Comments on: A Conservative in the System

By: wordsarepower

wordsarepower — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 20:38:52 +0000

at my school, test language is different than language found in short stories, text books, etc. By that I mean that it doesn’t read/translate like other kinds of text. I worked very closely with this instructor trying to help my ESOL students succeed in my class. Most of them did pass, but I am required by law to make certain accommodations for them. They generally had easier work than the rest of the students. Is that fair? I don’t know.

And, fyi, in Florida students don’t receive a diploma if they can’t pass the state test.; they receive a certificate of completion.

I had a couple of ESOL students who probably will end up flipping burgers for the rest of their lives. They were in 10th grade and had only been in this country for a year or two. It’s tough on these kids, but those with the parental support and encouragement at home can and do succeed. And just like kids born and raised in the USA there are ESOL kids who just don’t care and don’t try.

Is everything wrong with NCLB? Of course not. All of the teachers I’ve met want their students to succeed, but because of NCLB teachers and schools feel pressure to move kids along even if they aren’t ready. Did I do that? No. I didn’t get called on the carpet because of it, but I’ve heard tell about teachers who get called in to the principal’s office to explain why so many students are failing. (It couldn’t possibly be the student’s fault :)) Then they are asked what they can do to change the situation! I would have an answer for her! I won’t pass kids on who can’t succeed at the next level. It might cost me my job, but I can live with that.

By: Finrod

Finrod — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 18:20:56 +0000

If you have kids in your class that can’t read enough English to be able to pass a standardized test, whether or not English is their first or second language, then that means that your school system has failed them, not NCLB. NCLB is just the messenger. Do you think that those kids deserve a high school diploma when they don’t even have a working grasp of the English language? How are they going to be able to survive let alone thrive out in the real world without it? They’ll be stuck in a Spanish ghetto flipping burgers or doing day labor for the rest of their lives.

You should be directing your anger towards NCLB instead towards the primary schools in your system. They’re the ones that failed.

By: mom2oneson

mom2oneson — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 17:23:55 +0000

That is the issue. They aren’t taught intensive phonics. I’m saying the school system, the curriculum, how some teachers teach reading creates most of the reading problems and illiteracy. When we talk about the kids home life, the socioeconomic status, the schools being bad, dad in prison (I’m not denying any of things are important but that isn’t the big huge issue) we get away from the rubber meets the road problem. I don’t know how to articulate but even with a bad home life and past traumas kids still have a brain and are always learning, they can learn how to read.
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I’m not denying the other things about motivation but I think a lot of it is a cycle. If someone else give a d*mn and takes time to start from a apple b bell c cat d dog e elephant and can show a tiny bit of patience until it clicks for the other person they really change that whole motivation as far as reading. Sure it’s easier to do with a young child that has never had a negative learning experience but with an older kid or adult that is really jaded from these idiot methods and experienced failure and embarrassment it will be harder to get passed that but it is possible. The nice thing about reading is it’s a nice pat on the back, they do it and they get some positive feedback from that accomplishment either from reading themselves or from a test scores that go form D or F to A lol. Even if someone wants an applied type of career they have to learn this basics of reading even to get through these votech programs at community college. That level of reading anyone can do even someone with some mild impairments but they have to be taught with a good method.

I grew up in a city and I’ve life in projects as an adult, I know all about apathy and laziness and just sheer irresponsibility and the victims of that and I don’t know the answer to that type of motivation about being a good person and responsible citizen but I do know that on a personal level people can be motivated to read and it’s very easy to teach them.

I think democrats and republicans forget that people heave healthy amazing brains that the Lord gave to them. We put too much on other stuff.

By: LJ "Beaglescout" Miller

LJ "Beaglescout" Miller — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 16:03:17 +0000

There’s this thing called personal responsibility. Some people, whether for good or bad reasons, don’t learn to read easily. Most kids under age 13 or so pick up reading their native spoken language easily on their own, simply by learning basic phonics and sounding out words. Those who can’t learn this way because of dyslexia or other learning disabilities can be helped to learn by teachers, but mostly they themselves need to want to learn. That motivation is what is missing. And motivation is one of those things teachers aren’t allowed to teach, because it goes to the nature of man, families, civics, man’s rights and duties to other men and to God, and the truth about human lives (including real history), and is both religious in nature and also goes outside the approved history curriculum.

And then there are the kids who can’t learn to read and won’t. They shouldn’t be in school. There should be things they can do to survive and thrive in life, but thanks to the utopianism of educators that is a truth that cannot be spoken.

By: Mike gamecock DeVine

Mike gamecock DeVine — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 00:25:40 +0000

By: kyle8

kyle8 — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 00:11:20 +0000

I teach also, and I have not seen the almost insane caricature of the education system some conservatives paint.

I have seen some brainwashing, particularly with all the eco and recycling stuff. But nothing too overt.

Of course there is the caveat that I teach in Texas, which is very conservative in the first place.

By: kyle8

kyle8 — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 00:07:19 +0000

no doubt

By: Mike gamecock DeVine

Mike gamecock DeVine — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 23:54:50 +0000

SC dem primary and even when he gave the Inaugural as this former dem till 2000 is proud of the progress we have made as a state and a nation on the issue of race and can well understand the pride of blacks of any age to see the first black elected President.

Clearly most whites have achieved King’s dream of colorblindness. It is time for blacks to do the same.

By: Mike gamecock DeVine

Mike gamecock DeVine — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 23:51:16 +0000

By: wordsarepower

wordsarepower — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 22:08:53 +0000

it wouldn’t work.

Janis said it best when she said that I was just putting myself in my student’s shoes. Honestly, I was heartsick inside. I saw it coming but was still devastated when it actually happened. I guess I was still holding out hope that in the end he wouldn’t win.

I believe that we are living in the end times, and this election and what’s already resulted from it only strengthens my belief. We are in a downward spiral, circling the bowl if you will. I’m going to keep fighting, praying, and talking to everyone on RS. I can take criticism, so don’t be afraid to tell me how you really feel lol