Sad State of Public Schools

[Tex]

(Simon, "public school" means something different in the states than in England - I'm not talking about Eton here)

I am constantly amazed at how little a high school diploma means these days. My wife grew up in Vietnam and learned street English (on a Texas street even) and takes classes at the local community college to improve her English proficiency. The classes started out with how to use "neither" and "nor" etc. and now is teaching the students to use such words as "apprehensive", "anxious", etc. in sentences. The material was fifth grade level when I was in school. What amazes me is the she is the only student in the class who is learning English as a second language. The other students not only graduated from area high schools but were accepted to college.

Public school funding (at least here in Texas) has gone up exponentially since the sixties and I'm afraid we haven't gotten our money's worth. While the school system here has turned out some very bright students from the advanced classes, it also has spent twelve years and $175,000 give or take to turn out graduates that can't compose a sentence or make ch-ch-change for a dollar without getting flustered.

Proficiency testing is a start but the culture of the public schools needs to be changed. Rules need to be changed back to where we have some discipline in the classroom. Rules also need to be changed so that it is easier to get rid of shitty teachers. (A little more mathematics and a little less self esteem if you please)

[DT]

Rules also need to be changed so that it is easier to get rid of shitty teachers.

I agree. But according to my sweetie who is a teacher in a public school. She said. "The majority of shitty teachers at her school are the 30+ year teachers. The more years and degrees a teacher has the more money. Once they are sitting on a cushion job making big bucks they are there till they die or retire."

[That English Guy]

Tex said:

(Simon, "public school" means something different in the states than in England - I'm not talking about Eton here)

It's usually the British use of the term 'public schools' to describe private or fee paying schools that is so often the source of confusion beyond these shores. The term dates back to the 14th century and was originally used to refer to the fact that the school was open to the public, albeit that they had to pay fees, as opposed to a religious school which was open only to members the church that supported it. These days many such schools now refer to themselves as 'Independent' schools to indicate that they are fee paying and receive no funding from the government.

We face the same problems with our school system here, too little discipline and too many shitty teachers producing school leavers who can't spell or do simple mental arithmetic.

Simon

[Tex]

DT said:

I agree. But according to my sweetie who is a teacher in a public school. She said. "The majority of shitty teachers at her school are the 30+ year teachers. The more years and degrees a teacher has the more money. Once they are sitting on a cushion job making big bucks they are there till they die or retire."

Therein lies a big problem. The main factor in determining teacher pay is seniority rather than performance. The really good ones that live and breathe to teach might get a little more or they might be sidelined for making the dogs look bad.

[Merlot Joe]

DT said:

Once they are sitting on a cushion job making big bucks they are there till they die or retire."

Same problem here in California.

I could tell you a couple of stories about some teacher here at our local schools.

Simple solution. Pay them based on their performance not seniority or tenure.

Maybe they would then get off their ass and do what they are being paid for.

Joe.

[Chicago Jake]

The tough part of the obvious solution (pay for good performance) is how to objectively measure performance?

The other tough part is how to break the stranglehold of the unions. Takes a strong leader to do that. Remember PATCO?......Jake

[Merlot Joe]

Chicago said:

The tough part of the obvious solution (pay for good performance) is how to objectively measure performance?

The other tough part is how to break the stranglehold of the unions. Takes a strong leader to do that. Remember PATCO?......Jake

Performance is easy. How are their students doing in the stubject/s that teacher teaches.

Fuck the Unions. If it wasn't for the Unions some of the worthless teachers wouldn't have a job today. The Unions are more of a problem than a solution in todays world.

Hold tough and say, this is the way it's going to be.

Joe.

[Chicago Jake]

Sorry, Joe, but both of those suggestions are very easy to say, but very difficult to do......Jake

[Merlot Joe]

I don't think so.

Just need some people with balls to pull it off.

Either we do something or it's going to get worse!

My respect for teachers is a bit below used car salesman. All they do is bitch about how hard it is, and still they do jack shit.

Joe.

[Merlot Joe]

The performance part is easy.

I would say that 85 to 90% of your students in the subject/s you teach must get a 75% passing grade or better. That the minimum.

Joe.

[Tamers]

Chicago said:

Sorry, Joe, but both of those suggestions are very easy to say, but very difficult to do......Jake

Joe,

I agree with the above. Basing pay on preformance will only worsen the current situation where the teachers will pass students who do not desearve to pass just so they can look good. There would need for an independant testing system to see what the student actually learned.

Secondly Unions are difficult to break. The Laws are on their side. About the only way that it could be done is set a standard for teachers that are not Union and see who then does not want to join.

[♥ COVID-19♥]

Tex said:

My wife grew up in Vietnam and learned street English ...

Jane "Tex" Fonda married the enemy. Nice.

[♥ COVID-19♥]

DT said:

Once they are sitting on a cushion job making big bucks they are there till they die or retire.

Stick & stay, it will pay.

[Tex]

Bukkake said:

Jane "Tex" Fonda married the enemy. Nice.

Actually, I robbed the cradle. She was a toddler when the war ended.

One you go foreign...

[♥ COVID-19♥]

Tex said:

Actually, I robbed the cradle.

The worst thing about pedophilia? When the cradle breaks during sex.

[Tex]

Bukkake said:

The worst thing about pedophilia? When the cradle breaks during sex.

Or dirty diapers, but some folks consider that a plus.

[Merlot Joe]

Guest-Tamers said:

Joe,

There would need for an independant testing system to see what the student actually learned.

Secondly Unions are difficult to break. The Laws are on their side. About the only way that it could be done is set a standard for teachers that are not Union and see who then does not want to join.

Agreed, that would be part of the 85 to 90% that need to pass.


As far as the Unions go, ch-ch-change the fucking laws.

If we don't put the screws to the teachers future generations are going to learn a lot less.

Joe.

[♥ COVID-19♥]

Tex said:

Or dirty diapers, but some folks consider that a plus.

Sir, I have no idea to whom that remark was directed, however I will have you know that I wear my Depends with pride, dammit!

[Tex]

Bukkake said:

Sir, I have no idea to whom that remark was directed, however I will have you know that I wear my Depends with pride, dammit!

If the shit fits...

[♥ COVID-19♥]

Tex said:

If the shit fits...

... you must acquit.

[Chicago Jake]

My girlfriend called me a pedophile. I told her, "That's a mighty big word for a nine year old".......Jake

[Harrybutt]

Whatever sucks about today's education...I'm sure it has nothing to do withthe children, their upbringing, "hometraining", or their parents' child raising skills or lack thereof...it's all the teacher's fault.

Wouldn't a spray gun be easier than these huge broad brushes???

[Tamers]

jdwinelovers said:

Agreed, that would be part of the 85 to 90% that need to pass.


As far as the Unions go, ch-ch-change the fucking laws.

If we don't put the screws to the teachers future generations are going to learn a lot less.

Joe.

Easier said then done. The Unions got where they are because the people wanted them (look at your Wal-Mart comments). Children 8-9 were working in coal mines in Pa, working 12-14-16 hrs a day,7 days a week, for litterally pennys a day. And don't forget the company towns where they paid (slightly) more but then charged you for your company house, your company supplied utilitys, your company supplied food, your company supplied medical care, and your company supplied casket.

Unions may have faults, but still to many people remember when there were none and back them 100%.

[♥ COVID-19♥]

But getting back to the more interesting topic of pedophilia for a moment, do you know what Michael Jackson has in common with K-Mart?

Boys pants are always half - off.

[Merlot Joe]

Guest-Tamers said:

Easier said then done. The Unions got where they are because the people wanted them (look at your Wal-Mart comments). Children 8-9 were working in coal mines in Pa, working 12-14-16 hrs a day,7 days a week, for litterally pennys a day. And don't forget the company towns where they paid (slightly) more but then charged you for your company house, your company supplied utilitys, your company supplied food, your company supplied medical care, and your company supplied casket.

.

That was 70 to 80 years ago. That kind of crap would never happen again today. Actually the Unions cause more problems now days.

Joe.

[♥ COVID-19♥]

jdwinelovers said:

That kind of crap would never happen again today.

Remember the Kathy Lee Gifford incident a few years back? Helllooo .... ?

[Merlot Joe]

Bukkake said:

Remember the Kathy Lee Gifford incident a few years back? Helllooo .... ?

Ya I do, but it did not happen here in the USA.


Joe.

[Merlot Joe]

Everyone say you can't ch-ch-change they way a teacher is paid. Everyone say you can't ch-ch-change the Unions.

Now everyone tell me if this teacher deserves to be able to keep teaching.

My wife and I belong to a service club. The state chapter holds a Student Speaker Contest for all High School age kids. The state winner gets a $25,000.00 scholarship. The others on the way to the finals receive smaller ones $500. $1000. so on and so forth.

3 years ago my wife and I chaired this event for our local club. My wife contact the English teacher at our local High School to see if any Kids would be interested in entering and this teachers reply was," it's a waste of my time not interested in helping you.

Being the asshole I am I called the school principal and told him of the teacher's reply. 20 minutes later the teacher calls back and say "well I a being forced to do this, I will ask the kids but that it, no further help".

Once again being the asshole that I am I called the principal again and told him that we need the teacher to help not just for him to ask. 20 minutes later the teacher call me back bitching about me calling the principal again and causing him to have extra work to do because of this. Once again being the asshole that I am I told him he had 2 choices. Help out like we wanted if no one wished to take part thank you for your time but if some kids do we need you to help them or at least offer,or my next call was going to be to the School Board office for me to file a complaint.

All that we wanted him to do was ask if anyone was interested and help any of the kids that wanted to take part to put a 7 minute speech together, and he could have done it during school hours so he would not have had to stay later in the day.

Was that asking to much?

Now tell me if this guy deserves top pay and Union protection for his job?

His ass should have been fired. If he worked for a some company and said that about a project they would have shipped his ass out the door.
Why should teachers be treated differently.

If he was not willing to help his students, I wounder what type of a job he did teaching or if he even gave a shit.

By the way 4 students took part, the winner of our local event made it to the Zone Finals. That is 3 steps form 1st place. Not bad. Got a $500 schoolarship.

Joe.

[Harrybutt]

That was 70 to 80 years ago. That kind of crap would never happen again today. Actually the Unions cause more problems now days.

Jd, I have seen you post delusional shit before, butt this is a whopper.....

[Merlot Joe]

Harrybutt said:

Jd, I have seen you post delusional shit before, butt this is a whopper.....

You liberals would eat Union shit for breakfast. You don't know any better.

Are you stupid enough to think that someone would try to put sweat shops back into use today in the USA, and get away with it.

Not for very long. With all the labor laws we have now days. Oh yeah I forgot your from Alabama.

Joe.