Education

[feet]

I'm a HS teacher in NJ. I am very interested in hearing more from you all about your education experience, careers, and life lessons that you'd want to see imparted on the next generation.

[pdxmike]

I'm wondering why other countries seem to get the new-model boards 6 months earlier tha----oops, wrong thread.


Big topic, but I'd say it's important to expose yourself to all kinds of things within school and outside, to see what you like or not, and are good at or not, and to get exposed to different perspectives about everything.  Also remember that what you do in school is just one kind of learning.  Don't forget life outside class.  On the other hand, don't screw up inside class and end up narrowing down your available options. 

[spookini]

important to expose yourself ..within school

In my school, we had a teacher who did exactly THAT 

[exetersup]

I'm also a teacher, and really try to motivate my kids to get off their arse, phones, and tablets, and make consistent connections with the outdoors. Daily if possible. And not just during football practice, or cross country, but to go get lost in the backyard, build a cool fort, camp out, make fire from friction, tie a bolan, swim in a mountain lake, identify some constellations, and make up some fun in the wild and free. It's very hard for a lot of kids I teach to let go of their social media and short attention spans to make real connections with the natural world.
That and get a farkin' job at least by the time they turn 25!

[spookini]

All the ragging on teachers and quality of education, I don't get.  I'm a product of public schools.  I think public schools are fine. My dad went to public schools, and he ended up w/ a PhD in science.  He also had a father who pulled him off the varsity basketball team for getting a single "B" grade.  So go figure.

Parents are lax these days, and video games are so good -- kids dont' stand a chance.  I was raised on Atari 2600.  "Tanks" was fun, but not THAT fun .  If I was a kid today w/ lax parents, I'm sure I would be a first person-shooter junkie.

I went to a med school graduation a few years ago.  White Americans were the minority.  As in, the token minority.  Every other nation, ethnicity, and creed was there, and dwarfed the causcasion representation.  These ppl aren't smarter.  They just want it more.  They'll raise kids who in turn will be privileged, lazy and play video games to excess.  Maybe it will come full-circle in another generation or so.  Asians and Middle Easterners will say, "gawd, all physicians nowadays are WHITE". 

[Weasels wake]

When I went to high school (shortly after the dinosaurs died), the teachers were really pushing being ready for college, back then that was always the ultimate goal.  Hopefully that has changed somewhat, colleges have become incredibly expensive, and student loans?  Forgettabout, why start off your professional life deeeeeeeeep in debt, it makes no sense, specially when you consider that you may not get the job you were educated for.
I think the high schools of today should be focusing more on trades and skills, then go to a good trade school to get your final training, and chances are that you will have a much better time finding a job w/in your trained skill, w/o the burden of a huge debt.
Trade schools are the future, not Ivy league, unless you want to be a lawyer, but then you'd have to put up with lawyer jokes and wear a tie. 

[sterbo]

I'm wondering why other countries seem to get the new-model boards 6 months earlier tha----oops, wrong thread.


Big topic, but I'd say it's important to expose yourself to all kinds of things within school and outside, to see what you like or not, and are good at or not, and to get exposed to different perspectives about everything.  Also remember that what you do in school is just one kind of learning.  Don't forget life outside class.  On the other hand, don't screw up inside class and end up narrowing down your available options.

Word...

[robon]

There is a myriad of variables to consider in this discussion that goes far beyond adequate teaching and parenting. The North American sociodemographic and economic realities impacting youth and families has changed radically over the last 40 years. I work with at risk youth and even kids coming from well adjusted families face far more challenges than back in the day when everyone over 50 here was walking uphill in the blizzard both ways to school. Like I stated, so many variables and the pressures are much more plentiful now than several decades ago.. The rate of inflation in many areas has far outpaced the ability for the younger generation to even afford the most basic starter home. You could buy a decent home in the early 90s in Calgary and Edmonton for around $200,000 and now the average prices in many areas of these cities are well over $500,000 and you get into the 750,000 to 1,000,000 dollar bracket very quickly in many cities across Canada. College tuition went up almost 300% in some provinces in well under a decade (1990s - 2000) and sharp tuition spikes continue.

The issues go well beyond teachers being individually invested in outcomes as well, because class sizes keep increasing, but educational supports are being absolutely slashed in every area across the board.  Fewer hours for educational assistants, specialists and child and youth care workers, along with multiple layoffs. The alternative schools in my area....the schools that need the supports the most have slashed Child & Youth Care Worker hours in half over the last three years, and have laid off some positions entirely. These are the factors that teachers are worried about the most. The supports that enhance education are being chipped away, and taken out completely in many places. It has a cumulative impact, and students are the ones who suffer the most in the end.

Then there are factors such as significantly increased single parent families compared to past generations as well, with supports being inadequate as well. Parents can do better, but it's too easy to place blame on them. Many of the children falling through the cracks come from single parent homes, and educational supports that used to be there for them aren't as prevalent now. Sure we can all come up with examples of how you know someone, or how you yourself walked through the blizzard uphill both ways to school, and Dad was an abusive drunk, and you made out just fine. That's great, but resiliency is a concept of particular interest to me, and not all kids rebound in the same way and some need more supports than others.

Bottom line is the system is failing our youth and there is multiple reasons, but to understand it means examining it from a contextual perspective, not blaming it on video games, shitty parenting and bad teachers. The whole is the sum of the parts, and if people really want to place blame, then it should be primarily shouldered on previous generations that let it get to this point. It didn't happen overnight.

[pdxmike]

On the positive side, I was just looking at a facebook post from my old high school cross country and track coach.  He's about 80 now, still in touch via facebook with hundreds of his former runners from over several decades.  People send him photos of their own kids who are now running.  He's looked at ones from my daughter's college races, and he'll reply, "Tell your daughter to tell her blonde teammate in the third photos that she's overstriding!  My pet peeve!"  Someone will post a photo from an old race, "Hey Coach, here's the meet in 1975 when I broke 9:30 for two miles".  Coach:  "No, you ran 9:27.8 the week before.  You ran 9:24 here.  Phillips is the one who broke 9:30.  The guy next to you is Renouard from Seattle Prep.  He won Metro later than year--ran 9:17 with a 59 second final 440..." 


He collected all us misfits and created a place where kids whose parents or other teachers didn't give them much credit or encouragement could do well, and take pride in it.   Hundreds of kids, like me, would say he was as influential or more so in their lives than even their own parents.  I was lucky enough to have some other great teachers, too.  Plus some who I might not put on that tier, but who really watched out for us, despite their gruffness, like my junior high gym teacher who helped launch me into running by saving out some really nice suede Converses from the lost and found for me.  Ironically, it was the things that I was told at home that I didn't deserve to do or were wastes of time--sports, art, music--that ended up being the places I found the best teachers who influenced me the most. 

[lucabrasi]

Oldest daughter is a teacher. My next oldest daughter will be a teacher next year. She was nailing her interviews last week (graduates in May, student teaching now) and may even find something here by home..
Brought 2 of my kids up through one public school system and the other 2 through another a short jaunt away. (I still commute into the first systems area every day) The later is influenced (tho they say not) by the predominant church in the area/region which we are not part of. I have good things to say about both and not really bad things to say about either tho there are differences and I felt possible favoritism towards others over mine as my girls were not part of that tribe tho that could just be the proud parent thinking that tho I don't think so. Minor really in the end and it was after school activities and a different subject really.  The one with "other influence" actually taught manners and respect more so than the other......it seems more "old school" so to say. Not really taught but it is more.......part of the agenda I guess is how to say it and actually more how I remembered elementary school. The church influence isn't really in school other than many teachers are part of it and so many kids and their parents and grandparents and so on that it just can't help but be there is all. I also see more "brats" come out of the "non influenced" school tho that has to do with lazy parenting more than anything I think and no shortage of lazy parents at either. Good parents as well for sure. I could go on about the differing kids and cliques and stuff between the two but won't tho they do differ.

Anyways.......I have always been impressed talking to their teachers at the conferences all up and down the grades at both systems. Really not one more so than the other, they just seemed to shine and their dedication and desire really is overwhelming. I think they are also handcuffed by the curriculum and standards which seem to be favored towards.......kids who are more in the back seat as far as wanting to learn I guess. I find it seems to be tougher for the more.......motivated kids tho I don't know how to quite say what I want as there are so many different........personalities in the world. I also live in a small enough community (both) that I have gotten to know teachers away from class in many interactions. I remember some of my teachers all sorts of ways. I think back and I just don't remember seeing some of that passion in lots of my teachers. Is that just a kid looking at a grown up?

Yes, the motivated kids will find their way through tho I think the teachers know how to teach a class full of all sorts of different kids for the most part and I think should be able to teach their own style. For the most part the teachers I have met could all do this. It can't be all that different in most places. Some teachers are like extersup......that's awesome. More freedom to do that with the kids wins for all. In Europe I have heard taking your kids out of school to go skiing for the day is encouraged and expected in some areas and you don't have to worry if your kid only made 140 school days instead of 143 and all that other stuff. Yes, there are different outings and stuff like that for the kids...but I just remember it was frowned upon when my kids were smaller to take them out for a day here or there for something like that or similar. Maybe it was just that particular teacher.....Yeah, there has to be some sort of standard, no doubt, but more freedom for teachers to add their touch should be encouraged I really think. It just seems to be too structured by.........standards and stuff. My oldest daughter feels that way too to a point tho she loves what she is teaching.

I have just been blown away in either direction a time or few on either just how little they were learning or what they hadn't been taught at some point in school and also completely blown away at some of the amazing stuff they were being taught. I may have walked barefoot 10 miles threw the snow to school everyday but I sure didn't have to carry 40 lbs of books around either. Isn't that something? I don't remember that tho I lost most interest in school during high school. My youngest, who is a senior in HS this year has got an IPAD through the school for all those books now (all the kids there) and really likes it. I have picked up their text books off and on through the years tho probably not as much as I could or should have and read through them. I can be honest and say sometimes I got angry or amused tho I can't think of a particular thing off the top of my head. Not sure what to say about that cuz another time I have been......WOW, that's cool.

Lazy parenting can also really come into play on this topic as that is where education starts for sure.........that could be another topic....the something, something, union of lazy parents always who's boards are always late because they live where most of the population lives in the cold half the year.

[lucabrasi]

On the positive side, I was just looking at a facebook post from my old high school cross country and track coach.  He's about 80 now, still in touch via facebook with hundreds of his former runners from over several decades.  People send him photos of their own kids who are now running.  He's looked at ones from my daughter's college races, and he'll reply, "Tell your daughter to tell her blonde teammate in the third photos that she's overstriding!  My pet peeve!"  Someone will post a photo from an old race, "Hey Coach, here's the meet in 1975 when I broke 9:30 for two miles".  Coach:  "No, you ran 9:27.8 the week before.  You ran 9:24 here.  Phillips is the one who broke 9:30.  The guy next to you is Renouard from Seattle Prep.  He won Metro later than year--ran 9:17 with a 59 second final 440..."

I have seen you mention track a time or two over the threads. If my daughter gets a teaching job here near home next fall she will help coach track.

When my kids were younger we moved. Two oldest I gave the option to commute with me every day or start over near home. Actualy bus ride to school isn't much shorter than the commute but 6th and 8th grade they chose to commute. Other two, not quite started and a 3rd grader just went to school near home. By the time my oldest girl was a senior, my next oldest was a freshman. Two different schools. Arch rivals none the less. Both ran track. Both good. 400 and 4 x 400 were competing events. I got to see them race against each other at meets, at regionals, and yes, at state. Big sister won. Beat lil sis's friends too. Way cool experience for all of us. I even got my freshman girl to wear rival school colors when volleyball regionals (cross country for her, not volleyball) were at her school and her sister came in from the rival team. I did give her a hundred dollars to do this and she gladly went to school dressed in rival colors........and the meet. The game, which they met in the final actually was one of the best live sports events I ever saw. Packed, both teams fans, went down to 5 sets......home team won.

[bat paddler]

Wife and I are both products of public schools.  We turned out alright, one MD, one PHD, i.e. solid upper middle class blue collar in todays world.

Our kids are 5 and 9.  Live in SoCal. Began with public school, because....heck we came out alright.

But the system has changed in the past 25 years.  The priorities are:  Principal/Administrators are in it for their careers/pension.  Teachers are in it for their jobs.  Kids are third.  If a kid is an above average performer, they get little attention.  There is more to be had by raising the level of the kids in the middle or low performance levels - and that will enhance the district's profile and funding. 

Our elder child did her work to the 98 percentile.  Did extra work; did it excellently. What did it get her?  Being ignored by her teachers.  She was a well trimmed boat.  No percentage in trying to raise her potential, better to bring up the scores of 10 kids who were at 65 percent.  That would give advancement to the teacher and more funding to the school.  Working with kids like mine, only meant resources going to the rabbit hole.

I understand.  Its a triage.  And a business model.   But for my kid, it undermined her.   Why strive if no one (but my parents) care.

Now in private school.  The cost is high, but our kids are happy, learning, proud of their accomplishments.  They are acknowledged and recognized by their teachers and peers.  They are experiencing a culture of success and are flourishing in it.  Pulling them from the public school system and placing them where we have is the very best thing we have done for them so far in their young lives.


   

[lucabrasi]

There is a myriad of variables to consider in this discussion that goes far beyond adequate teaching and parenting. The North American sociodemographic and economic realities impacting youth and families has changed radically over the last 40 years.

Wife and I are both products of public schools.  We turned out alright, one MD, one PHD, i.e. solid upper middle class blue collar in todays world.

Our kids are 5 and 9.  Live in SoCal. Began with public school, because....heck we came out alright.

But the system has changed in the past 25 years.

When Ronnie was governator wasn't his states public school system touted as the best public schools in the world and modeled by many?

[bat paddler]

 "In Europe I have heard taking your kids out of school to go skiing for the day is encouraged and expected in some areas and you don't have to worry if your kid only made 140 school days instead of 143 and all that other stuff. Yes, there are different outings and stuff like that for the kids...but I just remember it was frowned upon when my kids were smaller to take them out for a day here or there for something like that or similar. Maybe it was just that particular teacher.....Yeah, there has to be some sort of standard, no doubt, but more freedom for teachers to add their touch should be encouraged I really think. It just seems to be too structured by.........standards and stuff. "

In SoCal - don't know if this applied to other areas, the district gets paid by the day's attendance.  IE. if your child misses school, the school does not receive funding for that time, unless it is an excused absence.  They are therefore very very, VERY interested in the kid showing up.  A result is some of the most vigorous "truancy" policies you can imagine.  There is wiggle room, out of class assignments, etc.  BUT, if the deadlines are not met by even one day, you'll get a letter of warning on the dangers of truancy with the resulting specter of no driving license, etc.  (even if the kid is a 2nd grader,  Don't believe me, I'll send you a copy of one such letter)

[SUPcheat]

Is this a trick question?