Why are Illinois schools failing to teach our children? (Chicago: home, public school)

[linicx]

The pressure teachers feel to raise grades is nothing new. We have four teachers in our family. I have yet to meet a teacher who thought the 'No Child Left Behind" was fair or productive. I have well educated friends who believe too much time is spent memorizing for tests, and not enough time spent on learning basic skills. When I was in high school Algebra was not a requirement. Today it is required to pass GED.

I think it is a travesty that kids leave school and cannot read a tape measure, read a newspaper, or add simple numbers: 12+9.

What say you, Illiinois?

[Avengerfire]

I think what is most disappointing about our schools is the percentage of kids that graduate who cannot speak,write,and read English at a basic level.

[whinniethezen]

Originally Posted by linicx

The pressure teachers feel to raise grades is nothing new. We have four teachers in our family. I have yet to meet a teacher who thought the 'No Child Left Behind" was fair or productive. I have well educated friends who believe too much time is spent memorizing for tests, and not enough time spent on learning basic skills. When I was in high school Algebra was not a requirement. Today it is required to pass GED.

I think it is a travesty that kids leave school and cannot read a tape measure, read a newspaper, or add simple numbers: 12+9.

What say you, Illiinois?

Weren't the teachers, having been pressured, caught fudging the grades? Regardless of the major flaws with No Child Left Behind they should not be falsifying grades. I have not heard this going on in other cities/states. Maybe this happened partially because Chicago already has major problems with its school system.

[Maintainschaos]

Originally Posted by linicx

When I was in high school Algebra was not a requirement. Today it is required to pass GED.

Algebra is still important regardless of whether or not you were taught it in high school...:\

[linicx]

Originally Posted by Maintainschaos

Algebra is still important regardless of whether or not you were taught it in high school...:\

I only wish Algebra was the problem. We have a home nurse that didn't "get" 17+7+7 = 31. Sigh.... now I have another responsibility.

[chet everett]

Lots of problems. The general quality of teachers has suffered as more career paths / lucrative opportunities pull people toward other areas. That is NOT to say that pay alone is inequitable, as many normal classroom teachers are very well compensated in desirable areas, while in areas that are not so desirable the compensation can lag.

The range of students is now much broader, with children that in past decades would have been in reform schools or some sort 'therapeutic' setting now routinely mainstreamed. This creates at a minimum challenges for skilled teachers and in the face of unprepared situations is downright chaotic / dangerous.

The shear amount of "stuff" that lawmakers in Springfield have decreed must be taught is ridiculous -- to keep the PE teacher dominated Unions happy that is a daily requirement (and note it is just "PE" not some standard for actual fitness -- lots of fat, out of shape little kids spend their 40+ minutes a day moping about in gym shoes and t-shirt...). They mandate pointless 'coverage' a huge range of things that almost certainly serve many children less well than a thorough understanding of the skills one needs to communicate: Illinois Learning Standards for Social/Emotional Learning(SEL) http://www.isbe.net/ils/fine_arts/word/goal27.doc Illinois Learning Standards -Social Science Mandates by Topic

I could go on, but perhaps the most glaring reason that I believe schools do such a poor job in Illinois comes from what I believe is a fundamental problem in Illinois: the politicians that run things DO NOT WANT smart citizens! Smart citizens would question corrupt system of politicians lining their pockets, raking in millions in "campaign funds", appointing their relatives to ridiculously overpaid cushy jobs, handing off their elected office to their offspring, and dozens of other disgraces that we routinely endure...

[Irishtom29]

It's largely the fault of parents who want their children mollycoddled rather than disciplined and this is part of a general breakdown of discipline and civility in society.

[doll lady]

I really think it depends on the city/town/village in which the student lives. I live in a small town north of the capitol and when my kids were in public school, not one child failed a grade and it was almost unheard of for a child to drop out of school. And the school is still about the same. The teachers probably don't make the salaries that teachers in Chicago area make, but I bet they feel exhileration that their job was done well enough to assure the kids learned.

Oh good gosh how I hated both years of algebra when I was in high school......but it came in handy over the years. I was astounded that when I looked at a fifth grade math book not long ago....most of it was algebra!!

[Durian Beach]

Originally Posted by doll lady

I really think it depends on the city/town/village in which the student lives. I live in a small town north of the capitol and when my kids were in public school, not one child failed a grade and it was almost unheard of for a child to drop out of school. And the school is still about the same. The teachers probably don't make the salaries that teachers in Chicago area make, but I bet they feel exhileration that their job was done well enough to assure the kids learned.

I recall a number of years back the Prime Minister of Japan told Americans just exactly what was wrong with the US school system and the MOD EDIT media threw a fit.

[latinalogician]

Some of my family isn't very interested in academics. Some are (like me).

You can keep pouring more and more money into schools, but until Kids WANT TO LEARN, nothing will change the situation. Children who come from poor environments, but whose culture values education and achievement will achieve, regardless. Mormon Utah is a great example of a place where schools don't get a lot of money, but kids are achievers.

Frankly, a lot of kids just aren't academic material. People aren't all born with equal ability or intelligence. Isn't that painfully obvious? But more than anything, if kids grow up with a culture based on Grand Theft Auto/Hip Hop Rapper, how can you possibly think they're going to take to Physics, Math, Science, etc.

You know you need a CALM mind to learn and digest those things. Not one churning with violence, lust, anger, etc.