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Should we go back to tracking thereby ensuring that the smart kids never rub pencils with their less advanced peers?
Actually, yes. Just like the varsity team doesn't play with the intramural teams.
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Should we not bother trying to educate kids that don't learn as quickly?
Of course we should, but their educational needs are different than that of those who are more advanced. It's a disservice to all to try to educate both in the same classroom. We can see by the abysmal reading proficiency statistics that doing so clearly isn't working.
I'm pretty old and it seems to me that there has never been a time when this wasn't the case, particularly in the lower grades. I remember kids struggling with spelling and reading when I was in the first grade waaaay back in the early 1960s.
So what is the solution?
Should we go back to tracking thereby ensuring that the smart kids never rub pencils with their less advanced peers? Should we not bother trying to educate kids that don't learn as quickly?
As for the OP, positive steps. Thanks for the link.
Should we go back to tracking ? YES
We don't bother now with the kids that don't learn quickly.
If they can't get it in class we throw them in front of a computer screen to work on "self paced" remedial lessons (when they aren't switching tabs to watch youtube videos or play on game sites).
Back when I was in elementary we had 3 classes at each grade level. They were tracked and the lowest level had both a teacher and teacher aide in there. The slower kids actually had extra help in the classroom all day.
Yikes, where's your optimism? So many folks here have blasted Obama for not doing much for black people. Many more have complained that black people don't do enough to help their "community."
Let's give this a chance before calling it a failure.
For what ? Another government initiative to make up for failed government initiatives ?
It doesn't address the problem is the issue.
I'd rather just see more funding aimed at keeping kids on a good track from an early age.
Giving them a "leg up" when they are 17-18 is IMO less effective.
I definitely favor more money spent early than A LOT more money spent later by society and I'm not talking about incarceration costs but prosecution costs, lost manpower, the damage done to others and their properties in the commission of crime and so on and so forth.
Why isn't Obama addressing the parents of these disadvantaged minority youth ?
Why does he think society owes them ? Their "plight" is of their own and their family's doing.
I'd rather just see more funding aimed at keeping kids on a good track from an early age.
Giving them a "leg up" when they are 17-18 is IMO less effective.
I definitely favor more money spent early than A LOT more money spent later by society and I'm not talking about incarceration costs but prosecution costs, lost manpower, the damage done to others and their properties in the commission of crime and so on and so forth.
We've spent money, lots of money on disadvantaged minority youth.
None of it has worked.
Throwing money at schools does not address the problem.
One kid came to school last week chanting "redrum" over and over.
That's the lingo from jail for "murder". I asked him why he's repeating jail lingo and he told me his brother "just got out" and told him all the words they use. This is the environment most of these kids are growing up in. Going to jail is NBD..just the price for "getting caught".
Why isn't Obama addressing the parents of these disadvantaged minority youth ?
Why does he think society owes them ? Their "plight" is of their own and their family's doing.
The "problem" will only get worse if ignored.
I think past programs to address parents of these kids hasn't worked. Obviously if the parents are not educated, lack social skills, and in general are not good role models, what makes you think addressing them would do any good?
As far as society owing them....well as I see it, they become a very expensive problem for society if they are not put on the right path for success. So therefore these kids are worth the investment by mentors.
Ok, so you say the problem will only get worse if ignored, but are critical of a plan to address the problem. Don't you think that these kids will be parents some day, and if they are set up for success then this continual problem can prevented from happening in the future?
I think past programs to address parents of these kids hasn't worked. Obviously if the parents are not educated, lack social skills, and in general are not good role models, what makes you think addressing them would do any good?
As far as society owing them....well as I see it, they become a very expensive problem for society if they are not put on the right path for success. So therefore these kids are worth the investment by mentors.
Ok, so you say the problem will only get worse if ignored, but are critical of a plan to address the problem. Don't you think that these kids will be parents some day, and if they are set up for success then this continual problem can prevented from happening in the future?
The "problem" are not the young Black men. They are the outcome of the "problem".
What's really the problem here ? Bad/non-existent parenting is the problem.
You can't fix that either in school or in some job works program.
Some of you have no clue how some of these kids live.
Can "school" really straighten out the boy whose mother uses him for shoplifting at Walmart because the boy is a minor?
Or what about the older brother who robs homes but uses his little brother who is a minor to enter the house and pass the goods out the window to him ?
How's about the kids that didn't get any sleep because mom and dad were going at it again and the cops got called to the house at 3am to arrest dad for domestic violence.
How do you fix that in school or a jobs work program ?
The "problem" are not the young Black men. They are the outcome of the "problem".
What's really the problem here ? Bad/non-existent parenting is the problem.
You can't fix that either in school or in some job works program.
Some of you have no clue how some of these kids live.
Can "school" really straighten out the boy whose mother uses him for shoplifting at Walmart because the boy is a minor?
Or what about the older brother who robs homes but uses his little brother who is a minor to enter the house and pass the goods out the window to him ?
How's about the kids that didn't get any sleep because mom and dad were going at it again and the cops got called to the house at 3am to arrest dad for domestic violence.
How do you fix that in school or a jobs work program ?
Maybe you need to re-read what I wrote. I addressed the issue of the parents, and I never mentioned "school" as a solution. The program would provide mentors from businesses, community etc... to show these kids the right way to do things. The parents are often a lost cause, the solution is not to continue putting future children in the same position, hence the program that was announced today. You have to think ahead in preventing the problem instead of being bitter and stuck on trying to undo the past, which is impossible.
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