ADHD or just lazy teachers?

[vraiblonde]

The public shcool system sucks and it's our responsibility to make sure our children are well educated.

Not really, considering school is the law for those under age 16. And school choice is out of the question until the government gets behind vouchers. Sure you can pay your taxes AND pay for private schooling - but most people can't afford to do that.

We're paying these people good money to educate our kids. We should be getting our money's worth or they should give us a refund and let us opt out. I think my kids are getting a decent public school education, but we definitely pick up the slack when one of our kids is falling behind. Our youngest was such a slacker in elementary school, she couldn't even tell you how many hours were in a day when she was in 4th grade. Couldn't tell you how many days in the week, couldn't name the months of the year in order. Larry and I taught her that stuff. Her reading was abysmal - the other daughters taught her how to read.

Yet the whole time, she was getting pretty good grades. In the conference, the teacher said, "Emilie is doing wonderfully." And I'm like, "Hello? She's in 4th grade and can't read!"

We've seen a dramatic change in her once we started doing it ourselves. But we're paying those people good money to do a job - if I'm going to have to do it instead, I should get that money.

 

[huntr1]

Originally posted by RoseRed
First Gay High School

Haven't they ever heard that "Seperate but Equal" is illegal?

 

[Bruzilla]

If there's a Gay-Only High School for kids who want to go there... shouldn't there also be a Straights-Only school for kids who don't want to go to school with Gays? Sounds like a clear-cut case of discrimination to me.

 

[Kizzy]

If there's a Gay-Only High School for kids who want to go there... shouldn't there also be a Straights-Only school for kids who don't want to go to school with Gays? Sounds like a clear-cut case of discrimination to me

Well if the gays can have a school and the straight people can have a school, why don't we have schools where only white people are allowed to attend and others where only black people attend? Oh yeah, that is right set us back in time. We are not allowed that type of separation in society, why have a school promote this? We all have to get along in society.

I think it is a bad idea.

 

[Bruzilla]

I was listening to a lot of news reports about the Gay High School issue, and a thought came to me. This action was agreed to last year, and I would assume that there were discussions about it well before then. Since this is not a trial balloon that someone is just talking about, it's a fully-funded program, I have to wonder where was the screaming from the Liberals and the teacher's unions about stripping money away from public education? Granted, the school will be a public school, but the $3,000,000.00 going to fund a completely seperate high school could sure go to better supporting kids at regular high schools. And if all that money isn't needed by the other schools, then how valid are the arguments for the dire need to increase school budgets?

The Liberals have fought hand, tooth, and nail against school vouchers, their arguments focusing on how taking any money away from public schools would cause the collapse of public education. Then, someone comes up and says we need three million dollars to start what is essentially a private school within the public school system, and definately a duplication of effort, and not a voice of opposition is heard from the Liberals or the teacher's unions.

I think Republicans should take this issue up as a prime example of the hypocrisy of the Left, especially the teacher's unions. They are willing to take a three million dollar hit to the education budget to support a specialized high school that is needed more to promote a social agenda than to better education. If they can say that that's okay then they can't say that you can't lose one or two million dollars for vouchers. Once again... anything is okay with Liberals as long as "The Right" people are benefitting, and that's not the American way.

 

[pixiegirl]

But we're paying those people good money to do a job - if I'm going to have to do it instead, I should get that money.

I agree you should. But right now you're not going to. I'm not saying it's fair; I'm saying that's just how it is right now. I totally agree that something needs to be done but until it is it's our responsibility to make sure our children get a good education. You shouldn't of had to teach your daughter the basics that she should have been learning in school but you did. The public school system wasn't doing their job so you took the responsibility on yourself to make sure your child knew what she needed to know.

 

[vraiblonde]

it's our responsibility to make sure our children get a good education.

Agreed. And that's what a lot of parents do. But if we just sit idly by and don't call them on it, it becomes the norm. Then they'll try for something else, which will become the norm.

That's why the US looks different in terms of social structure and culture than it did 50 years ago - little changes here and there that nobody b*tched about. Granted, a lot of those changes were for the better - things like government-sponsored discrimination, etc. But most of the changes in our society have had no benefit to the people.

 

[vraiblonde]

Originally posted by Bruzilla
I think Republicans should take this issue up as a prime example of the hypocrisy of the Left, especially the teacher's unions.

Don't hold your breath. The minute a Republican speaks out against this blatant segregation and special treatment, the attacks will begin. I'm convinced the Libs come up with this stuff in hopes that some Republican will object, so they can paint the entire party as gay-bashing hate mongers.

I think it's interesting when minority groups scream their heads off at discrimination and segregation, then they do stuff like this to self-segregate. It's like the colleges that have black-only graduations - Jim Crow all over again.

Wonder what would happen if someone started a "heteros only" public high school? Or had "whites only" graduation exercises?

 

[Bruzilla]

Your right Vrai, the Republicans will get torn up they minute they attack Gay issues, which is why they shoudn't. My point was that the Republicans are screwing up by complaigning about a special school for Gays. What they should be upset about, and scoring points on, is the willingness of school officials, who are always complaigning about small budgets, blowing three million bucks on this project that duplicates capabilities at other schools. That runs against what the teacher's unions have been complaigning about when it comes to vouchers. They've argued that public schools can provide just as good an education as private, and that taking money away from the public schools will cause a disaster. Now, here they are taking millions to create a publicly operated private school.

We should forget who or what the school is for. The point to drive home is that if you can spare three million dollars to push this issue, then you can afford school vouchers.

 

[Heretic]

Christy sounds like you have done the right thing, Bravo

 

[Christy]

Originally posted by Heretic
Christy sounds like you have done the right thing, Bravo

Thanks. It still torks my azz that I'm forced to send my kids to private school (I am by no means wealthy) because the public schools are so hosed. And then you've got the teachers, administrators, etc.. whining for more money.

Private schools manage to educate kids (even "problem" kids) for well under the amount of money doled out to public schools.

 

[Hessian]

Yet another failure...

Christy,..we have chatted before regarding Private Ed...I heartily endorse your actions.

My next thought goes back to two years of teaching Living History to middle school students.-Girls who never handled a needle...boys who never picked up a hammer...never cut wood, drilled a hole, dipped a candle, or handled raw meat.

About 1/2 of my kids fit this category. Many just bloomed doing hands-on history projects. The only writing they did was their own genealogy.

The realization hit me that we have cut way back with the shop classes, homemaking classes, mechanical stuff. Why? Grades and score-districts need climbing scores, not "motor heads" or "homemakers" Secondly-insurance--too many reckless or sinister kids who endanger others.

So...what happens to all the kids who struggle through HS who know they can't cut it in college-they drop out early or take a menial job. THEY SHOULD BE GETTING MECHANICAL SKILLS TO PREPARE THEM FOR SKILLED JOBS! Carpenters, Nurse aides, masons, auto repair, painters, tin workers..etc.

I dream of a private school that tackles this need- a full academic schedule and an intense mechanical curriculum. (I may be a bit fanatical in this but the mission fields I am aware of need less 'missionaries' and more skilled craftemen!)

Quit pressuring everybody to go to College! Its a costly and depressing venture for many..get them in challenging tech schools!

 

[vraiblonde]

I'm into "mechanical curriculum". So many kids don't learn these things at home. It's stunning to me how many of my daughter's teenage friends come over and can't so much as scramble an egg. My son's buddies didn't know a flathead from a Phillips head. And, frankly, which are you going to do more throughout your life: thread a needle or solve an algebraic equation?

Our kids up here have something called "Life Skills", which is a whopping 45 minute class. But they learn to use a sewing machine, drill a hole, make things and create. It's really a neat class and they should devote more time to it.

 

[Steve]

I think the one thing I find wonderful about our kid's school (Montessori) is that it is in essence a "One-room Schoolhouse". Our son and daughter are in one large classroom, but the grades are 1-6. The room is divided for individual lesson periods, but the teachers use the older kids in teaching the younger kids. The older ones are also given more responsibility around the school. I think that helps make a big difference, also.

 

[Bertha Venation]

Originally posted by Kain99
The ADHD diagnosis really scares me. I have no personal experience with the issue but from the outside it looks like a really bad excuse for people who don't want to do their jobs.

I've read many posts and appreciate the woes of you who have kids in lousy schools. I can't speak to your childrens' diagnoses (or, "diagnoses", as would be the case if you heard the news merely from a teacher), but I do know that Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is real. I wouldn't doubt individual kids' learning abilities are hampered by lazy teachers or a lousy educational system, but the disorder is certainly real.

If anyone says your child has or may have ADHD, do what Christy did if you feel you must, or see a psychiatrist (not only a psychologist--someone with a medical degree) and have your child checked out.

That's my two cents, for what they're worth.

 

[Hessian]

Grudging approval

I saw a video from this site today and have worked with several therapists using the Discovery approach.

http://www.nild.net/

The reason I give it grudging approval is that they pull kids out of my classes at times, reduce the work load, and request other modifications that are inconvenient. I have to go along with the recommendations because that's what the admin says.

Approval: I have seen a number of kids make noticable improvements in self control, writing ability, hand-eye coord., and they remain motivated to keep working: not allowed to cop-out.

They have an excellent web site and a number of international schools using their approach.

 

[Kizzy]

I got word today that my son should be in his new school Sept. 22nd.

My son moves to the 4-year-old classroom at his current school in a week. The teachers are very young, under 20 young, so I am not banking on anything changing in the "new" classroom with "new teachers." The only thing that I can hope for is that he will take an interest in learning at the new school.

 

[Heretic]

Under 20 young? Last time I checked its pretty darn hard to graduate college under 20.

 

[Kizzy]

The teachers have a vo-tec education in teaching small children. Some chose to move on and take night classes towards teaching, but they are not certified teachers, just baby sitters practicing their teaching skills on the children at the school. The very first thing I noticed at the new school was that all the teachers are over the age of 30 and they have been teaching for no less than 10 years. Now, I am not trying to say that you need a certificate to be a good teacher, what I am saying is that they lack the experience to handle my son with his obvious short attention span.