Find the C-PP Vision
posted by sallyann | 10:29 AM
Link
Red-StaterWisdoms
Red-StaterWisdoms explores the differences between the Red and Blue states on social, personal and political issues.
- A Family in Need
- Vote Facilities Improvement Project
- Christian Peacemakers Link
- Talk with the Corning-PP School District
- NYSDOT to update status of Rt.15/I-99 project
- Woodstove Safety
- Planning Board Minutes-November
- Lindley Town Board Meeting-November 15th
- THANKSGIVING POSTCARD
- "Let us be Thankful" Open Thread
Links
- Google News
- LittleGreenFootballs
- The Leader
- Star-Gazette
- Dailykos
- NYS Sex Offender Registry
- Edit-Me
Now is the time for all good men to come to the aid of their country.
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9 Comments:
Sounds to me like Vaughn wants more of the same ole same ole. And Flynn thinks there is already to much focus on academics. And Staples thinks they should be polite about others opinions even when you intend to disregard them. Clark seemed to be the only voice of reason. Maybe it was just the way I interpeted the article in the leader. I wonder how others perceived it ?
Marc- I read the article and would have to agree with you. I couldn't figure out what Ms. Baker was trying to say with her international community statement, but maybe someone else has an opinion on that one.
It would be great to get feedback from some other Lindley residents and see what the general concensus is. Perhaps we can forward those comments on to the Leader as a sort of editorial response to their article.
Maybe if the Board members realized how their statements are being perceived by the public, they might gain some insight into the real core problems that exist with our school system.
I think Ms. Baker was refering to many different ethnic groups represented in our student population. She might have been trying to say that diversity must be included but I think that is already being accomplished. I can't for the life of me think that there is too much focus on academics. Isn't that the whole purpose of school? I do agree there should be a policy to help insure that no child falls through the cracks because there are many that do at the present time. I also feel that parents must be accountable for their children attendance at school. Education starts at home and there are many who want the schools to do their job for them. It must be a partnership between the parents and the school.
Gerry: Why do you think children "fall through the cracks" at school?
As a student going through the school systems, I think that all of this making plans, and forming ideas is pointless. The academic grades kids in the schools get doesn't depend on the teacher or the way they're being taught. A lot of kids just don't try, they have no desire to. Why this is, is not for me to say, but I don't believe no matter how much planning or meetings are made there will be no change until there is a reason for the kids to want to learn.
Sally, as you know I work with emotionally Disturbed students. Most of these kids come from broken homes or homes where no one cares what they do. These are the kids who fall through the cracks. With the emotional baggage they carry these kids usually have a poor opinion of themselves and life in general. They are the disruptive students, the ones who can't concentrate long enough to learn. Then add in the factor of the new regents requirements and these kids are set up for failure. Not everyone learns in the same way. Many students, labeled or not learn by doing, hands on, and there is nothing wrong with that. When you put them in situation where they have to pass with a certain grade, they are under way too much pressure. When you have a studen functioning on a third grade level, who has no comprehension ability, you are setting them up for more failure and more self loathing. But, if you give these students an opportunity to learn a skill or trade, many times they are successful. That is why BOCES programs at the Coopers and other campuses are so needed. When you can offer a student a chance to succeed and feel good about themselves it is good for everyone. Then the student can become a functioning member of the communtiy with a marketable skill, enabling him/herself to obtain gainful employment and not become a welfare recipient. If the home doesn't provide the encouragement every student needs to be successful, then that student falls through the cracks usually quitting school without a diploma. Some think a GED is going to be easy to obtain but in reality there is much work involved and only a very dedicated person is successful in receiving a GED.
Gerry, I would agree with you that many of the children who are "falling through the cracks" are those with special needs, but there are many more who come from supportive families that are struggling with a system that seems to be more concerned with pushing diversity than teaching our children to read and write.
There is something critically wrong with a system comitted to undermining the traditional values that we have tried to teach our children. Why wouldn't our children be confused by a system that tells them that what their parents are teaching them is wrong and effectively chips away at the child's sense of respect for their parents and for traditional values?
I know of several kids personally who are bright and intelligent kids who have dropped out of school because the system failed to provide a supportive environment that inspired them to learn. Some have stories of personality conflicts with teachers who verbally abused and publicly embarassed them on a regular basis, others have stories of boredom, fear and no clear understanding of why they were in school.
There is something structurally wrong with a system that spends upwards of 63 Million a year to educate 5,000 children and loses so many as dropouts.
There is something structurally wrong with a system that graduates so many kids who have to take remedial classes at college before they can take entry level college math and english.
We need to take a long, hard look at where our system is failing, get back to basics and find a way to help our children love learning again.
Marc Jr.'s comments were very telling of the general sense that is out there in our students minds -"A lot of kids just don't try, they have no desire to. Why this is, is not for me to say, but I don't believe no matter how much planning or meetings are made there will be no change until there is a reason for the kids to want to learn."
In clarification of my previous post-when I say the education system, I refer to the entire system which includes school boards, parents, educators, PTA groups, etc.
Society lost its way starting in the 60s with the "make love, not war" generation and has continued down a slippery slope ever since.
We, as citizens, were brainwashed into believing that we could throw away generations of methods, traditions and beliefs in one toss and somehow our children would be happier and our lives would be better.
We have turned into an extremely material, self-centered society with little or no direction and that is playing itself out in our homes, our schools and our society. We allowed the ACLU to empower the individual (criminals especially)and destroy the rights of the society as a whole.
Our children, who have no solid belief system, no sense of hope or faith and have been spoon-fed diversity, alternative lifestyles and sexual awareness from a far too early age, feel confused, powerless and hopeless about the future.
If we are going to make a difference in our education system then we have to take a long, hard look at the root causes for the failures that exist.
Kathy -Sounds like you hit the nail on the head!
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