No zeros in school any longer. But aren’t there well deserved zeros?
I have been getting lots of emails from Lowndes County folks about their new edicts on grading: Students in grades 3 through 8 cannot be given “zeros” and must be allowed to retake tests until they pass.
As a teacher explained to me: One such policy that was recently implemented by our superintendent completely does away with student accountability. Please go to the Lowndes County Board of Education website and read about the grading policy that was started last week. Teachers were sent a letter mandating that no grades will be given under a 70. Teachers are to reteach and retest each child until he passes an assignment — all assignments. This policy also states that no zeros will be entered in the gradebook.
Here are excerpts from the new grade guide:
All children will be given the opportunity to learn and redo assignments, especially if a child makes a failing grade. Daily grades and test grades are included. If your child scores below 70%, the teacher is to re-teach the standard using a variety of resources, including technology. After the intervention/reteaching, the teacher is to reassess, and your child will receive the higher grade attained – not an average of the two assessments or assignments. Reassessment is required once for all children scoring below 70% on assignments used for grading purposes. We want all children to improve. Even, a child scoring above 70% should be afforded an opportunity to improve as well. Additional reassessments for all children are at the discretion of the teacher and/or school administration.
Zeros are unacceptable. Teachers are to give your child an I (Incomplete) for work not turned in and are to insist that the assignment is completed. Zeros will not be used. If your child consistently scores below 70%, the teacher is to contact you and arrange for a conference. Teachers should seek help in determining what other resources are available to help your child, including – but not limited to - academic coaches, team leaders, grade chairs, counselors, administration, or the Response to Intervention process (i.e., classroom modifications, student support team, special education). Teachers are required to communicate often and well with you, and grades are expected to be posted to te Parent Portal grade book no less than once per week.
I had an interesting conversation about this policy, which is not an unusual one, with a metro area administrator who didn’t understand all the fuss.
Her point: The goal of schools should not be to fail students with “gotcha” policies, but to teach them the material until they master it. She asked: Which policy gets kids there faster — handing them zeros and saying, “Sorry, you didn’t get it the first time but we’re moving on without you,” or working with them until they do get it?
There are kids who legitimately struggle with material and for whom this policy sounds appropriate. In fact, there are private schools that promise no failing grades because they “teach to mastery” on the student’s timeline. Students are not penalized because it took them two months to master material that most of their classmates grasped in two weeks. The goal is to get all students across the finish line, but it doesn’t have to be at the same time.
But aren’t there well deserved zeros?
I would argue that middle school teachers have some students who simply don’t do the work. They get it; they just don’t do it. The Lowndes policy calls for multiple interventions for obdurate students, but wouldn’t a zero make an important statement?
How else do adolescents learn that there are consequences for failure to comply with assignments? In the classroom, it is a zero. In the workplace, it is termination.
–From Maureen Downey, for the AJC Get Schooled blog
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460 comments Add your comment
Mahopinion
February 4th, 2012
9:04 pm
@student-
Isn’t that kind of the point? They aren’t working. Yet they complain that they don’t have time to teach.
Today to Good Ma
February 4th, 2012
9:17 pm
Teacher2 asks a fair question : ” Farce (his or her new name for me) has been blogging excessive for hours. What normal person behaves as such with kids?”
Answer:
One with little sleepy, feverish ones. I planned a zoo day today but my little rascals feel like they might be coming down with something so we spent most of the day snuggled up on the sofa together. They snoozed and watchedvideos while lying on the sofa with me while I blogged with you on laptop. I also did all my online banking and bill-paying, responded to half a dozen vendor requests, reviewed several resumes for a positon my comparing is hiring for and did three loads of laundry.
All in all, even with all the pointy comments directed at me, there were many bloggers on here that made the day a pleasant one and I got enjoyed many funny comments.
Good Mother
Good Mom
Good MeMA
Good Ma
GM
Etc.
Truth in Moderation
February 4th, 2012
9:27 pm
Lunch Scholars:
WELL DESERVED ZEROS
//www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/02/lunch-scholars-video-reveals-students-cant-answer-basic-trivia_n_1250023.html?ref=mostpopular
Observer
February 4th, 2012
9:32 pm
I knew it. GM still can’t resist writing those lengthy posts about herself…nothing abt. grading and zeros in school….and Mahopinion is right around posting too.
@GM. If there have been “pointy remarks” directed at you all day it’s because you finally crossed the line with your vile, slanderous, and repeated designations of the blogger Catlady as a supporter of the teacher accused of pedophilia in California. Such a cruel, cruel thing to do to a woman who’s been an elementary school teacher for nearly 40 years and always writes such measured, wise posts here.
Lynch law indeed.
Mahopinion
February 4th, 2012
9:35 pm
How to start an Internet argument:
1. State an opinion.
2. Wait.
echo
February 4th, 2012
9:38 pm
Wow another epic novel from Slob…how can you have so much to say and yet say nothing all at the same time. I wouldn’t want to bore anyone on this blog with stories about myself…you do enough of that for everyone. After all of your posts you have offered no solutions because you still don’t understand the problem. Keep giving it that ol’ college try though. BTW,,,I have no children but because I work with them all day long I have the expertise to offer you solutions on your parenting; just like you feel you are an expert at all things education without ever having been a teacher. Thank you for helping me prove my point!
T Bone
February 4th, 2012
9:39 pm
The true educators in a child’s life are the parents…if the parents don’t care then it will be rubbed off on their children. It amazes me how everyone wants to solve the problems of the education system by blaming the teachers. What they should start doing is arresting parents of children who have more than 10 unexcused absences, who are disruptive in class, who don’t want to come to parent teacher conferences for their dead weight child’s performance, who are disrespectful..the list goes on and on. The idea is for parents to be held accountable for their children’s performance. I am sure once this practice was implemented there would be fewer problems with student achievement since parents would be actively involved whether its through getting a tutor or spending time with their children themselves.
Mahopinion
February 4th, 2012
9:40 pm
Observer,
I don’t know why you persist in your need to say that Good Mother and I are one in the same. I suppose it’s because you are not capable of fathoming that not everyone is in awe of you.
Sad.
If Maureen wants, I would be happy to send her an email from my personal account. I bet Good mother would be willing to do the same. Then she could have some of the techies at the AJC track our IP addresses to determine that we are not one in the same. But then, where would you be and what would you have to post about if you didn’t have your little conspiracy theory?
Spedteacher
February 4th, 2012
9:45 pm
To To Teacher Too from Good Mom
I know all of the teachers at my school are there by 7:30 and work until at least 3:00. They get 30 minutes for lunch which includes making sure the students get throught the line before they eat and they have to be back to pick them up on time, so make that 20 minutes for lunch. Jobs outside of school start at 8, coffee breaks, an hour lunch, and out by 5. Believe me teachers work more than the eight hour day!
As far as a 10 week summer break, you need to check school calendars – I get out from the beginning of June and am back the last week of July – seven weeks that I am NOT paid for. Teachers do not get paid for any holidays.
We grade papers over the weekend when we should be with our family.
We take classes because we need to stay highly qualified in order to renew our license to teach every 5 years and because we need to learn the new technology that we have to use, or the new curriculum that the board gives us every time we turn around.
We meet with parents, we return phone calls, we email, all on our time because we care. I don’t know one teacher out there who is in it for the money (by the way, I have 4 days furloughed this year which lowers my pay, while my insurance costs go up).
You need to follow a teacher around for a month and see how much work they do past the school day.
T Bone
February 4th, 2012
9:49 pm
@Mahopinion…its apparent you and Good Mom have all the answers about teachers and how teachers are the problem and not parents such as you and Good Mom. How about you hold a seminar on how great you are at teaching so that all the teachers on here who know what the teaching profession is really like come and bow down to your intellect, or lack there of. The best thing for you and Good Mom to do is to go back to making my fries nice and crispy like I love them at McDonald’s because the education field is clearly out of your league.
Spedteacher
February 4th, 2012
9:50 pm
Sorry Teacher Too, My comment is meant for Good Mom
To Mahopinion and Observer from Good Ma
February 4th, 2012
9:55 pm
Mah, you said “Then she could have some of the techies at the AJC track our IP addresses to determine that we are not one in the same.”
Every time anyone sends a comment to the Get Schooled blog, the IP address is sent. The Email and name field we use to add our comments don’t identify the poster. When Maureen puts someone on moderation, the IP address is used. Now, I am sure she might be completely unaware of this because she likely uses a GUI (graphical user interface) to send someone into moderation exile but that is how the system works behind the scenes.
So, Observer, you might want to try it yourself. You don’t even have to use your real email address. Just make one up. It has to have the same format of something@somewhere.com but it will still work. For example, ask Maureen to put you, Observer, on moderation, then using your same computer try to blog on Get Schooled using a different monniker and email address. You can’t do it. Why? Because the computer is blocking the IP address, not the monniker and phoney email address. Now, go to another computer using your same Observer name and email address. It will allow you.
The email address field is there just to make people feel comfortable. If everyone knew that we all can be tracked down to our computers by what we post on the Get Schooled blog, many wouldn’t post.
The pervert who fed semen to kids is likely being investigated by a computer forensics team. Even when we delete files off of our computer, a computer forensic examiner can find and recover those files. If you have anything to hide, one must physically destroy the hard drives. Erasing files still leave imprints.
So teachers, when they blog on Get Schooled can be traced anytime and those traces remain in cyberspace forever. Any mediocre computer forensic tech can easily find who sent their emails to Get schooled during working hours and from which computer they sent it. If a teacher’s school laptop was used to send Get Schooled emails during hours she should have been or was recorded as being on the clock so to speak, well, that is an firable offense as it is a violation of their contract.
Good Mother
Good MeMa
Good Mom
Good Ma
GM
Etc.
To T Bone from Good Ma
February 4th, 2012
10:04 pm
I hear ya T Bone. You want me to shut my pie hole. Now, although I really do like McDonald’s fries, I am trying to stay away from transfats so McDonald’s can;t be the place for me right now, regardless how delicious they are and regarding your other comments:
…I understand, accept and appreciate your criticisms; however:
“I won’t respond with anything in kind. I promised teacher&mom I wouldn’t criticize the teachers on this blog for the next 48 hours and I intend to keep my promise. So, if you say anything negative to me, I will read it but I won’t respond in kind. I hope you understand I am not ignoring you, just trying to give others a break from the constant back and forth.”
Good Mother
Good Mom
Good Ma
Good Me Ma
GM
etc.
Mahopinion
February 4th, 2012
10:08 pm
@ Tbone
Wow. Another “educator” that uses the term “dead weight” when referring to a child. Very, very sad.
To Spedteacher from Good Ma
February 4th, 2012
10:09 pm
I agree that good teachers work hard and well. My beef isn’t with you. We were discussing the no zero policy. I read Gail’s comments with entrance. Did you catch those? Look at the beginning of the blog and try to catch Maribeth and Teacher219’s comments too. THey were thought-provoking.
I have never ever thought of the possibility of not giving grades but now I am thinking that might be the way to go. If you’re interested in discussing the no zero policy or the no grades policy as a means to motivate students to learn instead of motivating them to actually learn, I recommend reading the posts from Gail, teacher219 and Maribeth and if you want to discuss it with me, I’d enjoy it.
GM
Mahopinion
February 4th, 2012
10:13 pm
Also @ T Bone-
You might want to cut back on those french fries. Georgia has a serious obesity problem. And all that fat isn’t good for your brain cells, either.
To Mah from Ma
February 4th, 2012
10:16 pm
Dear Lord, I am going to have to learn to cross-stich.
Mah, your hilarious steps for starting an internet argument leave me in stitches (pun intended)
How to start an Internet argument:
1. State an opinion.
2. Wait.
Viewpoint
February 4th, 2012
10:17 pm
My “A” 7th grader recently decided not to complete homework or project assignments. I was never notified by his teachers, I realized it through the online parent portal. I accompanied my child the next morning to the school where he had to talk with each teacher about his lack of effort. I took away all privileges including exteacurricular activities for over 1 month. Needless to say his grades ironed back to “normal”. In all of this I explained to my child that it is my job to work and provide for his needs and his job is school. All privileges are just that,privileges. They are to be earned just as if I o not do my job, I do not get paid. I would rather he learn this lesson at an early age than be illusioned that this behavior will be tolerated in the adult world. Iam trying to teach that morals, integrity, and honesty s more important than your name or the amount of money you have. Allowing my child to have multiple attempts to complete the assignments would have not done a bit of good, he had not turned in assignments for over a month. His actually not being “told on” made his laziness worse as he started turning in fewer and fewer assignments. He probably would not have done anything if I had not found out and dropped the hammer on him.
To Viewpoint from Good Ma
February 4th, 2012
10:31 pm
Thanks for your personal story. I found it interesting.
What you are telling us is that:
Even “good A students” at times drop the ball.
Even when “good A students” drop the ball, a particular teacher did not notify you. You said “His actually not being “told on” made his laziness worse as he started turning in fewer and fewer assignments.”
Then, after dropping the ball, thsi student, your child, was able to recover.
I think almost everyone would agree with you.
Here are my thoughts:
You sound like a good parent who sets expectations and provides reasonable consequences for undesirable behavior. Your diligence (checking the parent portal) and swift action (grounding for a month until grades improve) provided the motivation for your child to pick up the fumbled ball and score a touchdown. (pardon the sports metaphor but the Super Bowl is tomorrow and I couldn’t help myself.)
So here are my questions and more comments for you. Please respond.
If you had not been diligent about checking the portal what would have happened? How long would this behavior have lasted?
Do you think the teacher should have actively tried to notify you instead of passively notifying you? For example, calling you to report unusual behavior or sending you an email?
What do you think would have happened to this child if he or she did not have a good parent like you?
sincerely, GM
Viewpoint
February 4th, 2012
10:56 pm
GM,
I do not think my child’s behavior would have changed had there not been negative consequences imposed by me. The school can only do so much (begging, threatening, etc.), as he said. I am the only one who could really “cramp” his lifestyle to the point that he decided that doing schoolwork was easier than missing out on what really mattered to him. Yes, I feel his teachers should have called me or emailed me as this was in multiple classes and was a drastic change in his usual performance. I work with adolescents daily but not in the educational field. Too often I hear parents make excuses for kids or seem to condone substandard effort by their children by not imposing consequences for the child’s lack of effort. Many have often told me that they can’t get their children to do their work. This is not an option at my home. I am the adult and it is my home, what I say is what goes. I do have an issue with mainstreaming all children together in the classroom as my child has often been bored or winds up spending much of his day helping many of the other kids in the class since he happens to have the ability to grasp concepts quickly and finishes his class work early. I feel that he is often held back from his fullest potential since students of all learning levels are in one classroom as grouping children by scholastic ability is not allowed anymore.
To Viewpoint from Good Mom
February 4th, 2012
11:23 pm
Thanks for responding , Viewpoint. I have a few more questions. Please answer if you don’t mind.
If, for some reason, you hadn’t checked that parent portal, you wouldn’t haev known he was dropping the ball. If he had continued to drop the ball for a longer time and we was given zeros for those fumbles with no flexibility in the grading, would you agree that your son would have found himself in a situation from which he couldn’t recover?
What I mean is, if you had been distracted and hadn’t checked that portal, your child, unknown to you, would have earned zeros or very low marks for a much longer period of time and since the teachers (several of them) didn’t actively notify you you would not have known to intervene and put him back on the field where he could recover the fumble and go on to score his education touchdown.
Do you see the point I am making ? Your particular situation that you generously shared is a good example of how a no zero policy would have helped your son instead of hurting him.
Your thoughts on that?
Here’s something else to think about. What if your son wasn’t fortunate enough to have been born to a wonderful parent like you? What if a child, a usually good student, dropped out for a while and he didn’t have a mom to actively look at the parent portal and help their kid get back in uniform and back in the game? What would have happened to that kid?
If one week ago you told me I would have been in favor of a no zero policy I would have told you that you must be hallucinating but after reading teacher219’s comments and Gail’s comments and Maribeth’s comments and reading about it online and having learned of your own experience, I think a no zero tolerance policy could help students get back in the game before it’s too late.
your thoughts?
Good MA
Viewpoint
February 4th, 2012
11:56 pm
GM
If my child had continued on with the poor performance and had continued making zeros I do not feel he could have pulled his grades back up. But, in saying that he earned every zero that he was awarded. I would have found out when reportcards were distributed what his grades were and while he may have failed that grading period, his grade point average would not be the same issue as it would be if he was in high school since he is only in middle school. I personally do not feel that the no zero policy is the way even though in my child’s situation it would ave benefited him. I do not feel that giving him something he did not earn would help him. This is not how it works in the adult world and while a painful lesson in childhood, it is better to learn it now than on the job or in college. I actually found myself a single mom at 20 who has worked feverishly since to obtain a bachelor’s and Masters degree. My irresponsible actions as a young adult contributed to many of the obsticles I have overcome but it was through these tough times I learned the most. If I had been even partially rewarded for my mistakes, I would not have learned the lessons I needed. Accountability starts at home and from within.
Fred
February 5th, 2012
2:24 am
I got a zero in High school once, and it was a well deserved zero.
Fred
February 5th, 2012
2:39 am
I’m just curious…………
How good of a mom are you REALLY? Can we have citations or something?
(Just kidding. It takes a LOT to make me irate, as you saw in the ………. I don’t even know what to call it blog. Yet you never addressed me did you?
)
Hmmm
February 5th, 2012
5:20 am
Interesting concept, but other changes would have to be implemented to really make it practical… For example, where I (and my children) attended grade school, they had multi-grade classrooms where students learned at their own pace for each 3-grade-levels — 1st to 3rd, and 4th to 6th. Daily homework reports and weekly progress reports were required to be reviewed and signed off by parents, which helped with enforcing accountability. Classes were smaller, even though spanning 3 grade levels, to allow for more one-on-one teaching time. Students were grouped, not by grade level, but by knowledge levels, within the classroom, to allow both the slower learners and the fast learners to make progress. This setup also allowed teachers to get to know their students strengths and weaknesses better, by following their progress over a longer period. The school acknowledged that some students had different learning styles, and accommodated this by moving students to a different teacher if needed, to better promote learning. My daughter has severe ADHD, and is also almost genius level IQ…. a complex combination… and while the medications help to some extent in helping her control her behaviour, she NEEDS constant challenges in learning to focus her attention and avoid boredom, as well as behaviour monitoring. She was moved after a few months of starting at the school to a different teacher’s class, who had more experience both in teaching gifted students and students with behaviour issues.
There ARE ways of promoting accountability while still allowing students to be learning at their own pace. But it would require more of the individual schools than just the “No Zeros” policy talked about in the blog post. It’s not a fast fix, or an easy fix for the schools. The teachers do the best they can with the constraints they have placed on them. It’s the schools that need to start thinking outside the box, instead of making the box smaller and smaller.
Hmmm @ V for Vendetta
February 5th, 2012
6:11 am
*V for Vendetta wrote:*
**You’re right. I should just step down. After all, I could make life-changing impacts on every single student I have who comes from a bad home environment. I mean, I see them for 50 minutes a day. That’s MORE than enough time to overcome fourteen or more years of neglect, abuse, and horrific influences. Silly me. I’ve been wrong all along.**
Speaking as a former student of a teacher I saw for only 50 minutes a day — at a time in my life when school was an escape from home, a teacher who cared made a huge difference. He enjoyed teaching and it showed, and it was the best 50 minutes of the school day. He paid attention to his students, and could tell when something was wrong and made it a point to stop them in the hall or at lunch or whenever and let them know they could talk if they needed to. 20 years later, I am still grateful to that teacher. Don’t underestimate your impact in just 50 minutes a day with your students…
Good Morning, Fred from Good Mom
February 5th, 2012
6:47 am
Good Morning, Fred. I’m sorry, I don’t remember what you are referring to when you say that I didn’t address you. Will you remind me?
As far as citations go…nah, got none of those. I chose my monniker carefully. I’m a good mom, not a great mom, certainly not an award-winning mom.
I didn’t have a good role model to go by (my parents neglected and abused me) so I am trying to figure this parenting stuff out on my own by reading and talking to other parents and by trying different tactics at home. I sort of use my own “differentiated instruction” if you will, at home with my children. My children behave differently and are motivated by different things but both respond positively to a lot of praise and, interestingly, to a lot of humor. So, if you have any parenting advice, feel free to lay it on me
Good Ma
To Viewpoint from Good Mom
February 5th, 2012
6:58 am
Viewpoint, I appreciate your calm, thoughtful, intelligent response. I just have to ask one more question if you don’t mind.
If your child wasn’t fortunate enough to be born with a wonderful parent like you to mentor and guide him at home, what do you think would have happened to this child?
I tell you what happened in my case because I did get a semester filled with zeros and nearly flunked a semester of French. It was during a time when my father was beating me particularly visciously and when I had to run away from home.
I think the teacher just gave me a D minus for the semester just to pass me that semester. I really can’t remember. If I had flunked out of the class altogether I likely would not have been able to stay in school because my parents would not have sent me to summer school to undo my semster of F and without that semester of credit, I couldn’t have graduated. My story has a somewhat happing ending, I did graduate with something like a 3.2 or 3.5, certainly not Hope-worthy but my ACT score earned me a college scholarship, which enabled me to go to college, graduate and become a productive, tax-paying, caring adult who values our democracy and is an advocate for those children who are knocked around like I was. I am also raising my children to do the same.
Viewpoint, I am delighted to hear you went back and got your degreee and from all appearances are raising your child to be a good one. It does my heart good to see a parent come from behind and win, especially a woman.
GM
To hmmm from Good Mom
February 5th, 2012
7:03 am
Very interesting grade center concept with more than one grade in a room. It sounds sort of like Montessori. Is that what it is?
I really appreciate your 50 minutes a day makes a difference story. I have the same experience. The teachers who made a big difference in my life also saw me for 50 minutes a day in a classroom with 30 other students.
GM
To Fred from Good Mom
February 5th, 2012
7:04 am
Fred, I don’t have any citations for being a good mom, but (and I swear) I did win a watermelon eating contest. GM
Again
February 5th, 2012
7:11 am
My former school district mandated that zeroes not be given, period. So if a kid turned in AIR for homework (or any other assignment), you gave them a 60%. #awesome
bob
February 5th, 2012
8:14 am
“The goal of schools should not be to fail students with “gotcha” policies, but to teach them the material until they master it” ? So a pop quiz is now a “gotcha” policy ?
sloboffthestreet
February 5th, 2012
8:27 am
Here is an adult talking about how buying weights and a few other pieces of gym equipment failed her and what she did was purchase a gym membership one year ago and she claims the results were excellent and she states why. See if you can relate to her reasons for this miracle turnaround from working out at home to paying for the gym. It was taken from the AJC Atlanta Bargain Hunter, Lauren Davidson.
“You thrive around others: Don’t enjoy being alone? Committing to hours a week by yourself to exercise might not work. Cedric Sumpter, general manager of Snap Fitness in Alpharetta, says “camaraderie” can be the glue that adheres you to your routine.
You need motivation: Penny pinchers might be goaded by a program that automatically debits an account monthly. “You go to the gym and pay for that membership — you’re going to at least try to redeem your money,” says Andre Short, owner of GoHard Fitness Bootcamp in Atlanta.
Competition can also motivate. “Just imagine you’re a young lady, in your 20s, and you see a lady that’s out there working hard and she’s 50 years old, and she’s pushing twice as hard as you are,” Short says. “That has to be motivation for you to dig a little deeper.”
You need nutrition advice: Sumpter and Short both emphasize eating a proper diet, which means an expensive gym could be justified if the staff has exercise-science credentials. “It’s like being able to talk to a doctor,” Sumpter says. “That’s how you rate the trainers — it’s their résumés. You really need to dig into that to tell the difference between high value and just getting a product, just a gym to go to.”
You need a change of scenery: Where you work out may not matter, Sumpter says, but a different locale can help your brain switch to “workout mode,” which might not happen at home.”
So “Camaraderie, motivation, competition, nutrition advice, and you need a change of scenery” were the things this adult required to accomplish here goal. She never even realized these were things required for her own success? Perhaps what Loundes County is attempting to accomplish is to discover what motivates children? Perhaps they already know what it is? I know many only want to teach motivated, well fed, disciplined students that already know the answers. It has been stated here many times. The fact is the job is described right in the title. EDUCATOR. See how simple. So perhaps you can spend the next few days trying to understand just what the word means and what it takes to do the job effectively. The gentlemen who collect my trash are aware what their job is by their job title. They are paid less, work without benefits, do a FANTASTIC JOB and not once in the 6 years I have paid for this service have I heard one employee complain, be rude or swear at myself or any other customer. I know, they don’t have a college diploma and you do. So why is it they possess better social skills and perform at such a high level of customer satisfaction? Also they work in the freezing cold, snow, pouring rain, and summer heat. Not once have I had to call about trash left in the street or an employees behavior. Even when I leave trash outside of the container they provide, they collect everything and never complain. In fact just the opposite. When I call to make payment once a year I always commend them for such a wonderful job and the men on the truck are given Christmas gifts every year. They deserve it. Teachers receive Christmas gifts also along with birthday and Valentines and end of year presents. The only difference in giving these gifts is that they expect it. Just something for some of you to think about.
Wiki says,
Education in its broadest, general sense is the means through which the aims and habits of a group of people lives on from one generation to the next.[1] Generally, it occurs through any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts. In its narrow, technical sense, education is the formal process by which society deliberately transmits its accumulated knowledge, skills, customs and values from one generation to another, e.g., instruction in schools.
Seeing many teachers have also educated the parents of students that are currently enrolled today, perhaps one would be interested in finding out where the failure was if you have so many students you find to be Dead Weight instead of simply complaining about them. After all, many of you claim the title of Educator, don’t you?
echo, you may be a educational DINK but I assure you entertaining other peoples children 180 days a year is a far cry from what it takes to raise one. If you would like to read solutions I have suggested for Georgia schools simply go back and read other post I have written. I have been instrumental in changing the what & how that is taught in our local schools. It takes many trips to the office of Student Services and Board Meetings. It is a very slow process because humans resist change with everything they have. Teachers and administrators are the most difficult because they feel they have been given or have themselves developed the perfect teaching method and it is already in place. They don’t take advice well even when they see what is being done does not work effectively. It all has come free of charge to the taxpayer and I would think the Highly Qualified would have seen the benefits of such simple common sense changes that have taught children to have a command of things like addition, subtraction, and multiplication facts long ago. That learning your letters must be accompanied by writing them also. That 5 spelling words a week along with 5 sight words written 5 times a day in school on primary paper and repeated on the back side for homework is much more beneficial than giving students 20 spelling words a week and requiring them to write them only 3 times before a test. Having them write simple sentences from the first few weeks is the start to proper essay writing including the introduction to our friends Period, Question Mark and my favorite Mrs. Exclamation Point! See, things like that. Also having them change from an administrative discipline model of having Johnny wear a dunce cap and sit facing the corner to a Positive Discipline model where students are encouraged to do the right thing by involving peer pressure and a simple reward system including such things as freedom to go to the library with another student to check out new books or take an AR test. No they are not all the same. Some require little while others are extremely needy. I have never read or been told by anyone at a School of Education that the job was easy. So why all the resistance and complaints? Get er dun!
SouthernGal
February 5th, 2012
8:27 am
Why are classes not set up by ability?
sloboffthestreet
February 5th, 2012
8:57 am
They are where our children go to school. It is called Homogeneous Grouping. Talk to the teachers of the low performing classes. They don’t stand a chance. Here is a link about this issue. Please read the teacher responses.
http://www.educationworld.com/a_issues/issues046.shtml
To Slob from Good Mom
February 5th, 2012
9:03 am
I loved your comparison. comparing what motivates people to work out to what motivates people to learn is an illuminating one. I never thought of it that way before. thank you.
I also like the idea of writing homework on the back of the primer paper. I’ll do that too. It saves money and trees. At times I am a tight wad. My kids sometimes wear clean hand-me- down underwear but I always let them buy a mountain of books at the consignment store and we manage to always put them in one after school activity and as much as I am able, I use the positive discipline model.
Thanks for the tips. if you haev more, please share.
GM
drew (former teacher)
February 5th, 2012
9:15 am
Re: How to start an internet argument
Mahopinion…you are SOOOOOO funny! Did you come up with that all by yourself? How did you ever develop such a keen and witty sense of humor? You are soooooo funny! And I love the way you put all these “bad” teachers in their place.
Your instructions are a little lacking though…here’s my take:
1. State an opinion rooted in ignorance, arrogance, and a general dislike of teachers.
2. Wait.
3. Repeat as needed.
At least, that’s “mah” opinion. BWAHHHH!
To Bob from Good Mom
February 5th, 2012
9:16 am
You ask a good question “So a pop quiz is now a “gotcha” policy ?”
I think it depends how you use them. I had several teachers threaten us with pop quizzes. They were a means to lower our grade point average for a transgression the teacher couldn’t tolerate. For example, a cluster of kids (usually the boys) would act goofy in class, usually making some funny remark that the teacher didn’t appreciate. So to punish us, it usually unfolded this way:
teacher: “Oh yea, Mr. Joey, you think you are so smart? Well, let’s just see how really smart you are. Everyone put away your books. We’re having a pop quiz.”
His motivation , I think was to punish the boys for making smart remarks and to try to pressure those of us who weren’t acting silly into somehow changing the behavior of those who were acting silly.
In other ways, a pop quiz was used as an assessment tool but that was rare. For example, a teacher says “We’re having a pop quiz. do the best you can. The grade won’t count against your average but I just need you to take it so that I know where you are.”
It can be used as a tool to punish or as a tool to assess. It just depends on the teacher’s motivation.
GM
drew (former teacher)
February 5th, 2012
9:25 am
GM: “At times I am a tight wad. My kids sometimes wear clean hand-me- down underwear…”
Come on now GM…you need to draw a line somewhere. Used pants, shirts, even shoes are acceptable, but…underwear?? I’m also a bit of a tightwad, but that’s just not right. Used underwear borders on child neglect….
. I don’t think you can call yourself a good mother while forcing your children into other peoples’ underwear.
Tad Jackson
February 5th, 2012
9:29 am
Lordy, we’re coming up on 400 posts and nice folks are spewing their Sunday morning coffee out of their nostrils at each other … at something so simple. A zero.
Pupils, if you don’t turn in the work … if I don’t have the physcial product in my hand … well … sorry if that turns you into a serial killer/wife beater/white collar fraudster/or a ballerina, but it’s a zero. Ain’t real hard to understand.
I ask all my students if they understand that if they don’t turn the work in … then it’s a zero. They all mush their lips up, look at each other, and say okay. They’re not the ones having hissy-fits.
Lordy … it’s the adults!
http://www.adixiediary.com
sloboffthestreet
February 5th, 2012
9:42 am
drew (former teacher)
If many teachers weren’t so ignorant and arrogant the general dislike would not exist. We didn’t develop this dislike because of what you should be, it took years and came about because of what you as a group have become.
Perhaps one more change to your latest instructions would be a proper reflection of the article that started this blog.
1. State a fact about what could help public education excel, rooted in a willingness to change the way education acts toward students and current educational practices.
2. And that’s when the fight started.
3. No need to repeat. That is all education cares to do is to repeat the same mistakes over and over and over. echo? Is that you?
See, no ghoulish laugh necessary!
Teacher too
February 5th, 2012
9:51 am
“Between 2:30 when school is over and 5:00 p.m. when most people work anyway on their full time job.”
I get to work at 7:00 in the morning and my students leave at 3:00. That is an 8 hour day. So stay until 5 pm and I put in a TEN HOUR DAY.
I do that already, and it is still not enough time to do all that I have to do. Why should I spend MY summer working on stuff when I am not paid for it? I already put in 10 extra hours a week plus what I do on the weekends. YOU spend one week in my shoes doing what I do. I would LOVE to have a job that when my day was over, I left my job AT MY JOB. But, I choose to be a teacher. So I accepted that this is how it is.
Don’t tell me I don’t work long enough or hard enough. Don’t tell me I should work through MY vacation time. I have to recover from 180 days of dealing with PARENTS. The kids are the easy part.
To Tad Jackson from Good Mom
February 5th, 2012
9:56 am
tad, you write: “Lordy, we’re coming up on 400 posts and nice folks are spewing their Sunday morning coffee out of their nostrils at each other … at something so simple. A zero.”
I think it’s more than about a zero. If you read slob’s last post, which compares what motivates people to exercise to what motivates people to learn, you’ll see the point. The non zero policy is a formalization of a belief (in my opinion) that even good students fall behind and they need some motivation to be able to get back on track and get back in the games.
The debate is not so much over a single zero but more over what is the best way to motivate children to learn and a recognition that children learn differently and are motivated to learn by different means.
read teacher219, maribeth, gail’s comments for evidence.
In summary, the totalitarian approach doesn’t serve all children well and neither do “one size fit all” policies.
Gm
Tad Jackson
February 5th, 2012
10:00 am
Good Mom … it ain’t totalitarian. It’s common sense, and that serves all of us well. All of us.
http://www.adixiediary.com
abacus2
February 5th, 2012
10:07 am
Hello? What happened to the Grade Integrity Act of 2007? My county tried to pull this nonsense and we pulled this out – “A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 17 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to teachers and other school personnel, so as to enact the “Grade Integrity Act of 2007″; to provide that no classroom teacher shall be required, coerced, intimidated, or disciplined in any manner to change the grade of a student; to provide for an ethical violation reportable to the Professional Standards Commission; to provide for statutory construction; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.” Bottom line – Lowndes County is breaking the law.
guest
February 5th, 2012
10:15 am
Observer,
You’re an idiot. What are you the blog police keeping tabs on who posts what, how many times, and how long they’re here?
sloboffthestreet
February 5th, 2012
10:19 am
abacus2
In one breath on hear in unison teachers want politicians out of education and in the next breath you want people prosecuted for breaking a law a politician wrote. I’m confused,,,,,
abacus2
February 5th, 2012
10:30 am
I don’t recall saying I wanted politicians out of education. That would be difficult, since public schools are run with taxpayer money. The Grade Integrity Act come from politicians with some sense. The world is not going to give kids a pass simply because they are potty-trained and can find their way to the lunchroom.
NWGA Teacher
February 5th, 2012
10:44 am
abacus 2, it will be interesting to watch the Lowndes County board defend their action.
mountain man
February 5th, 2012
11:27 am
“So a pop quiz is now a “gotcha” policy ?”
No, requiring them to actually show up and learn is a “gotcha” policy.