I meant to just post this great photo that Jessica took and comment on how much fun it is to read to my daughter, but started a rant. Apologies about the politics that follow, I’ll try not to do it too often for those of you coming for the family updates.
We went to back to school night last week. In first grade they’re focusing on reading. According to the teacher this means reading, or being read to, for ten minutes a night. Great, great news, I’m sure my daughter will continue increasing her skills in reading with that kind of major focus. Is the main part of my child’s education going to be learning just enough to pass tests now?
When President Bush tried to come up with a way to improve education and raise a children’s level of learning, instead he let it become a mess that encourages schools to set expectations lower. Lack of funding, test-taking instead of actual learning, federalizing education to increase big government and a lack of individualized help, which means students with disabilities are looked at as a hinderance to a schools overall scores instead of children that actually need help. To increase these test scores, teachers must make sure their students know the tested subjects well, even if this means ignoring the arts and physical education.
Will my daughter grow up without knowing what a Mozart conterto sounds like or what Rembrandt contributed to the world of art? Of course not, because we’ll find a way to teach her what we feel is important at home. How many parents are going to do that though? How many people are going to think ten minutes of reading a night is good enough?
On the other, the NCLB act has made me appreciate Utah government a bit more, something I haven’t done in years. The current govorner is refusing to enforce some parts of the Act.
I can’t wait for a change in the current political scene. A war that I hate, policies I find hateful, and my child’s education. All things that need to be changed.
Great photo by the Singing Librarian at the top of the post, she has some other family photos, along with commentary, so check out her site
Other links. Low test scores are being blamed on African-American students in one school district. Get ready for parents to start transferring their students based on the the schools amount of black students. Or maybe on the amount of female students if it’s shown girls score lower than boys in one of the tested subjects.
Also, PE is disappearing to make room for more test preparation.
What a can of worms you can open talking about the problems the current administration has done to hurt edumacation!
I think we should remove the government umbrella from schools and make it an entirely private institution. I don’t think anyone would say private schools are failing, especially the way public school does. Catholic schools get better test scores, yet they get a tiny fraction of the funds that public schools do. Why not give us our taxes back and let us school our kids privately?
I read a funny (though not funny) statistic on government spending towards schools: (adjusted for inflation) in 1971 per-pupil spending was $4,479, now it’s $8,996. NAEP scores are the same, and graduation levels nationwide actually drop. Doubled spending, level results.
I also disagree with the complaint that teachers don’t make enough. (Ready for backlash). I’d love to work only 9 months a year with a steady schedule (and get holidays off) and still make an average of $45,081 a year.
I’m ok with private schools as long as someone can set a standard (of course now knowing the standard makes me wonder if it’s necessary). Utah salaries are lower compared to most of the country, $38,000, but I see your point. They’re making more than me, and working three months less. I used to think you had to pay well to get the best teachers, but even with good pay I’m finding it’s a crapshoot. Sidney’s kindergarten teacher was perfect, if every teacher was like her I’d be alot less worried, but so far I’m not totally impressed with her current one.
And I get that speaking ill of the current administrations effect on education can open a can of worms. In some circles speaking negatively about anything the current administration does can open a can of worms. Maybe I’ll choose one topic a week on why I dislike the Bush adminitration just to see who I can get a rise out of
.
I don’t think you’ll offend anyone in this family if you be frank about Bush and friends, but I probably couldn’t bring it up among my friends, co-workers, or in-laws without starting a fight.
True. Hmm, I’ll have to look for targets outside of the family.