"COLUMBUS JCT., Iowa — Low math test scores by its eighth–grade English Limited Language, or ELL, subgroup has placed the Columbus Middle School on the federal Schools In Need of Assistance list, school board members learned.
Officials said the school hopes to prevent sanctions under the federal No Child Left Behind legislation by providing extra help for math students during the day, strengthening the English as a Second Language, or ESL, program at the middle school, implementing the “Power of I” program, supporting an advisor/advisee program for all middle school students and especially those in the ELL program, implementing the Connected Math Series for 6th-8th grades, increasing student expectations, lesson rigor and relevance, boosting administrative oversight with walk-throughs and maintaining high visibility."
Note that there is no mention of extra funding for all of this extra focus on the English learner students, it will have to be drawn from other programs.
2006-09-20 18:37:47 · 17 answers · asked by DAR 7 in Politics & Government ➔ Immigration
And what really gets me is that this is NOT Los Angeles... it is IOWA.
What do you think?
2006-09-20 18:38:22 · update #1
To those who are saying 'that is just how our schools are', that is exactly what I thought until this year after the immigration marches when I read what a huge percentage of the students in LAUSD were illegal or children of illegal immigrants, and how much of the budget went to bolstering the English Learner students to get them to grade level. I don't begrudge our legal residents of any of that. Special education needs SHOULD be dealt with for them. However, it has gotten to the point where the only special education needs routinely dealt with, without a fight, is for ESL student needs. That is what turned me adamantly against illegal immigration. My children have a right to a better life, too.
2006-09-20 19:00:59 · update #2
El Indio, you are the ONLY one who mentioned any particular nationality.
2006-09-21 04:45:16 · update #3
And we have our leader to thank for his useless NCLB legislation. It didn't work in Texas, teachers all over the country... GOOD teachers... hate it. Teachers are forced to 'teach to test' rather than 'teach to learn' and all students suffer for it.
Money won't help... changing that law MIGHT help. But we still have a surplus of students and not enough teachers to teach them. Movie and recording stars are paid MILLIONS of dollars to look good, sing and walk and talk... but our teachers, who are part of our support system to raise our children, are some of the lowest paid people in our country.
That's just wrong.
2006-09-20 18:51:18 · answer #1 · answered by Rogue Scrapbooker 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Children have no will to learn anymore, they dont care if they are stupid. Until someone figures out a way to motivate them, it will remain. Maybe the schools should be more strict on gpa, maybe they should consider all student with below a C as failing. B's are easy to get for anyone who is willing to try. no matter how much funding a school recieves, if a student has a text book and a willingness to learn and not go out and do drugs all day, they will learn. All the other things arent needed for most subjects, most students can learn from a simple text book. Some subjects require a little more, and some students need a little help, and extra things to help teach are always good. But it all boils down to them not wanting to learn, so they don't. Parents arent hard enough on their children, and neither are schools.
This is coming from a 22 year old college student, who did not try in high school. I still maintained a B, and slept through most of class, this shows you that it is not hard to get a B. A's can be rough depending on courses, but B's are not, and EVERYONE should be able to get a C with no problem.
As for the language stuff, English shouldn't be a 2nd language, but maybe a Co first language, if and only if the school is a spanish school. And yes they should learn our language, but dont blame them for wanting to live in America, you would too if you were born there.
2006-09-20 18:54:32 · answer #2 · answered by hmmm 2 · 3⤊ 1⤋
I think to question the fact that resources are being geared towards English learners is pretty lame, given the fact that the larger concern is that no school is getting the kind of funding and support they need from the government--federal or state level--practically anywhere in the country. The immigrant population that you imply in Los Angeles is just a prevelant in other areas of the country--mostly rural, in fact. So, Iowa makes perfect sense. Where do you think all the low-paying farm jobs are? But that doesn't mean that their children deserve to have less of an educational experience because their native langauge is not English.
2006-09-20 18:45:52 · answer #3 · answered by retorik75 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
This kind of thing can happen when you have an influx of non-English speaking children. Are you really surprised? I'm sure when the Germanic barbarians began flooding into southern Europe there was an influx of non-Latin speaking children. The Romans didn't have much of a solution either. They just moved to Spain. Maybe we should all move to Australia.
2006-09-20 18:46:56 · answer #4 · answered by Gene Rocks! 5 · 2⤊ 1⤋
I hope no one thinks the 'No Child Left Behind' isn't targeted at illegals, by that same law they are required to hand over the names of students old enough to be drafted.
2006-09-20 19:04:04 · answer #5 · answered by yars232c 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Perhaps the problems is not the school system but the children themselves? Did You know that children of migrant workers usually have higher G.P.A's than other students? This, despite the language barrier. Perhaps their focus on school is much more concentrated than others'. I know my brothers excel at math and reading without tutoring or "special programs". (yes I'm hispanic). Oh and free lunches and your so called "health care" are not the reasons for this.
2006-09-20 18:49:07 · answer #6 · answered by carey sanders 1 · 4⤊ 2⤋
Honestly, I think you should focus less on English speaking v/s English as 2nd language. Our school systems SUCK! Period! If we want the US to keep it's strong hold in power we better start doing something about education levels & standards ASAP. Instead of crying about "illegals are taking our lowly labor jobs", we should fight for keeping GOOD jobs in the states. THIS is what should take priority over the current "illegal crisis".
End of story.
2006-09-20 18:47:06 · answer #7 · answered by blankit 2 · 3⤊ 2⤋
WHY CAN'T WE HELP OUR OWN?! Why should we put so much emphasis on those who need to have english as a 2nd language?? You're in AMERICA not Mexico or wherever you're from......here English is suppose to be the official native language not some secondary b.s. for those who refuse to understand where they have migrated from. And I don't mean for this to sound racist but it just ticks me off b/c we shouldn't have to succomb to those non-english speaking "americans" when we have our own suffering just as much if not more and being over-looked merely b/c we don't see to be important as those who are "english challenged."
2006-09-20 18:51:16 · answer #8 · answered by Rach W 1 · 2⤊ 2⤋
our school systems is weak due to the culture we now live in. TV, DVD, Ipod, PSP, PS2, ISP. what do them letters stand for? every one knows what all of them things are and the parents need to help develop their child as best as they can! Sit down and watch them do their homework and help them as they need it. Dont let your kids have the tings listed above at easy access unless their education level is above average. No wonder theft/robbery now days is higher than it used to be. people lack the education to make enough money so they feel the need to steal.
2006-09-20 18:51:47 · answer #9 · answered by boardguy03 2 · 2⤊ 2⤋
Low grades were due to more time in the internet and video games for the kids.
2006-09-20 18:42:42 · answer #10 · answered by FRAGINAL, JTM 7 · 4⤊ 2⤋