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That's a great question. I am familiar with Grand Ave and since RICE has been implemented, there have been less physical altercations among students (impulse control) and more mediation and talking things out. They teach the kids to treat others with respect and think about what you say and how it affects others. Those are some character issues. ALso, lying, cheating, stealing. RICE isn't perfect, but on the middle school level, if it even gets some kids to be nicer to each other, lessen bullying,or foster understanding, isn't it worth a try???
I am familiar with this term. It is to address character issues in students. Unfortuantely, parents tend to not teach their kids correct, respectful behavior. Now schools need to do that. Rice is a national program about teaching respect.
Why would you criticize. Schools isn't all about test scores. It is about making better people. I take offense to the criticism of teachers. I teach HS and respect is a big componant.
I don't think it's all about criticizing teachers per se...personally, as a parent who has spent more than her fair share of time in classrooms, I think it's quite frustrating to watch children who clearly don't mind their manners, and how often teachers must "pussyfoot" around lest they be yelled at by Junior's irate parent. Respect is a big component without question, but I get more than a little miffed at the fact that instead of holding disruptive children accountable and getting them out of the classroom, teachers must now spend more time teaching them how to sit still and pay attention instead of focusing on subjects.
It used to be that they ran outside and screamed and hollered for 20 minutes or so mid-morning (in addition to lunchtime recess) to get the pent-up energy out. Now, they have to sit still and fill in the correct reading comprehension or mathematics bubble, and if they're lucky, they can scarf down their lunch in time to go out for 15 minutes. By today's standards, society is so focused on testing, testing, testing, that there is precious little time to spend on any kind of outside recess. That, IMO, only sets up a bigger profit margin for pharmaceutical companies. Kids are fidgety to begin with - now we expect them to sit still for 6 hours with a paltry 15 minute break? No wonder they have "character issues."
There's much to be said about child development, and no one appears to be saying it. Children are not mini-adults, they are a work in progress and as such, they shouldn't be made to sit like little brainy statues for extended periods of time without a break. That's a recipe for "character flaw" developments IMHO.
cue the teachers blaming everything on parents! oH? This just in, they've already started!
@OP. You have to understand that you need to lower your expectations for Long Island teachers. You see, they only make 3x the national average for teachers and have advanced degrees that proclaim them "specialists" in education. And you need to understand that the poor education your children receive is a direct result of your weaknesses as a parent. Maybe you should be home more with your kids! What? You need that second job because your property taxes are 10k per year for a 2 bed room ranch. Well, that's your fault too.
Oh, and you don't understand because your not a teacher. Nanny Nanny Poo Poo. Rubber/Glue. No Backsies
Seriously! If you want proper education for your children than you need to find a Catholic School on LI. Public Schools just want the path of least resistance. In other words, they just want it so your children don't cause trouble. It's the educational equivalent of a parent saying they "Just want Quiet!" If the teachers get that then your children will do well, but their education will be **** poor. If you want an education that will challenge your children and prepare them for Undergraduate studies than you need to find a strong private school on LI. Sad, but very true!
My children go to parochial school and boy am I glad I send them there. But even there, we have issues with children who just do not want to abide by the rules. In my sons 3rd grade class, there are a bunch of 5 boys who just constantly disrupt the class. I am not one of those parents who says my son is perfect ; absolutely not. But he is one of the children who actually want to learn. He reads at 7th grade level(harry potter #5 now).
I had this specific teacher last year for my other son and she was just fantastic ; just one of those teachers who loved the children and loved to teach. Well this year she is jaded, tired, and constantly having to stop the class just to focus on the behaviour of these 5 boys. Wouldnt you think that the parents of these boys would know by now that this behaviour isnt tolerated. Last week one of them wrote all over the bathroom!! That is just not acceptable and its kids like those who want to learn that are affected.
The school does teach respect and does discipline but if the kids arent getting it at home, they just will not bring it to school with them.
The other day I was up by Grand Avenue Middle School in Bellmore....I happened to glance at their little motto on the sign outside and it read:
RICE - Respect Impulse Control Compassion Equity
You'll notice there's nothing about learning. Respect, compassion and equity are all well and fine....but IMPULSE CONTROL? When did we stop aspiring to educate and challenge the minds of our children and start settling for docile and well behaved? It blew my mind, how can this pass for education? This is a well regarded school in a well regarded district....and they're telling these kids that the most important thing in life is to sit on your hands every time you want a candy bar?
I have a bunch of friends who are teachers on LI, and I dated a HS math teacher (at one of LI's best districts) for way too many years....and let me tell you, these people scare me. Everything they were taught in college and everything the districts look for isn't teaching ability, it's test scores and behavior control. Education on LI (and probably everywhere else), in my eyes, has just become a really expensive form of babysitting. Keep up appearances, and push the product down the assembley line....I personally think it's nuts.
Anyone else have any thoughts? I don't have any kids myself, so I can't comment on what the end result of modern education practices are.
I know plenty of teachers; I'm also married to one. The teachers I know want to teach, and they do teach. One of the barriers to instruction are the values instilled in the students that affect behavior. These values are taught either implicitly or explicitly by their parents and their culture. If students show up at a school feeling entitled to do, say, or not do whatever they please, it seems like instructing new values is warranted. At least making students aware of the values intrinsic to their behaviors is an important step in developing a capable young person.
cue the teachers blaming everything on parents! oH? This just in, they've already started!
@OP. You have to understand that you need to lower your expectations for Long Island teachers. You see, they only make 3x the national average for teachers and have advanced degrees that proclaim them "specialists" in education. And you need to understand that the poor education your children receive is a direct result of your weaknesses as a parent. Maybe you should be home more with your kids! What? You need that second job because your property taxes are 10k per year for a 2 bed room ranch. Well, that's your fault too.
Oh, and you don't understand because your not a teacher. Nanny Nanny Poo Poo. Rubber/Glue. No Backsies
Seriously! If you want proper education for your children than you need to find a Catholic School on LI. Public Schools just want the path of least resistance. In other words, they just want it so your children don't cause trouble. It's the educational equivalent of a parent saying they "Just want Quiet!" If the teachers get that then your children will do well, but their education will be **** poor. If you want an education that will challenge your children and prepare them for Undergraduate studies than you need to find a strong private school on LI. Sad, but very true!
I haven't seen any stats that support your claims. Can you provide any support for these wild assertions?
The sad truth is: it's part of the hangover from the go-go sixties. Just "understand" the little darlings, and they'll behave perfectly.
Oh, they don't? Then, they must have some mental disease and need to be medicated.
Kids, particularly boys, need an old fashioned kick in the ass when they misbehave, not "therapy."
The problem is caused by the fact that we aren't beating our kids enough.
You can do better than rehashing Newt Gingrich here. The general problem, and it's an American problem, is entitlement and lack of parenting. Affluence in the US soared after WWII because families began sending both parents into the workplace. Once that didn't cut it because salaries flatlined in the 70s, usury laws were weakened, and people began using credit cards for everything. In the 90s, people yanked the equity out of their homes. Once indebted to their ears, Americans were accustomed to lifestyles they couldn't afford and were busy working their assess off just to stay above (according to the UN statistics, Americans are one of the hardest working peoples). You can't parent in that environment.
The "go-go sixties," as Hannity might put it, were a time of questioning authority when authority was busy denying rights to blacks and killing tens of thousands of working and lower class draftees. I don't see the connection.
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I think you are wrong.
