teacher and thinking about what all the government puts on teachers for these days is outragous. Really, if you know anything about the NoChild Left Behind, you understand what I am saying. But I have never known the government to give out money without say about how its spent or with their noses in the business. So what is the answer???

I don't think some people see education as a MUST!!! Lots of people do, but some just think that if they get their children raised that they don't have to have a college education to get a good job. That might have been true about 5 years ago, but in these times a good education is a must (Ok, that is my opinion, but still)!! My husband and I have been putting some money back monthly for our girls to use for college. We thought at one time, with not much money coming in, that we were going to have to stop it, but we didn't. It will be a little something to get them started in college or even a trade school.

I can't see how these people that are not passing the exams that this article is talking about graduated high school. I don't know a teacher in our district that wouldn't walk through fire for their students. REALLY!! They care so much about their student's education and I can't see one of our teachers passing or graduating a student that at least didn't have the basic skills. What I was thinking about with this article is could these students be former special education students? As I am studying to be a special education teacher, I have some to understand the degrees of different learning disabilities that students have. Plus what has also been brought to my attention is that many students go through school without being placed when they actually have learning disabilities.

[frawin]

Angie, I agree with you about the West Elk Teachers!  We attended graduation ceremonies last year.  Both of us had relatives graduating, along with children of friends.  We were very impressed with the number and amounts of scholarships that these students received.  I know they had to have had some great teachers along the way to have received what they did.  What a blessing for both the students, parents and teachers that they were able to achieve this.  

I also agree with you that a degree is VERY important in this day and age.  Actually a BS or BA is about like a high school diploma was when I graduated.  Scholarships were few and far between back then.  

We also read the Prairie Star and it is wonderful the achievements they get throughout the year in the different math, spelling, music, etc. contests they enter into.  

I say Go West Elk!!!  Keep up the good work!

I might add that all 3 of our kids got a Bachelor's degree, although it took one a few years to realize how important a degree really is!  We were glad that we were able to help them, along with help from some schoolarships!



Myrna

[Varmit]

A college education may be important but the question is why?  I can understand a trade school where you actually learn a skill.  But I have met many college graduates that don't know their head from a hole in the ground.  Given my personal expirence while attending college the biggest thing that I got out of it was that if you don't think like a progressive then you are wrong.  Frankly, it was a waste of time and money.  Don't get me wrong, education is important so long as it is REAL.  Given the vast amount of knowledge contained in books and these places called libaries a person doesn't need a "professor" to tell them what to learn, all a person needs is a little self-control and motivation applied with self-discipline to educate themselves.  Just because a person has a piece of paper saying they know how to do something, doesn't mean that person actually knows how.  Look at the rate of failing schools in our country and how many "licensed" teachers are in front of those classrooms...

[twirldoggy]

When I was in graduate school at the Universty of Kansas, it was the unending arguement from students that they were not being taught what they needed to know.  I was really surprised by this and did not know what to think of it.  Dennis Saleeby (a very wise and learned professor ) told our class that he was there to give us the right direction, but we had to educate ourselves.  We had to go to the library and read, pick out what we wanted to know about and educate ourselves.  He was right.

There were a lot of lazy people there who wanted to pay the tuition, get a degree, but slough off in class and outside class.  One lady wanted to do nothing but socialize in class and then when finals came she wanted my notes to every class !!!  It was easy to tell who was going to make it  and who was not because of their attitude.

I do agree that students need to be willing to work and educate themselves.   One thing I have observed with young students is that sometimes nothing seems to motivate them.  It is very difficult to get them involved and working.  There can be a multitude of factors involved and sometimes it is very hard to reason out.