rancher24
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posted on November 8, 2000 01:18:49 PM new
I have three children (Elementary, Middle & High School age).....Each one has returned from school already today & NO ONE discussed in their Social Studies class the history making process that we are currently experiencing!!...Not even the high schooler, who just last week finished the 1/2 semester on the Constitution (where the Electoral College was covered in dull boring book form).....What is wrong with these teachers?....Here they have a grand opportunity to teach the children as the events are unfolding...Where the kids could expand the lesson in school by sitting in front of the TV (tuned to CNN or CNBC or some other news station, of course)gathering information to be shared each day until a conclusion is reached...These very same teachers just spend the past 2 days in "Staff Development" classes..(what the heck were they developing - contract negotiations???)..But they blew it!!....In my book, each and everyone of them just received a big fat whoppin' F-
~ Rancher
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njrazd
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posted on November 8, 2000 01:25:32 PM new
rancher...we have been facing issues like this in California for a long time. There has been zero improvement in education over the last 8 years. If you want your kids to have any kind of rounded education, you need to do it yourself. They are only teaching what they need to know to pass the durn tests.
*******************
That's Flunky Gerbiltush to you!
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Zazzie
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posted on November 8, 2000 01:31:20 PM new
Instead of teaching life and making learning FUN--they are teaching the cirriculum as mandated by the officials who are demanding accountablity through standardized testing.
I think I remember some speeches of Bush's that will increase this follow the book and don't deviate approach
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fountainhouse
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posted on November 8, 2000 01:31:53 PM new
Ironically, here in Ohio and many other states, it's the legislators who are responsible for that missed teaching opportunity.
The advent of proficiency tests requires teachers to adhere to a strict curriculum that coincides with the contents of the test.
If it's not on the test, it doesn't get taught. And if it was already covered, taking time to discuss it again means less time to cover the next topic on the list.
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rancher24
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posted on November 8, 2000 01:33:41 PM new
Njrazd....you are absolutely correct....I WISH I had the self discipline & patience to homeschool the kids, but I KNOW that I don't....I've tried to work with/against the local school district to effect change (read: improvement) but after years of trying just plain gave up (head went numb from hitting it against the wall day after day after day after day)....So, I'll just make sure that "I" teach my kids above & beyond what they get at school!
~ Rancher
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HartCottageQuilts
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posted on November 8, 2000 01:34:15 PM new
Rancher24 - It'd be interesting to hear what your kids' teachers have to say about why they didn't cover this! Any chance you might give 'em a call?
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rancher24
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posted on November 8, 2000 01:37:50 PM new
The "test teaching" is a real disaster....My poor 10 year old spent a year doing nothing but preping for the ELA's......We even had a kindergarten teacher erasing answers given by her students, handing the papers back to the student & instructing them to "try again"....When brought to the attention of the school board, nothing (zip, zero, ziltch) was done about it....
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Zazzie
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posted on November 8, 2000 01:40:32 PM new
With Bush in power----look for more not less of this
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rancher24
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posted on November 8, 2000 01:43:36 PM new
HCQ...I'd call 'em....but after I waited two or three days for a return call (if at all) I'm sure I'd get the "Oh, I really wanted to cover it, BUT we are not allowed to deviate from the mandated cirriculum"....
Hilary wanted a chance to represent New Yorkers & work on education issues...She got the vote, now let's see if she's up to the task.....(she'll be getting some lovely suggestions from the active parents in my community)
~ Rancher
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njrazd
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posted on November 8, 2000 01:57:35 PM new
rancher...I agree and that's what I do here. Whatever my son doesn't learn in school, I take care of at home.
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That's Flunky Gerbiltush to you!
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xifene
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posted on November 8, 2000 01:59:15 PM new
I actually spent the afternoon in conference with my 13 year old's former teachers. I've just pulled her home for schooling for a variety of reasons; I was looking for information on what level they'd been teaching at -- what curriculum was being covered.
When I arrived for the conference, the teacher's were all gathered at a television screen watching the latest news about the election. They broke it up when I got there -- and her math, English, and social studies teachers all joined me for a chat about Els's progress so far this year. Turns out they do teach to the end of grade test here -- the focus was strongly on what I'd need to teach her so that she could pass the EOG test and enter school again in the fall (we didn't bother going into the reasons why she isn't going back again). What puzzled me was the fact that the social studies teacher viewed this election as a real lost opportunity since her class is studying Africa and there's no way to work in a discussion of the election. Go figure.
On the other hand, my younger daughter finally "got it" about the Electoral college -- a concept which had eluded her in the abstract but which makes sense of a sort to her now that she's seeing the system in action. Very cool. 
--xifene--
http://www.auctionusers.org
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victoria
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posted on November 8, 2000 02:07:58 PM new
Here in the middle of nowhere smalltown Alabama, my 5th grader tried to tell me what she had learned about the election in school. They even voted, and were instructed to watch the news that night. I took her with me when I voted, which she thought was bo-o-o-ring because we had a lot of resolutions to vote on, and I actually read them.
Are you in the big city rancher? I had problems when I was in the New York City school system, if you can call it a system.
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rancher24
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posted on November 8, 2000 02:23:59 PM new
Victoria....Three cheers for "middle of nowwhere smalltown Alabama"!...That's the way it SHOULD be done!!!.....
I am not it a city, but rather an upper middle class suburb (how I got here is still a mystery!)....Our school district consists of three schools (element, middle & high) all located on one campus, all governed by one school board...With a whole bunch of tenured teachers who drive very expensive cars & flee the parking lot at dismissal time faster than any of the kids do!!!!.....Bottom line: they teach what they HAVE to & NOTHING else!!!
It's soooooo nice to hear that your school is doin' the right thing!!!
~ Rancher
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BOYSMOMMY3
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posted on November 8, 2000 03:15:56 PM new
My son is in 5th grade here in Brier, WA (North of Seattle by Lynnwood/Lake Forest Park).
He has been discussing the election everyday in the car. They also voted and watched it on TV. My son's teacher told them the two positions and what they supported that would affect schools etc. My son all on his own and the information from the paper and his teacher picked Gore and was pleased to know that is who I was voting for also.
While they strive for the children to pass the WASL (Washington State test) they also are very diverse in their lessons. When the Mariners were in the playoffs they were allowed to watch each game in class. They spent their math time doing it and then their homework was on stats etc.
They have been to the beach for a day to watch the tide and how the eco system works.
I am very impressed with the school district here (Edmonds). We moved here from California where I was always disappointed in both the public school system and private.
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jenndiggy1
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posted on November 8, 2000 03:28:11 PM new
I have an autograph collection, and I was showing it to a 10 year old a couple weeks ago. She DID know sit-com stars (esp. Fonzie), musicians, even Clint Eastwood. Ones she didn't know were people like AL GORE (yes, 10 years old and 2 weeks ago didn't know who Al Gore is!), Neil Armstrong, Richard Nixon, George Bush, (she DID know President Clinton, however.) When I was in school we had to do big reports on election night and studied the judicial process for weeks before the election in both 2nd and 5th grades. We also knew every canadate in the primaries as well as the general election. Geesh, this country is failing our kids.
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tegan
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posted on November 8, 2000 03:53:08 PM new
Just called and talked to my friends daughter. No, they didn't even mention the election in her class.
Fountain house said: "The advent of proficiency tests requires teachers to adhere to a strict curriculum that coincides with the contents of the test.
If it's not on the test, it doesn't get taught. And if it was already covered, taking time to discuss it again
means less time to cover the next topic on the list. "
That's Texas schools to a T. At least the ones around here. It is such a shame.
I learned history while it was happening in grade school. I had more homework assignments
in Social Studies that required digging into the newspaper and watching the nightly news.
It helps to give you a sense of your place in time.
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ubiedaman
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posted on November 8, 2000 10:49:11 PM new
Our High schooler, didn't have the FOGGIEST idea of what the Electoral College was!!! I couldn't believe it!!! I was taught this in 5th grade!!!!!
Whatthehellishappeningtoour country?????
Is it any wonder that we have low voter turn outs, and a general feeling of apathy toward voting?
Keith
I assume full responsibility for my actions, except
the ones that are someone else's fault.
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tegan
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posted on November 8, 2000 11:07:38 PM new
Well I guess those of you who have children will have to make sure that you keep them informed because it looks like many of the schools have fallen down on the job.
I used to think home schooling was wrong because it kept children away from their peer group,slowed down their social development and they missed out on a normal childhood.
Boy have I done a complete turnaround on that one 
Now that I have worked with elementary age children and realize they are not even aquiring the social skills anymore I'd home school if I had kids for sure.
I know some very good teachers who just aren't allowed to veer off the curriculum no matter what.
The skills test is God in their schools.
Their frustration level is very high and their job satisfaction level in in the john.
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bunnicula
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posted on November 11, 2000 12:29:21 AM new
In California at least, the dumbing down of the curriculum has nothing to do with the current adherence to curriculum that revolves around a state test. I am a children's librarian and have for years been amazed at the ignorance of kids I try to help. They can't spell. They know little about our nation's history or history in general for that matter. The research "skills" they are being taught are so abysmal that many even have trouble using an index in a book. Math...only with a calculator (I'm not joking). Reading *comprehension *is* a joke. A lot of parents are misled into thinking their child can read--after all, can't little Johnny zip unhesitatingly through a book pronouncing everything properly? The thing is these kids are often not *comprehending* what they are reading. What good does it do a child to be able to "read" something if they don't know what it means?
Sorry for the rant, but this is a real sore point with me. I get frustrated dealing on a daily basis with kids who don't seem to be learning much of anything in school.
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barbarake
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posted on November 11, 2000 05:56:18 AM new
I live in a rural town in South Carolina. I must say, my two sons (4th and 6th) grade have learned quite a bit about the election process in school. I don't know how well they discussed the issues but they had a mock election, etc. And they've been following the presidential election quite avidly.
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