Reacting to public education

[john_ennis]

Getting ready for another year teaching English at a large public high school. I wonder what are the thoughts of the public–Catholic or not, parents or not–regarding some of the biggest worries with these schools, where most of America’s children are educated. What do people think ought to be the reaction of Christian teachers, and students, and parents to things that just aren’t being done right?
Of course, the concerns could make up a long list, but a couple that have been weighing heavily on my mind this summer:

1. Mine, like virtually every school district in the country, advances middle school students right up through eighth grade, without regard to whether they’re ready for the next grade. This practice is based on a philosophy which is deeply held by many educational policy-makers. They firmly believe in it. Its unintended consequences, though, are numerous and devastating.
   The ninth-grade boy who confesses to me, “Mr. E., I’ve never actually read a whole book,” is not atypical. The proportion of incoming freshman who can add two fractions with unlike denominators (5th grade math) is below 40%; those who can divide when there’s a remainder are far, far, fewer than even that.
2. A second problem, too, is something which my school has in common with most schools across the country: what should be a positively oriented approach to respecting (even loving?) one another, takes the form of an “anti-bullying” campaign imposed from outside the school system by the Anti-Defamation League. You may have heard of “No Place for Hate.” ADL-trained teachers train older students, who then come into freshman classrooms to guide students on how to think right about people who are different. Of course, to the ADL, many of the children’s parents are “haters”–if they are opposed to same-sex marriage. That–acceptance of homosexuality–is the focus of anti-bullying.
   Thus, I’m treated to a front-row seat as fourteen-year-old girls and boys are compelled to stand in the middle of the classroom (during time that’s supposed to be for Language Arts class), and indicate their response to the statement, “I would feel uncomfortable if I found out one of my parents was homosexual.”
   This, as an effort against bullying.

When I consider these, and the more day-to-day issues (eating in the classroom, easing of policies regarding headphones and texting) that the public ought to be aware of and responsive to, the old phrase rings constantly in my ears, public schools belong to the public. But that brings up one additional question: how do we make schools more transparent to the public?

 

[adawgj]

I must say the only teacher I ever had who was open minded and he went to Boston College (not sure if he is Catholic) and tends to understand and teach way better than all my teachers combined.

Eating in class is by far is necessary because it is very difficult to concentrate when hungry.

 

[Gertabelle]

Public school teacher here as well. I teach K-5 music, and this will be my 17th year.

As a Catholic, I see my Title 1 school as a mission field – “Whatever you do to the least of these, you do to ME.” As an elementary school, however, we don’t face the same degree of problems as teachers and families in the higher grades.

As to your questions…

1. Students are definitely moved ahead when they shouldn’t be. The only teachers at my school willing to retain students are the preschool and kindergarten teachers.

I see this as a problem with parents more than with teachers however. When I first started teaching, we retained students who weren’t prepared for the next grade. But parents started fighting back when teachers recommended retention. Teachers were threatened and pressured by parents and then administrators.

If parents aren’t on board with retention, then there’s very, very little teachers can do about it.

1. Yeah, the “parents as the enemy” is becoming more prevalent in the public schools, but way more at the high school level. I don’t know that the public (whoever that is) would really change the situations you describe. Obama was elected - TWICE - with a darn good majority. The situation you described with the ADL would probably be seen as a good thing by the public

Unfortunately, the public schools are just following society’s lead with the craziness.

The public schools are a mirror of society in many ways. And right now they’re showing us the complete breakdown of American families and society itself.

But I’m plugging away with my students! And when I see or hear something that I think is harmful to these children, I open my mouth and speak up – respectfully and firmly.

Just my two cents.

God bless you and your students!

Gertie

 

[john_ennis]

1. Students are definitely moved ahead when they shouldn’t be.
   I see this as a problem with parents more than with teachers however.
   If parents aren’t on board with retention, then there’s very, very little teachers can do about it.
2. I don’t know that the public (whoever that is) would really change the situations you describe. Obama was elected - TWICE
   Unfortunately, the public schools are just following society’s lead with the craziness.

The practice of promoting kids–ready or not–has come about over decades because of the philosophies of educational theorists/experts/administrators and some teachers. Our wishy washy culture has contributed.
Yet, most teachers disapprove, and most parents are downright AMAZED to hear how completely it’s been put in place. (Parents have been talked out of keeping their children back, by counselors and principals in my district.)

We need fresh eyes, and fresh, well-placed indignation. Parents should be a regular presence in our school classrooms and hallways. These are people who care even more about the kids than teachers do. They would, with common sense, push back against:

Students eating all manner of food and drink after class has begun. These are generally the students who can least afford to miss the learning that should be taking place.

The disappearance of assigned homework (this has occurred because such a high percentage of students simply don’t do it; they are responding to the lesson learned in middle school–you pass whether you do it or not).

The unmanageable disparity in ability levels (a third of the trigonometry class needing a review of sixth grade math, while 20 kids sit idle). Countries that are kicking our butts academically, laugh that we’ve ignored a fundamental necessity: those entering a class must have the prerequisite knowledge.

The teaching of ideology that’s really the domain of parents (as the ADL example discusses).

Of course, teachers and administrators hate the idea of parents–the public–being regular visitors. That’s understandable. It’s also evidence that it’s a good idea.

 

[john_ennis]

Eating in class is by far is necessary because it is very difficult to concentrate when hungry.

This is a very good example of good intentions leading to bad policies.

It is also very hard to concentrate when one is tired. Shall we let the students sleep during class? The answer to this is the same answer we should have for the issue about eating. Of course kids need to eat and sleep. Part of being mature and responsible is taking care of those necessities so that one is ready for school.

Now, if a child is not fed at home, shall we open up the classroom to eating? Think of the unintended consequences:
–A whole bunch of kids who otherwise would have eaten before school, will take advantage of the policy, and following our lazy human nature, not eat till they get to class.
–The climate of the classroom will change, no longer being a single-minded effort toward educating.
–The lesson that one must plan and prepare will be compromised.

The second point is a critical one, and largely separates poor schools from effective ones. Many private schools, and particularly Christian ones which recognize our fallen nature, pay attention to the need to make school seem like a special place. Dress codes, order, lack of distractions such as food and electronics, are all reminders that the place has a serious mission.
That is lost when we try to make things comfortable and cozy.

 

[adawgj]

This is a very good example of good intentions leading to bad policies.

It is also very hard to concentrate when one is tired. Shall we let the students sleep during class? The answer to this is the same answer we should have for the issue about eating. Of course kids need to eat and sleep. Part of being mature and responsible is taking care of those necessities so that one is ready for school.

Now, if a child is not fed at home, shall we open up the classroom to eating? Think of the unintended consequences:
–A whole bunch of kids who otherwise would have eaten before school, will take advantage of the policy, and following our lazy human nature, not eat till they get to class.
–The climate of the classroom will change, no longer being a single-minded effort toward educating.
–The lesson that one must plan and prepare will be compromised.

The second point is a critical one, and largely separates poor schools from effective ones. Many private schools, and particularly Christian ones which recognize our fallen nature, pay attention to the need to make school seem like a special place. Dress codes, order, lack of distractions such as food and electronics, are all reminders that the place has a serious mission.
That is lost when we try to make things comfortable and cozy.

You bring up good points and I agree sleeping should not be permitted. However eating small snacks isn’t that distracting, if one wants to change that it would be a good idea to have longer breaks between periods and for sleeping have school start a little bit later.
In my case however I have a very high metabolism which causes me to lose focus during a class and eating helps ease it in order to concentrate. Discipline is very good however being realistic some public school teachers don’t always enforce these disciplines in their classrooms

 

[john_ennis]

Yes, there are people with particular needs (I’ve had students who had special permission to have a snack, and there was no disruption). Also, moderate eating would not destroy the classroom environment if specific guidelines were in place.

The overall climate of learning is what I’m pushing; it has been diminished in the typical large public school.