NY passes students who get wrong answers on tests (high school, mathematics, grade)

[HappyTexan]

Originally Posted by UpNort

Another example of them dumbing down our children. The states need to take their schools back and get the federal government out of their education. The unions need to be reined in.

UpNort..it's actually going the other way.
Obama's current Race to the Top plan gives states education money and in return they agree to let the Fed define their curriculum.

Part one of the money was handed out and they are now handing out part two. Over 35 states have applied.

Texas has refused the money both times. Perry is getting hell for it in the press but I commend him for keeping education at the state level.
Now before you go bashing Texas education, I'm talking about the bigger picture here..the Fed defining state education curriculum.

Race to the Top Fund

I see this as a power grab akin to bribery. "We'll give you money and you let us make the rules".

The lines between State and Fed are blurring for some states and strengthening for others. How will that turn out in the long run ???

[NoExcuses]

Originally Posted by artsyguy

I did not realize it was that bad. Time to do home-schooling.

I did that a long time ago and she's WAY better off for it. Now she goes to high school only for art and foreign language. NOT MATH.

Originally Posted by HappyTexan

Yes, it IS that bad. NCLB....lower the bar so that No Child is Left Behind.

Shouldn't they raise expectations instead? I think the goal was to actually teach those who were falling behind.

Originally Posted by SilverBulletZ06

Has less to do with unions, more to do with the "feel good" America that hands out trophies for last place. Why bother trying if your getting the same rewards?

God I'm sick of that. You're right.

[NoExcuses]

Originally Posted by HappyTexan

UpNort..it's actually going the other way.
Obama's current Race to the Top plan gives states education money and in return they agree to let the Fed define their curriculum.

Part one of the money was handed out and they are now handing out part two. Over 35 states have applied.

Texas has refused the money both times. Perry is getting hell for it in the press but I commend him for keeping education at the state level.
Now before you go bashing Texas education, I'm talking about the bigger picture here..the Fed defining state education curriculum.

Race to the Top Fund

I see this as a power grab akin to bribery. "We'll give you money and you let us make the rules".

The lines between State and Fed are blurring for some states and strengthening for others. How will that turn out in the long run ???

Maybe that's why Texas has a number of high schools in the national top ten.

[NoExcuses]

Originally Posted by StarlaJane

I understand the logic behind the assessment; evaluators are trying not to discourage students, so they give them points for what they get right rather than evaluating answers based on right and wrong. This is what many current education professionals have dubbed "positive reinforcement."

I remember when I was teaching, I was always very clear with my students re: a right answer and a wrong answer. And I was heavily criticized for it. They had become so used to being praised [in some way] for everything that they did that they could not handle being wrong.

Apparently, today's education specialists do not believe that a student learns from his or her mistakes. The idea of revision and sticking with something until you get it right has completely gone out the window. Students get a wrong answer [or multiple wrong answers] and instead of finding out what they are doing wrong, they blame the teacher for discouraging them by not giving enough positive feedback or argue that everything is biased against them. And admin and the education specialists back them up b/c they all have degrees in Psychology and think that any kind of "negativity" is counter-productive to learning b/c it affects a student's self-esteem.

In short, they are creating soft students who do not develop any coping skills and who certainly don't learn to work at anything until they get it right. They just get partial credit, pass and move on without having mastered the initial material.

Can you imagine what society will be like in 10 or 15 more years with this kind of mentality??? This new way of thinking is going to destroy us completely.

Has it occurred to all those EXPERTS that things are getting WORSE, not BETTER??

Go to the parenting forum and read some of the posts by young mothers. They will make you sick. It's all fuzzy feel good crap all love and petting and cooing and they think they are doing it right!!!

[lisa g]

Originally Posted by SilverBulletZ06

Has less to do with unions, more to do with the "feel good" America that hands out trophies for last place. Why bother trying if your getting the same rewards?

It is more than that.

SAU41 in Hollis, NH uses 'competency based' (same as outcome based) ed here which is straight from UNESCO.

In addition to the constructivist, socially focused, non-methodical methodology being used, there is an enormous amount of values clarification going on here, through curriculum and facilitated group discussion which specifically attempts to redefine traditional American culture for students, and even paints a diminished image of the white American male starting in elementary school. The kids are repeatedly asked to question traditional American representations in film and other media in biased guided lessons. Add to that the 'guidance' lessons: subjective (yet w/strongly imposed desired results) pop-psychology imposed on classes w/out parental notification or consent. And the string of politicized and highly inappropriate unrated documentaries and films from teachers private collections all shown (i.e. The People Bomb, for one) w/out parental notification or consent.

All this at the expense of academically focused direct instruction.

Nearby towns include Bedford, NH, using IB: Truth About International Baccalaureate
and Amherst, NH's Souhegan HS is a member of the Coalition of Essential Schools:
Coalition of Essential Schools

There is something bigger than union influence going on when small NH towns incorporate UN favored education models which dumb down American students while creating global citizens.

[nicet4]

Originally Posted by HappyTexan

Yes, it IS that bad. NCLB....lower the bar so that No Child is Left Behind.

Thank you, exactly what I wanted to say.

First thing we need to do is completely close the federal monstrosity known as the Department of Education created by Jimmy Carter in the 70's as a reward to teachers unions for their support.

Other than spending an estimated $10 million dollars on white house entertainment in 2009 alone what has this administration accomplished?

Let Them Eat Cake

How much does this world-class entertainment cost? Assuming the artists themselves forgo appearance fees, I highly doubt Paul Simon would perform with just a karaoke machine as backup.

Professional equipment needs to be brought in - sound engineers, stages, lights, etc… Even small scale performances by these artists can be very expensive.

Add booze, food, security, invitations, social secretaries, wait staff, and hangers on to the tab and the price for one of these events could easily top $75K. With over 27 concerts hosted thus far, the total cost to taxpayers is in the millions of dollars.

The executive branch does not provide detailed information regarding entertainment expenses, however it has been estimated the Obamas spent at least $10 million on “drunken White House parties” in 2009 alone.

But back to the that unholy monster The Department of Education.

Where in the Constitution does responsibility for educating our nations youth lie with the federal government?

Third world here we come!

Edit: Why posting about white house parties in the education forum? To demonstrate how far out of touch Washington is with the people. We're somehow willing to trust these sorts of people to educate our children? Is this what we really want?

[SilverBulletZ06]

Originally Posted by lisa g

It is more than that.

SAU41 in Hollis, NH uses 'competency based' (same as outcome based) ed here which is straight from UNESCO.

In addition to the constructivist, socially focused, non-methodical methodology being used, there is an enormous amount of values clarification going on here, through curriculum and facilitated group discussion which specifically attempts to redefine traditional American culture for students, and even paints a diminished image of the white American male starting in elementary school. The kids are repeatedly asked to question traditional American representations in film and other media in biased guided lessons. Add to that the 'guidance' lessons: subjective (yet w/strongly imposed desired results) pop-psychology imposed on classes w/out parental notification or consent. And the string of politicized and highly inappropriate unrated documentaries and films from teachers private collections all shown (i.e. The People Bomb, for one) w/out parental notification or consent.

All this at the expense of academically focused direct instruction.

Nearby towns include Bedford, NH, using IB: Truth About International Baccalaureate
and Amherst, NH's Souhegan HS is a member of the Coalition of Essential Schools:
Coalition of Essential Schools

There is something bigger than union influence going on when small NH towns incorporate UN favored education models which dumb down American students while creating global citizens.

While I did not know that, I can now see what was said about unions. Never the less, things like this are apparent and pervasive throughout most of childhood activities now. Making the team is a joke, everyone makes it. Come in last, heres a ribbon. We are "socially promoting" kids who have no right to be moved to the next grade level. When I was young, no one wanted to be left back because it made them stand out as "stupid" and no one wanted to be made fun of. The result? Kids who were endager of failing tried harder.

As for the "global citizen" and the "it takes a village to raise a child" stuff, its poppycock. Moms banding together so everyone has a chance to do a grocery run is one thing, the way we're getting more and more into a socialized system of percieved "equality" is another.

[Huckleberry3911948]

u r probably right. clinton had it right a national diploma exam for k12 and probably one for 8th grade is needed. k12 is a loose cannon. a great social engineering machine gone mutant.

[NY Annie]

I have been saying this for years - we are not teaching our children anything.

We have children who cannot add, read, or write. We are permitting signs to read "sign's" and not saying anything. I am told I am wasting my breath (oh wait, that's supposed to be breathe because it doesn't matter anymore how I spell it so long as you know what I meant to say). The whole idea of don't criticize, don't say a word, don't correct makes me crazy. If I criticize your sign to stand that says "rose's $12.99/doz", I am being a pain. However, there are hundreds of children who see that sign repeatedly and now believe that the plural of rose is possessive!

Speak up! We are as much at fault that we are approaching idiocracy if we keep silent. Go to the store owner and ask what is $12.99 - the thorns or the stems?

I will continue to give $1.03 when I want a dime in change rather than more pennies. I cannot tell you the number of times I get handed back my change and I make the person figure it out in their head. Yes, I'm often called a b*tch.

[lisa g]

NY Annie, I have spoken up here at a 'steering committee' meeting open to the public - the intent of which was community input about the direction of our district over the next 5 yrs.

When I suggested a return to spelling, grammar, vocabulary and problem solving drills I was told none of it was being considered because the district's goal (determined prior to meeting) was to get every student plugged in to the internet (which would then replace long term memory) and besides, word processors all have spell checkers.