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Letter to the editor:
Thursday, Dec. 6, 2012 | 2 a.m.
Your article on Nevada’s dismal high school graduation rate, “Nevada’s high school graduation rate lowest among states,” neglected to mention the most important factor in the education of students. When parents abdicate their responsibilities, all the teachers, programs and money in the world won’t accomplish much.
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The kids are being taught what is necessary for the service industry jobs in Vegas card counting and bed making. These are the high paying jobs the parent have so that is what the want for their kids
Letter writer is dead on center right. It is a time and age proven truism that when parents and guardians take an active interest in the educational outcomes and results of the children under their control, the students fare much better academically. And achieve at higher levels.
CarmineD
I would add some other possible factors into the equation. How many students come from families where both parents work to maintain a decent standard of living? How many students come from families where the parents don't have the educational background to help with the student's homework? How many students come home after school to a "latchkey" house with no parental supervision to ensure that they even do their homework assignments? In our service based economy, how many students even care about getting a decent education before entering the workforce?
You fail to account for the fact that under Socialism the government is the parent, the biological parents have no true say in what the children learn.
The truth is that this failure leads to Democrat voters so this will only get lip service.
Re Clyde Perkins: Since we don't live under "Socialism" in this country, your premise is wrong. If you believe that's where the country is going, fine. It isn't there yet, and parents do "have a say in what the children learn". If the parents choose not to exercise their parental responsibilities, it's on THEM not the government. "this failure leads to Democrat voters"; a sophomoric statement with no basis in fact.
That's the ticket, Nelson. Deflect the responsibility on to others. Ignore the fact that the public school system is a disgrace and a monumental failure. That is, of course, unless you are one of the "progressives" who have seen to its demise. Then you'll be loving it. First, "progressives," with their welfare policies, destroyed the "nuclear" family by demanding no male be in the household (legally) in order for recipients to recieve "welfare" funds. Now they blame the single mother families (whom they largely created) for the problem. Cruel, heartless & uncaring, "progressives" go merrily on their monstrous way destroying families without so much as a thought to the havoc they create. Then they shift the blame on those they have cheated for years. "Progressives" are truly despicable!
One French President believes in controlling the student homework by eliminating it:
"French President Francois Hollande is planning to eliminate homework for elementary and junior high school students is drawing criticism from the very folks it was supposed to help -- poor people. The socialist leader who came into office in May argued that homework hurts kids from poor and troubled homes. But as Hollande's administration implements the new rule, poor families and their advocates say underprivileged kids need the structure and purpose that homework provides.
"Poor people want homework because they know that school is very important, and the only chance -- the only possibility -- they have to give their children a better life is if their children succeed at school," Emmanuel Davidenkoff, editor-in-chief of L'Etudiant, a magazine and website devoted to French school and education, told NPR.
Hollande says that homework favors wealthy families because they are more likely to have the time and ability to support and supervise their children's after-school efforts."
Unbelievable.
http://newsdeskinternational.wordpress.c...
OK, can we agree that some people are incorrigible or the next thing to it? Some criminals will repeat no matter how we "rehabilitate" them. Ditto for students. SOME students will do well despite inattentive to abusive parents. SOME students will not do the minimums no matter how much attention they get. But can we get teachers to TEACH THE BASICS: reading, writing, arithmetic? Can we allow all students a chance, the exposure to basic K-12? Forget the sports, extra-curricular, sending groceries home with illegal students, and on and on. Some of these things are OK but they are NOT requirements to TEACH. We do not pay teachers to network.
@Roslenda. I'll answer a question you are constantly asking, and encourage my colleagues to do the same.
You ask: "But can we get teachers to TEACH THE BASICS: reading, writing, arithmetic?"
Hopefully it's not too late. But we need your and the rest of our community's help, not teacher bashing letters on a public forum. Help us return to a day when the curriculum was rich and well rounded, not one based on standardized test, after standardized test, after standardized test....It's INSANE!!! Then take a really good look at the current silver bullets - Common Core curriculum, charter schools (that are funded with our tax dollars but operate as private schools, many with no mandate for accountability) and the frightening control of public education being gained by corporate america!!
Educate yourself to what is happening to public education. You will be appalled. Hopefully enough to get involved, giving us teachers even more time to teach the "basic" 3 R's. The way we know it should be done.
One more thing @Roslenda.
"Forget the sports, extra-curricular, sending groceries home with illegal students, and on and on."
We're having a hard enough time getting kids to graduate. You're suggesting we take away the things they REALLY like, then wonder why they hate school?? And guess what?? Not every kid is an Einstein. Many are smart in other ways. Apparently you've never attended a CCSD music concert or football game. Those kids are AMAZING and they need to be recognized and admired for their talents, not just their test scores.
Asking students to perform well on a standardized test is one thing. I agree. But there are too many!! We cannot, as a society, continue to treat children this way. It is cruel and abusive. Taking away activities that kids, their families, peers and other members of the community enjoy, does not make sense. The arts, sports and other activities, whatever they may be, help keep kids in school and doing well. I know. If it wasn't for PE, soccer and football, one of "my kids" would not be in college today. I work at a "Be Kind" school. (Peace Josh) Your comment would warrant a write up to the Dean's office. It was not kind.
Education is a dual responsibility between the student and the teacher. The student must also rely upon his/her parents for guidance and tutoring during the course of the student's development. This touchy feeley nonsense, and coddling the student if they are not progressing is BS. Either the student passes on his/her own abilities, with the help of mentors and parental guidance, or they don't. We live in a town with a service economy. There are minimal educational requirements to procure employment when the emphasis is on making beds, cooking food, dealing cards, and parking cars. Until the parents and students realize that higher education equals more success and monetary compensation, the graduation rate will remain abysmal.
Re Roslenda: It's no longer the 3 "R"'s, it's the 3 "T"'s; talking on a cell phone, texting and tweeting. No social interaction, face to face, no conversation, person to person, and therefore, no interaction between the teacher and the student. Just a classroom full of techno zombies with no social skills, and no truly verbal interaction amongst themselves or the poor soul attempting to instruct them.
Hmmmmmm....It appears that approximately 75% of the people who are posting on this thread about education should take some time and visit (maybe even volunteer) a local school...
If they did that, they just might find out what's really going on in our schools...
That's code for "most don't have a clue..."
@El Lobo. Didn't you know that everybody is an expert on education? After all, they went to school once as students.
Interesting, I never agreed with CDF or Re Freeman on anything.
For the first time they made some sense.
That was consistent with my values.
Next thing I need to Do?
Check my vitals and make sure that I took my medication. Next thing Roslenda will adopt 3 anchor babies.
Nah, and THAT'S NOT HAPPENING.
Parental control of our children is the best course of action for a greater America.
Tanker...
You hit the nail on the head! Thanks.....
Tru dat.
"Interesting, I never agreed with CDF [Carmine DiFazio] on anything." @Jeffery
I grow on people. Obviously, you included.
CarmineD
Amen, Commenter CarmineD, with "It is a time and age proven truism that when parents and guardians take an active interest in the educational outcomes and results of the children under their control, the students fare much better academically. And achieve at higher levels."
The PARENT is the first, lifelong, and MOST influential teacher of their child. The parent plants the seeds, builds, and sustains that educational foundation and value system of their child(ren). They have the most formative and important years with their child, and the parent's power should never be underestimated, ever.
The question is, to what degree a parent is directly involved with their child(ren). Ususally, a quality child has a parent who has spent quality time with him or her.
Blessings and Peace,
Star