Going off script this morning. Happy happy Marica will be back shortly.
That article is about schools in Illinois. You know who’s fault this is? I’ll tell you.
I only skimmed so I didn’t catch what the definition is for ‘grade level’ but let’s assume we’re talking about 3rd graders not being able to read one of the third grade reading books I have on the shelf. And just for fun, let’s do some math because it seems kids can’t do math at grade level either.
A 3rd grader is nine years old. Born in 2014. Let’s say his/her parents were 25 when he/she was born. Parents born in 1989. Currently age 34. Again, grandparents were 25, so born in 1964. Currently age 59.
Who’s at fault? Parents and grandparents. Full stop.
And to make matters even worse,
And only 1 out of 10 kids or less can do math at grade level in 930 schools…that’s more than a quarter of all schools in the state.
How many times are we going to have to cover this? If you can count something in whole numbers only it is ‘fewer.’ No such thing as ’10 items or less.’ If you can measure something in parts smaller than the whole, it is ‘less.’ ‘Maximum purchase 10 gallons or less.’
My oldest son graduated in 2002. He joined Air Force at age 18 and still has a great career. My dad was also career military. It fits a certain type of”smarts”. May not do well on a paper test but can see a problem and fix it. Both airplane mechanics. 2nd son majored in math and then added a teaching degree. He successfully tutored many students in high school and college. Horrible student teaching experience. He got off topic by explaining how much “rent to own” costs by showing the math. He worked his way up from temporary hire to a manager in a trucking repair parts supplier. Family owned. He figured out how to get the graphite disc breaks from China thru the Panama Canal and unloaded in eastern Canada and trucked to Springfield MO warehouse.
I know. I get it that sitting down with a book isn’t for everyone. But my impression from experience here in Mississippi, and various reports I see isn’t that kids aren’t readers, but *can not read at all.* Like can’t read the menu at McDonalds. That’s just sad.
My other gripe about this is blaming the schools, departments of education, etc.
Sorry. Didn’t mean to get *your* knickers in a knot!
Not in a knot agreeing with you. My kids did well in spite of their education being dumbed down.
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I went to the same school district from 3rd to 11th grade. I learned in December of my junior year how good that system was. We went into the guidance office at the new high school and discovered there literally was nothing for me to take. And I already had enough hours to graduate. So I did at the end of the year. Girls also went to a good school system. Small, so parents had a lot of input. It wasn’t at all uncommon for parents to just drop in unannounced. Middle daughter had a truly terrible teacher for 3rd grade. As I recall, in science she proclaimed that she “didn’t come from no ape.” Forget about her views on evolution, the grammar alone was enough for us to yank Kat out and put her in a different class. Smile just thinking about it.
Back to work! Today’s arrival day. Hope the weather holds until they get here.
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Have lots of fun with your guests
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2nd son had to repeat trigonometry his senior year because no teachers were capable of teaching calculus at the st James high school. This is Missouri and a small town. There was a teacher who taught calculus teaching in 2002 but she retired. There were several teachers who were fabulous teachers who retired 2000-2004ish. My daughter who graduated in 2007 missed out on those great teachers. The French teacher who took students on a trip to France each summer (both boys went, Matt after 1 year Paul after 3 years of French) but she wasn’t there for Hannah. Only 1 teacher taught Spanish and she was a joke.
Anyway, long winded, I’m agreeing that our education system is flawed. Fewer teachers who are involved in teaching beyond the curriculum because that is what they are evaluated on. Don’t teach thinking or problem solving.
I went back to college in my mid-30s. I had two objectives. 1) Get a second undergrad, this one in philosophy, and 2) get my teaching certificate in biology so I could teach high school. Never got the philosophy degree but took a bunch of courses. My first class was Honors Intro taught by some character who thought he knew more biology than I. Haha. He gave me 49/50 on the final and I asked where I missed the one point. He said he just never gave 50/50. Technically speaking, he still owes me that point but I let it slide b/c he grilled me a filet to perfect last night!
Never got the teaching certificate either because I was astounded at what was being ‘taught’ in the department of education. Nothing that had anything whatsoever to do with being a good teacher. Just how to make a lesson plan. How to do various paperwork stuff. How to not violate various acts and laws.
So I soured on credentialed education pretty quickly. And top that off with my experience in summer schools. I went on to get a masters in bio (didn’t finish that either, long story) and took summer classes that were offered for teachers to up their pay grade or whatever. I recall a distinct lack of curiosity, and they certainly didn’t challenge anything.
I am sure there are plenty of good teachers out there. Good profs, too despite what everyone has to say about academia. Just wish there were more of them.
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My oldest son graduated in 2002. He joined Air Force at age 18 and still has a great career. My dad was also career military. It fits a certain type of”smarts”. May not do well on a paper test but can see a problem and fix it. Both airplane mechanics.
2nd son majored in math and then added a teaching degree. He successfully tutored many students in high school and college. Horrible student teaching experience. He got off topic by explaining how much “rent to own” costs by showing the math. He worked his way up from temporary hire to a manager in a trucking repair parts supplier. Family owned. He figured out how to get the graphite disc breaks from China thru the Panama Canal and unloaded in eastern Canada and trucked to Springfield MO warehouse.
I know. I get it that sitting down with a book isn’t for everyone. But my impression from experience here in Mississippi, and various reports I see isn’t that kids aren’t readers, but *can not read at all.* Like can’t read the menu at McDonalds. That’s just sad.
My other gripe about this is blaming the schools, departments of education, etc.
Sorry. Didn’t mean to get *your* knickers in a knot!
Not in a knot agreeing with you. My kids did well in spite of their education being dumbed down.
I went to the same school district from 3rd to 11th grade. I learned in December of my junior year how good that system was. We went into the guidance office at the new high school and discovered there literally was nothing for me to take. And I already had enough hours to graduate. So I did at the end of the year. Girls also went to a good school system. Small, so parents had a lot of input. It wasn’t at all uncommon for parents to just drop in unannounced. Middle daughter had a truly terrible teacher for 3rd grade. As I recall, in science she proclaimed that she “didn’t come from no ape.” Forget about her views on evolution, the grammar alone was enough for us to yank Kat out and put her in a different class. Smile just thinking about it.
Back to work! Today’s arrival day. Hope the weather holds until they get here.
Have lots of fun with your guests
2nd son had to repeat trigonometry his senior year because no teachers were capable of teaching calculus at the st James high school. This is Missouri and a small town. There was a teacher who taught calculus teaching in 2002 but she retired. There were several teachers who were fabulous teachers who retired 2000-2004ish. My daughter who graduated in 2007 missed out on those great teachers. The French teacher who took students on a trip to France each summer (both boys went, Matt after 1 year Paul after 3 years of French) but she wasn’t there for Hannah. Only 1 teacher taught Spanish and she was a joke.
Anyway, long winded, I’m agreeing that our education system is flawed. Fewer teachers who are involved in teaching beyond the curriculum because that is what they are evaluated on. Don’t teach thinking or problem solving.
I went back to college in my mid-30s. I had two objectives. 1) Get a second undergrad, this one in philosophy, and 2) get my teaching certificate in biology so I could teach high school. Never got the philosophy degree but took a bunch of courses. My first class was Honors Intro taught by some character who thought he knew more biology than I. Haha. He gave me 49/50 on the final and I asked where I missed the one point. He said he just never gave 50/50. Technically speaking, he still owes me that point but I let it slide b/c he grilled me a filet to perfect last night!
Never got the teaching certificate either because I was astounded at what was being ‘taught’ in the department of education. Nothing that had anything whatsoever to do with being a good teacher. Just how to make a lesson plan. How to do various paperwork stuff. How to not violate various acts and laws.
So I soured on credentialed education pretty quickly. And top that off with my experience in summer schools. I went on to get a masters in bio (didn’t finish that either, long story) and took summer classes that were offered for teachers to up their pay grade or whatever. I recall a distinct lack of curiosity, and they certainly didn’t challenge anything.
I am sure there are plenty of good teachers out there. Good profs, too despite what everyone has to say about academia. Just wish there were more of them.