Global Test Scores

[Chubminnow]

I assume everyone has heard on the news this week how the children of the United States stack up against children from other countries in the area of reading, writing and arithmetic. Shanghi ranks at the top I believe....followed by several other counties, while the United States kids fall somewhere around #20 or some sad spot.

Big Bubba may be scoring touchdowns and hitting the three's and bringing down millions of dollars while doing so, but knowledge is power. I wonder why I haven't felt as much fire in the belly's of the United States citizens over these test scores as I have felt and sensed the feelings of others about other subjects such as; our political leaders pathetic ways, the healthcare reform, stimulus packages A through K, and on and on and on? Why is this? The children of this country are the future, the children of this country are OUR future and ultimately the future of the United States.

Like I say...I saw it on the news this week and that's about it, by this weekend or come Monday morning of next week it will probably be a forgotten subject.

[apb]

Sad thing is that US test scores have been dropping for a while. We definitely need to put more emphasis on education than we do sports, music, and other such things.

Andrew

[mhall]

I agree fellas but good luck with that.

[stratosjoe]

yeah lots of luck I was on the school board in my community for years. Another member and I tried unsucessfully to get the grade average of a high c or better for any activity. Shot down ,thought we were gonna get lynched. My wife is a school teacher/asst principal she said she could not count the times NO ONE showed up for parent/teacher night. Its hard to teach a child anything for 6-7 hours when they go home and are taught the teachers are a bunch of idiots. Hey kid shut up and go play ,don't bother me can't you see i''m busy watching my tv show/football/baseball/basketball.
I am smart enough to know that there are teachers who should not be teaching for a number of reasons same goes for doctors and lawyers and dentists. When I was a kid my old man said get that grade up in math or I will kick you ass. Worked for him ,same thing worked for me. But you have to care enough to even say something other than yeah Son I want to be your buddy and best friend those Teachers don't know chit.

[DJD]

Well whats the answer? More gubment? Less? Is that even the problem? I have learned that it's not just one thing from talking to my sister who is a teacher. Just wondering what you all think? Mr Col Forbin what say you?

[kygorski]

My son is a teacher, going for his masters now, Before he started teaching his salary at pepsico was 6 figures. Now he is making about a third of that.We wont get quality teachers for the money we pay them.No child left behind was a lame idea, and its working just like it was supposed to, keep the talented students down, When some school districts spend thousands on sports arenas for high school. and they share books.Guidance conselers are so far out of date its a waste of time seeing them. They are still singing the praises of computer programing,e jobs are going to india.When I went to school, we had no rights,the nuns would slap you sillier than your parents. And the parents gave them permission.Japan and China are dumbing our kids down, why? Also we spoke and read english, there were a few european kids in our school, and they learned the language because they needed to.

[Chubminnow]

I'm not sure if more or less government involvement is needed. The government has proven to me time and time again that most actions taken by them are lacking in common sense...not to mention the ridiculous amount of over spending that comes with government actions. And usually with government involvement there always seems to be a lack of "policing/over seeing" of what ever the government plan was in the first place. I kind of think it has more to do with our culture in general. I may be wrong, I may be TOTALLY wrong. Even though I know for a fact there are still lots of good young folks out there (I work with some of them), and there lots of good kids who are in the process of being raised right now as we speak.

I know I'm kind of old school...and I've never had any kids of my own, just step-kids and all of them are grown and left the nest...so sometimes I think I may be out of touch with kids in general...but why does a child have to have a cell phone would be one question I have. What's up with all the electronic gaming these young people do online? I'm not a "gamer", I've only heard the phrase, but it seems like a lot of kids are into it, and some adults too. Why does a parent think a child has to be involved in every sport and activity that's available and their pocket can afford?

"Back in the day" when I was raising youngsters (I'm only 49)...we sat down every evening and had dinner together, and we always said a prayer before eating. Seems to me the world is going to fast and people ain't taking time out to consider what's really important in life. I'd suggest slowing things down, getting back to basics and teaching a child that hard work pays off. This is probably easier said than done though because when a child goes to school, there he/she is, amongst their peers, who all have cell phones, who are all involved in every sports activity known.

Just tryin' to figure it out.

[parker]

Gotta love the no child left behind law! We now teach a kid how to take a test for that law but forget about cimble aruthimatic. Gotta love them cimble minded lawls makurs. A lawls makur sends his kid to a privat schooll but expects usns to send ours to a publix one. I tryed to mimock GWB the best i could bot it aint workin cus i went to publix scoolin. I should have studied flying planes in the Reserves, LMAO, I might have grown up to be a President!

[DJD]

I have been dealing with a teenage daughter now who feels she is 21 on some days and acts like she is 10 on others. I know it's typical of teenagers but man it's a challenge.

She isn't a straight "A" student but she does well when she tries. I have pushed for her to be on the Swim Team for the feeling of belonging to something and understanding practice responsibilities, being part of a team, getting the teachings from another adult and the ups and downs of competing. They have practice at 8:15-9pm twice a week and on Sunday and meets on Saturdays. Talk about a challenge with school work! I feel it's worth it so I make time to take her.

I think being involved with your kids is the key to many aspects of their upbringing. I sacrifice alot of my time so my daughter knows she can count on me which is what I want. She knows her boundries(she tests them all the time) and we have fun together but I'm not trying to be her best friend. She knows Daddy is Daddy and when the chips are down I'll be there but it works the other way too. If she goofs up I'll be their to deal with that as well.

I'm not sure how much the schools should help raise our kids. I personally feel that if the gubment is financing the program it's prolly a train wreck. Sure it runs but at what cost? We have all seen the steady progression of gubment wanting to raise our kids for us and of parents wanting more. It's a terrible mess and a huge money pit. I don't know alot about the BOE as a parent since we do private school but I know how corrupt it is from a business standpoint.

[kydonky]

I'm seem to be one of the lucky ones. My children never gave me any trouble including their teen and young adult years. Actually they pretty much have entertained me for the last 30+ years. Daughter attended public schools (not the best ones in the county that everyone was trying to buy into). But she always did well and graduated UK Suma Cum Lada in two degrees then on to graduate school with a Magna Cum Lada doctorate.


We always included them in everything we did, allowed them to make decisions even at age 5 and 6. We thought it was fun to explain a situation to them and give them a few choices of actions. We let them decide and then followed through with their recomondations (it was better than flipping a coin). To make a long story short we did not ignore them and stayed involved.

I use to help my daughter with her math homework untill her teacher sent a note home asking me to stop.

My son is handicapped and has no speach and very limited communications skills. Early we were told to place him in Oakwood as this would be the best placement for him. We kept him with us. Now he is self supporting in a assisted living home. He is very happy and most who have known him cannot believe how far he has come.

My daughter had many troubled freinds in her high school years. At one point one of her freinds was kciked out of her house at age 17. She lived with us for about 6 months durring very troubled times for her. This was a good child as well and I just could not understand why/how her parents could just kick her to the curb.

So many parents complain and the frequently use the statment "when he/she turns 18 they are on their own". these kids hear this for 4 or 5 years before they turn 18 so they cannot have much sense of security. 18 is still a child. My daughter the doctorate still comes to me for advise!!!!!

When she was 17 she told me "you know that when I turn 18 you will not be the boss of me anymore" I told her then that this was leagally true but that psychologically I would continue to be her boss. Believe it or not she seemed to accept this and the issue never came up again.

Just wish they could find the time to go fishing with me like we used too, not just the 1 or 2 times a year.

[Col Forbin]

Well whats the answer? More gubment? Less? Is that even the problem? I have learned that it's not just one thing from talking to my sister who is a teacher. Just wondering what you all think? Mr Col Forbin what say you?

Please, don't make me admit this. But honestly, I think for the most part - LESS. There has to be some level of accountability for school perfromance - but we have gotten to the point where that accountability (in the form of state and NCLB assessments) completely drives everything we do. It has gotten to the point that in order for a public school to be successful, we must all do the exact same thing, teach the exact same thing - and now with state and federal push for consistent instruction - teach the exact same way. Because of all the governmental regulations and standards (state and federal level), we are now forced to teach kids how to do well on tests, rather than how it should be... to TEACH KIDS. The curriculum is now centered solely around those assessments - which don't really apply to everyone. If you are a student that is planning on going to college, then it is a good system. However, only about 60% of high school graduates go on to college, and not all of them are successful in college. So basically we have created a standards based curriculum, driven by state assessments geared towards a college prep curriculum that only applies to a little more than half of the students in high school settings.

On the other hand, I think given the hands we are dealt as teachers, and the students we serve - for the most part we have a pretty good educational system. When compared to the rest of the world based strictly on statistics - we will never appear to be among the top countries. We are one of the few countries that require attendance to public schools. Even more, we are required to educate everyone, which is a good thing for the most part. It doesn't matter if you have a disability or not, if you speak english or not, if you have a criminal record or not, or if you want to be there or not - everyone is legally required to attend schools - at least until the age of 16. I said for the most part it is a good thing. The US is the leading country for providing students with disabilities an adequate and meaninful education (many of the "best" countries according to that report do not even offer that on a public level). Also, Many of these other countries that appear to be in the top for educational statistics and performance start dividing students as early as late elementary age into educational settings, and trade settings. So basically if we only included that 60% of students that choose to further their education after high school into our global educational statistics, the US would be in the top 5.

[DJD]

I agree it starts with being accountable. IMO...That goes for everyone but we as a country equate skin color, financial status, langauge barriers and other things as an opportunity for a free ride.

I'm sure programs start out as a helping hand but since it's a matter of insuring the funding comes in that helping hand ends up being your lifeline.

Just a little off topic but I have been told by school districts in the past that they have to spend "X" amount of money NOW so they don't have their budget reduced next year. I'm sure it's the same with most gubment funded programs.