I say yes, you say no, OR People are Strange

I know some teachers who were fired because they were not performing up to standards. Teachers are graded 4 times a year in the first 4 years. If they don't make the grade, they are let go. Then teachers are graded once a year after tenure. I agree it's harder to fire a teacher who has tenure, but if a principal is doing her or his job, it's not an impossible task. I know some tenured teachers who were let go. 99% of the teachers I know are fabulous. The schools work incredibly hard to give children a good education. Not to pass the blame - but parents need to step up to the plate... especially American parents.

Claire

I agree with you. Every teacher I know works incredibly hard and parental involvement is vital. My sister teaches both remedial and advanced English and the parents with a few exceptions are what make the difference.Edited for grammar. Maybe I should sit in on my sister's class.
Diagnosis: 2/25/2007, IDC, Stage I, 0/2 nodes, ER+/PR+, HER2+

Back to the subject of parents one last time -

My eastern european students and asian students are incredible learners. The parents teach the kids respect and how to work hard. In my district the administrators tend to bow down to the parents. The last thing they did was to stop teachers from giving homework on weekends.  No longer can we give long term projects at all or tests on Mondays. The parents said that homework interrupted family time. I figured it limited the time the kids could play on their video games etc. while the parents relaxed. When my kids were growing up, family time was homework. I made sure my kids knew their stuff. It isn't that way anymore. Sadly, school is 6 hours and 45 minutes a day.

Erica -

Sounds like you've had a bad experience or two with teachers.  Care to share?

E

Actually I have heard of the rubber room in NYC. I don't have any experience with it though.

I have a son who teaches in Manhattan. He is at school at 6 am and doesn't leave on most nights until 7 pm. He is a first year teacher. I am pleasantly surprised at the quality education that students in NYC are getting. But then my experience is only with his school and his principal. His principal was one point away from having the school rated as an A school. She is a slave driver because she wants that A rating. And he is working to those standards. What wonderful lesson plans he writes! And he is quite good at teaching. One night he texted me at 2 AM. Mom - he wrote- I'm finally getting this teacher thing. I wrote back - Oh yeah? Now get some sleep.

There are dedicated teachers out there- more than you know. He is amazed at the quality of teachers in his school.

No the point was States Rights was used as a tactic before and resulted in a war which its proponents lost. So why would anyone think it is a good tactic now? If I hurt your feelings, or anyone's I'm sorry. That's not something I try to do.

Hi Otter,

The specific legislation is for 1st through 3rd grades in Florida.  I imagine the parent grading could get pretty humorous with kids that young reporting on what happened at home!

Teacher to Johnny:  "Did you have breakfast this morning?"

Johnny:  "Dunkin' Donuts drive through."

There goes one demerit for mommy!

I'm sure it's rather hard for both parents who work to fix a really hearty breakfast.  I don't know because I was a stay-at-home mom.  But my DD has to work.

In the Title 1 school where my SIL teaches..there are no parent teachers meetings, i.e. PTA.  The kids come without supplies.  Most come unprepared for class, i.e. handing in homework.  There is security on premises.  My SIL had to come between a mother who was going after another student until security could get there.  And, a teacher is not supposed to do this, but he had to and I'm proud of him.  He went to court but never testified, but said the mother lied on the stand. 

He works hard.  He wants to make a difference in these kid's lives.  But how if parents are not engaged and kids are bing bumped to one home then another?  Or live in drug infested homes?  Of course the kids he teaches are 8th graders...math.  I would hate to hear the tales they could tell if they were to grade their parents...most of them don't have two parents.

When I was growing up, and yes I know it was in the dark ages, we were REQUIRED to respect our teachers.  Our schools have lost most authority over our students.  They have places for kids to go who make trouble.  If we got in trouble we were kicked out for a period of time.  No alternative schools. 

Where my son teaches there are places they can go after school for help, but most do not take advantage of it.  So, many schools have the tools in place but their not being used.  More money will never cure our public school system.

We sent our children to private schools to because we did not like what I saw in public schools.  The teachers were superb.  However, I have seen many kids come out of our public schools doing just fine.  I just wasn't going to take a chance and I think it's worse now.

I believe I suggested sometime back to google Thomas Sowell and Dunbar High School.  It is such a good read.

Bren~

That's a good question.  My girls are my older kids so I should ask around the neighborhood...

Sorry ... I just can't resist .. we need more Spudnuts!

So it was Sputnik that bankrupted the Soviet Union? 34 years later. Interesting theory. I am sure Mrs. Palin's team will have to explain that comment. I can't wait until they do.

E .. Sounds good to me .. I'm hungry!  I want a jelly filled spudnut!

Do they make chocolate covered custard filled Spudnuts? 

As she can see Russia from her backyard, we know she is an expert on everything Soviet!  NYET!

I wondered if they could freeze that frame on Greta's face as I wanted to post it on my FB page!  Now that was truly a WTF expression!  I am so greatful to Sarah this morning as I truly needed the humor!

Does Sarah ever finish a sentance?  I can rarely understand what she is talking about, because she starts a sentance, then, I guess she can't figure where to go from there, so she just drops it and starts a new sentance.