Nation's Reportcard

[redwood66]

This is terrible simply because of how much $$$ we throw at education. I hope that something will be done about it because it is a disgrace.

37% of 12th graders reading at a proficient level?

https://www.nationsreportcard.gov/

 

[redwood66]

About this site.

https://www.nationsreportcard.gov/about.aspx

The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), first administered in 1969, is the largest continuing and nationally representative assessment of what our nation’s students know and can do in subjects such as mathematics, reading, science, and writing. Standard administration practices are implemented to provide a common measure of student achievement.

Teachers, principals, parents, policymakers, and researchers all use NAEP results to assess progress and develop ways to improve education in the United States. The results of NAEP are released as The Nation’s Report Card, and are available for the nation, states, and in some cases, urban districts.

NAEP is a congressionally mandated project administered by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), within the U.S. Department of Education and the Institute of Education Sciences (IES).​

 

[Dancing Fire]

Yup, We need a change in our education system. Hope DeVos will do a good job as Secretary of Education.

 

[redwood66]

Yup, We need a change in our education system. Hope DeVos will do a good job as Secretary of Education.

I agree. I do hope so because I don't see how it can get any worse.

This issue is certainly more important to me than what Trump tweets or which bathroom someone uses. It will have much more far reaching consequences than those things for our country's future for sure.

 

[ruby59]

Yup, We need a change in our education system. Hope DeVos will do a good job as Secretary of Education.

I agree. I do hope so because I don't see how it can get any worse.

This issue is certainly more important to me than what Trump tweets or which bathroom someone uses. It will have much more far reaching consequences than those things for our country's future for sure.

As I have mentioned before, one of our public colleges has a so called 13th grade because high school graduates are not adequately prepared to enter college.

We had someone in our home state who wanted a high school diploma to actually mean something by holding true to minimum standards.
She eventually left because of all the parents who felt that it hurt their children's feelings because they could not walk the stage with the actual students who worked had to earn one.

And it is why several times when power has gone out at the market and the cash registers had to be used manually, high school students manning them could not make change.

 

[bunnycat]

Some recent studies have shown and everyone that I know of who works within education as teachers, psychologists, administrators, etc, (and that's a lot of people in my social circle) including my own husband at the college level agrees that vouchers actually tend to have the opposite effect people are hoping for on testing grades. But, I guess everyone will need to come to that conclusion on their own in a few more years.

Perhaps people have skipped over or missed the part where DoE is slated to be dismantled within 2 years? Supposedly oversight going back to the states?

 

[redwood66]

Well IMO the information I posted above is a terrible recommendation for leaving things as they are. Like I said it could hardly get any worse.

Edit - What really bothers me is most of these people are actually being graduated from high school.

 

[Loves Vintage]

It's interesting that it appears this is nothing new and that stats have remained the same for years? So, this isn't news, just more of the same, sadly. What is also interesting, I think I read yesterday, that while these national statistics remain more or less the same, common core testing would have people believe that students are improving. And, this would seem to reveal that teaching kids to common core standards so that they will test well actually does not improve outcomes at all. And, as far as I can tell, everyone knew this anyway! So, why do we still do it?

I have no background in education, obviously.

Top down, nothing will change for the better. Grassroots efforts involving concerned teachers and concerned parents can effect positive change, in my limited view of the world.

As far as I can tell, from talking to some teacher friends, kids get pushed up in grade levels when they should not be, which causes the next grade level teachers to drag down what they are teaching to the detriment of the kids who should actually be there. And, then you wind up with a whole mess of kids falling behind on whatever the college readiness standard is -- of which I have no knowledge -- hence my super simplified view.

 

[bunnycat]

Well IMO the information I posted above is a terrible recommendation for leaving things as they are. Like I said it could hardly get any worse.

Edit - What really bothers me is most of these people are actually being graduated from high school.

Trust me, I do know what you are talking about and have many many opinions. There is no easy solution.

My husband in addition to his semesterly teaching also most years acts as Asst Department Chair, and is often at the head of technology committees that the school implements, so I am in quite a position to see what goes on in education and the amount of remedial science and math education that are needed.

For myself, having considered the teaching profession, and student taught and tutored in lower income schools, there are many many problems in administration. The state boards that mandate the "testing" to the point where students are taught nothing at all except "test" material so that teachers focus only on that. You name it, I've seen it. Standardized tests don't do anything but make people more stupid, imo. They aren't a good metric of anyone's intelligence, intellect, or knowledge. School vouchers aren't going to help this.

 

[redwood66]

Well IMO the information I posted above is a terrible recommendation for leaving things as they are. Like I said it could hardly get any worse.

Edit - What really bothers me is most of these people are actually being graduated from high school.

Trust me, I do know what you are talking about and have many many opinions. There is no easy solution.

My husband in addition to his semesterly teaching also most years acts as Asst Department Chair, and is often at the head of technology committees that the school implements, so I am in quite a position to see what goes on in education and the amount of remedial science and math education that are needed.

For myself, having considered the teaching profession, and student taught and tutored in lower income schools, there are many many problems in administration. The state boards that mandate the "testing" to the point where students are taught nothing at all except "test" material so that teachers focus only on that. You name it, I've seen it. Standardized tests don't do anything but make people more stupid, imo. They aren't a good metric of anyone's intelligence, intellect, or knowledge. School vouchers aren't going to help this.

Perhaps it is time to move away from the idea that everyone should go to college and therefore teaching in that direction. Providing vocational skills to those with aptitude would provide a much more beneficial avenue to those adverse to or incapable of "book learning." If these percentages are true most graduates are not STEM material. I am fully behind Mike Rowe and his view that vocations should be taught in high schools. Germany has been doing this for decades. I have posted this before but there are 3 hybrid vocational high schools in my county that are partnerships with local industry, school districts, and businesses. The students gain certification in vocations and job placement assistance.

 

[bunnycat]

It's interesting that it appears this is nothing new and that stats have remained the same for years? So, this isn't news, just more of the same, sadly. What is also interesting, I think I read yesterday, that while these national statistics remain more or less the same, common core testing would have people believe that students are improving. And, this would seem to reveal that teaching kids to common core standards so that they will test well actually does not improve outcomes at all. And, as far as I can tell, everyone knew this anyway! So, why do we still do it?

I have no background in education, obviously.

Top down, nothing will change for the better. Grassroots efforts involving concerned teachers and concerned parents can effect positive change, in my limited view of the world.

As far as I can tell, from talking to some teacher friends, kids get pushed up in grade levels when they should not be, which causes the next grade level teachers to drag down what they are teaching to the detriment of the kids who should actually be there. And, then you wind up with a whole mess of kids falling behind on whatever the college readiness standard is -- of which I have no knowledge -- hence my super simplified view.

Common core (as regards to math) is mostly about trying to train kids to think more critically. For example, those stupid memes you see on FB and social media that make Common Core sound like it's some strange beast (it's not, it's been tried under various names before) if you go through them logically are just written forms of what most people do in their heads (like counting up change). They teach this to try to get kids to stop relying so much on technology for simple calculations. Yes, you can. I went through an entire undergraduate in mathematics without "needing" to use a calculator and most of my classes didn't allow them, except for occasional usage for a calculation in a class like Differential Equations (don't ask...its fun but complicated...and over 20 years ago...)

Well IMO the information I posted above is a terrible recommendation for leaving things as they are. Like I said it could hardly get any worse.

Edit - What really bothers me is most of these people are actually being graduated from high school.

Trust me, I do know what you are talking about and have many many opinions. There is no easy solution.

My husband in addition to his semesterly teaching also most years acts as Asst Department Chair, and is often at the head of technology committees that the school implements, so I am in quite a position to see what goes on in education and the amount of remedial science and math education that are needed.

For myself, having considered the teaching profession, and student taught and tutored in lower income schools, there are many many problems in administration. The state boards that mandate the "testing" to the point where students are taught nothing at all except "test" material so that teachers focus only on that. You name it, I've seen it. Standardized tests don't do anything but make people more stupid, imo. They aren't a good metric of anyone's intelligence, intellect, or knowledge. School vouchers aren't going to help this.

Perhaps it is time to move away from the idea that everyone should go to college and therefore teaching in that direction. Providing vocational skills to those with aptitude would provide a much more beneficial avenue to those adverse to or incapable of "book learning." If these percentages are true most graduates are not STEM material. I am fully behind Mike Rowe and his view that vocations should be taught in high schools. Germany has been doing this for decades. I have posted this before but there are 3 hybrid vocational high schools in my county that are partnerships with local industry, school districts, and businesses. The students gain certification in vocations and job placement assistance.

Not a bad idea in concept, but I'm sure we'd mess it up royally here in the US and we'd end up back in the old days where we'd have lots of actual illiteracy instead of major incompetence like now. I'm going to go out on a limb here, because I feel that at the lower levels (below high school) a portion of what "education" should be made of is expanding ideas and teaching people to think in order to keep their minds open so that we don't end up a country of vassals who do as we're told to and have nothing to contribute to the world except "hi, may I take your order?" which is where we are headed. That isn't done through testing, as we can all clearly see. Teaching for testing effectively squashes teachers teaching students ideas in preference to test taking, students memorize and don't actually learn. Minds close, and we end up with people who can't or don't want to think at all. Teaching for testing (and not paying teachers very well) also drives teachers away from teaching, sometimes potentially really good ones.

 

[redwood66]

Not a bad idea in concept, but I'm sure we'd mess it up royally here in the US and we'd end up back in the old days where we'd have lots of actual illiteracy instead of major incompetence like now. I'm going to go out on a limb here, because I feel that at the lower levels (below high school) a portion of what "education" should be made of is expanding ideas and teaching people to think in order to keep their minds open so that we don't end up a country of vassals who do as we're told to and have nothing to contribute to the world except "hi, may I take your order?" which is where we are headed. That isn't done through testing, as we can all clearly see. Teaching for testing effectively squashes teachers teaching students ideas in preference to test taking, students memorize and don't actually learn. Minds close, and we end up with people who can't or don't want to think at all. Teaching for testing (and not paying teachers very well) also drives teachers away from teaching, sometimes potentially really good ones.

How are you so sure? It will be difficult in the beginning but I am not following how teaching a vocation leads to illiteracy. There will always be those with too many obstacles to overcome but the percentage who find gainful employment that does not include "Would you like fries with that?" is a benefit to society and to the esteem (and wallet) of the person employed.

Edit - Please no one bash me for degrading the jobs at McD's. They are not meant to be careers for most but are good jobs for young people to learn life skills.

 

[bunnycat]

Not a bad idea in concept, but I'm sure we'd mess it up royally here in the US and we'd end up back in the old days where we'd have lots of actual illiteracy instead of major incompetence like now. I'm going to go out on a limb here, because I feel that at the lower levels (below high school) a portion of what "education" should be made of is expanding ideas and teaching people to think in order to keep their minds open so that we don't end up a country of vassals who do as we're told to and have nothing to contribute to the world except "hi, may I take your order?" which is where we are headed. That isn't done through testing, as we can all clearly see. Teaching for testing effectively squashes teachers teaching students ideas in preference to test taking, students memorize and don't actually learn. Minds close, and we end up with people who can't or don't want to think at all. Teaching for testing (and not paying teachers very well) also drives teachers away from teaching, sometimes potentially really good ones.

How are you so sure? It will be difficult in the beginning but I am not following how teaching a vocation leads to illiteracy. There will always be those with too many obstacles to overcome but the percentage who find gainful employment that does not include "Would you like fries with that?" is a benefit to society and to the esteem (and wallet) of the person employed.

Edit - Please no one bash me for degrading the jobs at McD's. They are not meant to be careers for most but are good jobs for young people to learn life skills.

I happen to agree teaching everyone towards college entrance is not viable. I just also happen to believe that teaching mainly towards vocational is also not viable, and would lead to thinking or learning only enough to "get on with" a vocation.

Community colleges where I am located teach both, and give people choices. I firmly believe in people having choices.

 

[redwood66]

Not a bad idea in concept, but I'm sure we'd mess it up royally here in the US and we'd end up back in the old days where we'd have lots of actual illiteracy instead of major incompetence like now. I'm going to go out on a limb here, because I feel that at the lower levels (below high school) a portion of what "education" should be made of is expanding ideas and teaching people to think in order to keep their minds open so that we don't end up a country of vassals who do as we're told to and have nothing to contribute to the world except "hi, may I take your order?" which is where we are headed. That isn't done through testing, as we can all clearly see. Teaching for testing effectively squashes teachers teaching students ideas in preference to test taking, students memorize and don't actually learn. Minds close, and we end up with people who can't or don't want to think at all. Teaching for testing (and not paying teachers very well) also drives teachers away from teaching, sometimes potentially really good ones.

How are you so sure? It will be difficult in the beginning but I am not following how teaching a vocation leads to illiteracy. There will always be those with too many obstacles to overcome but the percentage who find gainful employment that does not include "Would you like fries with that?" is a benefit to society and to the esteem (and wallet) of the person employed.

Edit - Please no one bash me for degrading the jobs at McD's. They are not meant to be careers for most but are good jobs for young people to learn life skills.

I happen to agree teaching everyone towards college entrance is not viable. I just also happen to believe that teaching mainly towards vocational is also not viable, and would lead to thinking or learning only enough to "get on with" a vocation.

Community colleges where I am located teach both, and give people choices. I firmly believe in people having choices.

I agree and am not sure where you gathered that I said it was a one lane road with only vocations being taught. I assumed you understood my idea was an addition to existing educational avenues. Pardon my assumption.

Edit - The hybrid high schools in my area are in addition to established schools and the students attending are still required to meet all graduation standards for high school graduates. They actually attend the hybrid school 3 days per week and regular high school the other two. There is no tuition and cost is completely covered by the school district with partnership of the local businesses and industry. I believe this is quite a boon for people who believe choice is important.

They receive the same diploma but can also gain certifications in these fields

Automotive Technology
Computer Repair & Networking
Construction Trades
Diesel Technology
Engineering Design & Automation
Health Professions-CNA
Industrial Welding & Metal Fabrication
Resort Academy
Media Tech
Personal Trainer/Physical Therapy Aide

 

[bunnycat]

Not a bad idea in concept, but I'm sure we'd mess it up royally here in the US and we'd end up back in the old days where we'd have lots of actual illiteracy instead of major incompetence like now. I'm going to go out on a limb here, because I feel that at the lower levels (below high school) a portion of what "education" should be made of is expanding ideas and teaching people to think in order to keep their minds open so that we don't end up a country of vassals who do as we're told to and have nothing to contribute to the world except "hi, may I take your order?" which is where we are headed. That isn't done through testing, as we can all clearly see. Teaching for testing effectively squashes teachers teaching students ideas in preference to test taking, students memorize and don't actually learn. Minds close, and we end up with people who can't or don't want to think at all. Teaching for testing (and not paying teachers very well) also drives teachers away from teaching, sometimes potentially really good ones.

How are you so sure? It will be difficult in the beginning but I am not following how teaching a vocation leads to illiteracy. There will always be those with too many obstacles to overcome but the percentage who find gainful employment that does not include "Would you like fries with that?" is a benefit to society and to the esteem (and wallet) of the person employed.

Edit - Please no one bash me for degrading the jobs at McD's. They are not meant to be careers for most but are good jobs for young people to learn life skills.

I happen to agree teaching everyone towards college entrance is not viable. I just also happen to believe that teaching mainly towards vocational is also not viable, and would lead to thinking or learning only enough to "get on with" a vocation.

Community colleges where I am located teach both, and give people choices. I firmly believe in people having choices.

I agree and am not sure where you gathered that I said it was a one lane road with only vocations being taught. I assumed you understood my idea was an addition to existing educational avenues. Pardon my assumption.

Edit - The hybrid high schools in my area are in addition to established schools and the students attending are still required to meet all graduation standards for high school graduates. They actually attend the hybrid school 3 days per week and regular high school the other two. There is no tuition and cost is completely covered by the school district with partnership of the local businesses and industry. I believe this is quite a boon for people who believe choice is important.

They receive the same diploma but can also gain certifications in these fields

Automotive Technology
Computer Repair & Networking
Construction Trades
Diesel Technology
Engineering Design & Automation
Health Professions-CNA
Industrial Welding & Metal Fabrication
Resort Academy
Media Tech
Personal Trainer/Physical Therapy Aide

I think that's great they are offering certifications towards trades at earlier ages for those who are interested. Much like offering college credit applicable courses in high school for those moving on. It's a good thing, IMO.

My original response though was not really about high school and beyond level, but the lower grades below high school. The constant focus on teaching how to test (which is detrimental IMO to both teachers and students) at the expense of teaching how to learn and explore in ways that will actually broaden a young mind is more the focus of my original response.

 

[redwood66]

I guess we were talking beyond each other without fully understanding each other's frame of reference.

We are both right.

 

[bunnycat]

I guess we were talking beyond each other without fully understanding each other's frame of reference.

We are both right.

Possibly so. It happens.

And thank you for taking time out to read my rant (I did warn I have opinions) and converse with me.

 

[partgypsy]

Yup, We need a change in our education system. Hope DeVos will do a good job as Secretary of Education.

I agree. I do hope so because I don't see how it can get any worse.

This issue is certainly more important to me than what Trump tweets or which bathroom someone uses. It will have much more far reaching consequences than those things for our country's future for sure.

Unfortunately public education can get a lot worse. Unfortunately, the current administration ignored the stakeholders who know the most about public education (parents, PTAs, teachers, mainstream policymakers) in nominating DeVos for Sec Education. Her only "solution" for public schools are to defund them through vouchers. I have two kids in public schools and everyone I know who is passionate about children's education were strongly against Devos selection, both due to her ignorance and her desire to privatize public education.

 

[partgypsy]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/C59NdRsVMAEEQVO.jpg

 

[redwood66]

Yup, We need a change in our education system. Hope DeVos will do a good job as Secretary of Education.

I agree. I do hope so because I don't see how it can get any worse.

This issue is certainly more important to me than what Trump tweets or which bathroom someone uses. It will have much more far reaching consequences than those things for our country's future for sure.

Unfortunately public education can get a lot worse. Unfortunately, the current administration ignored the stakeholders who know the most about public education (parents, PTAs, teachers, mainstream policymakers) in nominating DeVos for Sec Education. Her only "solution" for public schools are to defund them through vouchers. I have two kids in public schools and everyone I know who is passionate about children's education were strongly against Devos selection, both due to her ignorance and her desire to privatize public education.

With all due respect what is their "solution"? The stats above are not a recommendation to maintain the status quo in my eyes. Maybe a bit of healthy competition for funds might produce better results. My federal tax dollars still support this travesty but at least my local tax dollars are being better used for all students.

 

[ksinger]

I'm sure I've linked this many times on here. Seems like it's time to do the hokey-pokey and link it again.

http://nepc.colorado.edu/publication/poverty-and-potential

 

[redwood66]

I'm sure I've linked this many times on here. Seems like it's time to do the hokey-pokey and link it again.

http://nepc.colorado.edu/publication/poverty-and-potential

I am not sure what you are talking about hokey pokey? I have never seen that study before.

Edit - Is it meant to excuse the results above?

 

[partgypsy]

Yup, We need a change in our education system. Hope DeVos will do a good job as Secretary of Education.

I agree. I do hope so because I don't see how it can get any worse.

This issue is certainly more important to me than what Trump tweets or which bathroom someone uses. It will have much more far reaching consequences than those things for our country's future for sure.

Unfortunately public education can get a lot worse. Unfortunately, the current administration ignored the stakeholders who know the most about public education (parents, PTAs, teachers, mainstream policymakers) in nominating DeVos for Sec Education. Her only "solution" for public schools are to defund them through vouchers. I have two kids in public schools and everyone I know who is passionate about children's education were strongly against Devos selection, both due to her ignorance and her desire to privatize public education.

With all due respect what is their "solution"? The stats above are not a recommendation to maintain the status quo in my eyes. Maybe a bit of healthy competition for funds might produce better results. My federal tax dollars still support this travesty but at least my local tax dollars are being better used for all students.

I have to say I am not as involved as some people I know, who are involved in the PTA and national boards, so I should ask one of them. One thing I do know, is that it is a complicated subject. Schools don't operate in a vacuum. Most of the funds for schools comes locally, typically from property taxes. Which means there is a lot of disparity in what kind of homes kids come from, and how involved the parents are, how supported and safe the children are. And those disparities are paralleled in school funding. I do know that there is a lot of controversy is how much testing the Federal government is issuing. There is a huge increase in the amount and frequency of testing, compared to say when I was going to school. I do know that teachers complain that there is too much teaching for the test, rather than let teachers teach in a way that they know, can help children be more engaged and develop their critical thinking skills. also, the tests are often used in a puntative fashion, that say if a school scores low, it may actually get less funding rather than more. If I get around asking some Moms who I know are highly involved, I will let you know. I also think that schools cannot correct for everything, because while schools are a big influence, parents, family and local environment plays a larger role. for example, If a child is not getting proper nutrition, no matter how great the teacher is or how the subject matter is presented, it is going to be hard for that child to concentrate at school. I would hope that the federal government would listen to those groups most involved in our children's education, such as PTAS and teacher associations, who are on the front lines. I think the role of the Federal gov is to smooth inequalities. so as much as possible all children have a shot at a decent education. That means strengthening public schools, not diverting money away from them.

 

[lovedogs]

Yup, We need a change in our education system. Hope DeVos will do a good job as Secretary of Education.

I agree. I do hope so because I don't see how it can get any worse.

This issue is certainly more important to me than what Trump tweets or which bathroom someone uses. It will have much more far reaching consequences than those things for our country's future for sure.

Unfortunately public education can get a lot worse. Unfortunately, the current administration ignored the stakeholders who know the most about public education (parents, PTAs, teachers, mainstream policymakers) in nominating DeVos for Sec Education. Her only "solution" for public schools are to defund them through vouchers. I have two kids in public schools and everyone I know who is passionate about children's education were strongly against Devos selection, both due to her ignorance and her desire to privatize public education.

With all due respect what is their "solution"? The stats above are not a recommendation to maintain the status quo in my eyes. Maybe a bit of healthy competition for funds might produce better results. My federal tax dollars still support this travesty but at least my local tax dollars are being better used for all students.

I have to say I am not as involved as some people I know, who are involved in the PTA and national boards, so I should ask one of them. One thing I do know, is that it is a complicated subject. Schools don't operate in a vacuum. Most of the funds for schools comes locally, typically from property taxes. Which means there is a lot of disparity in what kind of homes kids come from, and how involved the parents are, how supported and safe the children are. And those disparities are paralleled in school funding. I do know that there is a lot of controversy is how much testing the Federal government is issuing. There is a huge increase in the amount and frequency of testing, compared to say when I was going to school. I do know that teachers complain that there is too much teaching for the test, rather than let teachers teach in a way that they know, can help children be more engaged and develop their critical thinking skills. also, the tests are often used in a puntative fashion, that say if a school scores low, it may actually get less funding rather than more. If I get around asking some Moms who I know are highly involved, I will let you know. I also think that schools cannot correct for everything, because while schools are a big influence, parents, family and local environment plays a larger role. for example, If a child is not getting proper nutrition, no matter how great the teacher is or how the subject matter is presented, it is going to be hard for that child to concentrate at school. I would hope that the federal government would listen to those groups most involved in our children's education, such as PTAS and teacher associations, who are on the front lines. I think the role of the Federal gov is to smooth inequalities. so as much as possible all children have a shot at a decent education. That means strengthening public schools, not diverting money away from them.

Agree 100% PG! thanks for posting these thoughts

 

[redwood66]

Yup, We need a change in our education system. Hope DeVos will do a good job as Secretary of Education.

I agree. I do hope so because I don't see how it can get any worse.

This issue is certainly more important to me than what Trump tweets or which bathroom someone uses. It will have much more far reaching consequences than those things for our country's future for sure.

Unfortunately public education can get a lot worse. Unfortunately, the current administration ignored the stakeholders who know the most about public education (parents, PTAs, teachers, mainstream policymakers) in nominating DeVos for Sec Education. Her only "solution" for public schools are to defund them through vouchers. I have two kids in public schools and everyone I know who is passionate about children's education were strongly against Devos selection, both due to her ignorance and her desire to privatize public education.

With all due respect what is their "solution"? The stats above are not a recommendation to maintain the status quo in my eyes. Maybe a bit of healthy competition for funds might produce better results. My federal tax dollars still support this travesty but at least my local tax dollars are being better used for all students.

I have to say I am not as involved as some people I know, who are involved in the PTA and national boards, so I should ask one of them. One thing I do know, is that it is a complicated subject. Schools don't operate in a vacuum. Most of the funds for schools comes locally, typically from property taxes. Which means there is a lot of disparity in what kind of homes kids come from, and how involved the parents are, how supported and safe the children are. And those disparities are paralleled in school funding. I do know that there is a lot of controversy is how much testing the Federal government is issuing. There is a huge increase in the amount and frequency of testing, compared to say when I was going to school. I do know that teachers complain that there is too much teaching for the test, rather than let teachers teach in a way that they know, can help children be more engaged and develop their critical thinking skills. If I get around asking some Moms who I know are highly involved, I will let you know. I also think that schools cannot correct for everything, because while schools are a big influence, parents, family and local environment plays a larger role. for example, If a child is not getting proper nutrition, no matter how great the teacher is or how the subject matter is presented, it is going to be hard for that child to concentrate at school.

It sounds like the bolded part might change with the removal of Common Core and fed involvement? My kids graduated in 2010 and I can remember the teachers complaining about the testing and requirements for it taking up so much time. But I don't think Common Core was fully implemented at that time so it must have been other federal testing they were speaking about. I was a fully involved parent and I do know this is a huge part of a student's success. Poverty does play a role in hindering successful learning which is why most schools have programs for breakfast and lunches and even after school programs. These are not new yet the stats remain dismal. I don't want it to seem like I am bashing teachers because my kids had wonderful ones and we interacted often.

 

[ksinger]

I'm sure I've linked this many times on here. Seems like it's time to do the hokey-pokey and link it again.

http://nepc.colorado.edu/publication/poverty-and-potential

I am not sure what you are talking about hokey pokey? I have never seen that study before.

Edit - Is it meant to excuse the results above?

My use of "hokey-pokey" was simply my feeling that we have hashed this topic more than once in here, and that I've linked this here more than once.

The only reason I linked it is to increase understanding of what the schools actually deal with.

 

[redwood66]

I'm sure I've linked this many times on here. Seems like it's time to do the hokey-pokey and link it again.

http://nepc.colorado.edu/publication/poverty-and-potential

I am not sure what you are talking about hokey pokey? I have never seen that study before.

Edit - Is it meant to excuse the results above?

My use of "hokey-pokey" was simply my feeling that we have hashed this topic more than once in here, and that I've linked this here more than once.

The only reason I linked it is to increase understanding of what the schools actually deal with.

I have not seen these statistics here before but I have seen threads complaining about DeVos. That was not my intention to discuss DeVos. I came across the site from an article and went to check it out. I had no idea the statistics were that bad and felt it could be discussed which is what we are doing.

 

[VapidLapid]

The Republican base would be lost without it's drone class. Their plan is to increase the drone class, but not the drone jobs, which keeps them angry. The religious thing keeps them focused on a reward they will never see in this lifetime, and gives them the illusion of a moral superiority, all the while ensuring the next generation of drones. The more drones doing more for less makes the rich richer.
An educated drone is a dangerous thing.

 

[monarch64]

The Republican base would be lost without it's drone class. Their plan is to increase the drone class, but not the drone jobs, which keeps them angry. The religious thing keeps them focused on a reward they will never see in this lifetime, and gives them the illusion of a moral superiority, all the while ensuring the next generation of drones. The more drones doing more for less makes the rich richer.
An educated drone is a dangerous thing.

Best summation of things I've seen on PS in a long, long time.

 

[redwood66]

The Republican base would be lost without it's drone class. Their plan is to increase the drone class, but not the drone jobs, which keeps them angry. The religious thing keeps them focused on a reward they will never see in this lifetime, and gives them the illusion of a moral superiority, all the while ensuring the next generation of drones. The more drones doing more for less makes the rich richer.
An educated drone is a dangerous thing.

And that does not address the statistics noted above. So I assume you are fine with them correct?