I teach welfare to work students, what an experience!

[Secret Service Man]

Being unemployed I have been taking a number of classes to try to update my skills. I am constantly shocked how poor the students are in many of these classes. Many seem to think we are in a economic boom and they will be getting the big bucks as soon as they finish a certificate program that does not have grades and only requires that you show up in class.

When God created man why did he create so many people who are so lazy and so uninterested in bettering themselves and so unskilled in dealing with life's challenges?

[Huckleberry3911948]

whole lota people do not wana work, doesn't matter the benefit and wage package, on this point
past president fox was correct.
signed
a non white

[Weekend Traveler]

Did the schools fail the students? Or did the students fail the school?

I think it is the last option because no one forced the students to not pay attention in class.

I find it strange that most of the posters blamed the orginal poster for expressing their concern.

[CA4Now]

Originally Posted by Secret Service Man

When God created man why did he create so many people who are so lazy and so uninterested in bettering themselves and so unskilled in dealing with life's challenges?

People aren't born lazy and uninterested. Try growing up in any impoverished neighborhood with one parent working, the other absent, not enough food in the house, 40 kids in a classroom, crime all around you.....and see what kind of education you get.

[kaching_03]

Originally Posted by houstoner

Oh, there were more than a few zingers. Poorly constructed sentences, commas where there shouldn't be any, no comma where there should be one... the list goes on. Yet the students are lacking in intelligence. Why can't Johnny read? Because his teachers can't either.

I totally agree. Why would we expect students today to graduate high school knowing how to write resumes and interview for jobs? Our public school sysem is turning out kids who can't even read or write. Does this mean they were not taught? No! It means that the methods used were not working. I read an earlier post where someone thought this problem just started ocurring in the 80s. I beg to differ. I was in high school in the eighties and I had the attitude that those who did not do well in school were simply not trying. After having children of my own I see things from a whole new perspective. Kids have ALWAYS fallen through the cracks. People are unique and learn in different ways. To say that one is stupid or dimwitted because they are not keeping up with others in a current curriculum is just being narrow minded. Our entire education system needs to be overhauled if we have any possibility of competing in this new technological age. While I am on my soapbox, I have to say one more thing. We need to stop making excuses for people because they have a rough home life or are from a poor background. Education is their key to a future. From where I stand, the whole world has a story. I don't know of any family who is not dysfunctional to a degree and has not had hard times. To say that someone is having trouble concentrating or learning because of it is only making an excuse for them. These are the people teachers need to be tougher on or they will be the first to fall through the cracks because society feels "sorry" for them.

[izannimda]

I used to do some tutoring while in college for welfare recipients (mostly single moms) who were trying to get their High School GED as this is mandated by the state of NJ. Anyone who is receiving aid must get their diploma or continue attempting to get their diploma in order to become more marketable for a job in order to get off the roles.

The biggest challenge I found was that most of the students never even had the basics, and the passing rate of this exam was dismal. I guess I'm trying to say that it was really discouraging and depressing as you have so many people with next to no education and no marketable skills at all. Now everyone has their opinions about people on welfare. Personally, I found that some of these students were just a waste of oxygen, and didn't give a dam at all. They were just going through the motions. There were also a few who really wanted to try and improve themselves. What really tugged at my heart was when I saw the children of these parents, and you knew that most of them didn’t even have a chance of making something out of their lives, because their parents had no idea how to be parents.

[ZugZub]

Originally Posted by CA4Now

People aren't born lazy and uninterested. Try growing up in any impoverished neighborhood with one parent working, the other absent, not enough food in the house, 40 kids in a classroom, crime all around you.....and see what kind of education you get.

Gee, I did that, and I managed to get an education. I managed to put myself through college too, go figure.

[mm_mary73]

Originally Posted by CA4Now

People aren't born lazy and uninterested. Try growing up in any impoverished neighborhood with one parent working, the other absent, not enough food in the house, 40 kids in a classroom, crime all around you.....and see what kind of education you get.

I had 40 in a class in elementary school. I graduated from high school and even applied to college. I was accepted and eventually earned a Master's degree. What's your point?