My 8yr old niece just gets tested over and over - where is the teaching? Are the teachers just trying to make the kids pass the federal tests or will they ever begin to teach? I think it's criminal not to teach knowledge and thinking skills in school.
2006-10-06 04:26:32 · 9 answers · asked by BaseballGrrl 6 in Education & Reference ➔ Primary & Secondary Education
In this politically correct age, it seems to be the norm to care more about how the child 'feels' about himself that to actually teach him something.
My 9 year old came home with some arithmetic homework and a 'home test' for me to administer.
The instructions for the test were:
1. Give the child 1 minute to answer 50 arithmetic problems
(note: the probs were all simple single digit addition)
2. Count only (the word 'only' was underlined) the answered problems
Now, get this 3rd instruction.....
3. Correct answer is NOT important, but the number of answers
should be more than 30. If less than 30, readminister the test
until at least 30 answers.
!!!!
Apparently, self-esteem is more important to these "teachers" than is knowledge.
We cannot afford a real school so I've taken it upon myself to teach arithmetic, English grammar, spelling (another sore spot with me..another 'accuracy is not important' issue), geography (they aren't teaching that either. No "North America is bounded on the West by the Pacific Ocean", etc....the whole gamut of elementary school stuff for which I pay taxes , I have to teach.
2006-10-06 04:43:46 · answer #1 · answered by credo quia est absurdum 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Welcome to the world of NCLB..
THis is a federal law passed to for schools to show accountability that they are doing right. Yea, right.
Schools are suppose to give 'mandated' tests ONCE a year, BUT teachers ONLY teach what is on these tests, and do it all year long!
The better the kids score on these tests, the more MONEY the school gets. THat's all it comes down to.
I don't see how making kids take tests shows how good the SCHOOL is doing. They should be making the teachers and everyone else who works in the schools take these tests.
Kids in schools will no longer be creative, no longer get to learn in the way they can the best, no more field trips, projects, etc.
ALL it is now is sit at books and do PRACTICE TESTS.
It is ridiculous. And, there's so much the teachers have to teach, that they don't stop and make sure the kid learns one thing before they go on to something else.
I know LOTS of parents whose kids are in high grades with 2nd 3rd grade reading levels.
It is sickening.
2006-10-06 15:56:16 · answer #2 · answered by jdeekdee 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They never have taught "Knowledge." Knowledge is something gained from being taught. You also cannot teach someone "how" to think.
The school is supposed to educate our children. The children have changed over the years, but the teaching styles have not. A lot of children these days learn by touching rather than listening. The teachers need to be trained how best to teach different types of learners. I have three young adult children. Two graduated from high school and couldn't balance a check book, etc. The other one dropped out because he could not take audio input and process it properly. He needed to touch things.
Education is something we are losing and our children, the ones who are going to be running our world soon, are losing too.
2006-10-06 11:40:41 · answer #3 · answered by Starla_C 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Unfortunately, states mandate what is to be taught in the classroom. Believe me....teachers would much rather do things differently but have no choice. How they teach the material is what should be significant.
Let me give you an example....
All subjects are now required to teach reading and writing. I teach Social Studies, so I make sure what they are reading and writing about is relevant to my subject.
2006-10-06 14:46:38 · answer #4 · answered by ammecalo 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Are you serious? Of course, they are teaching! I have two cousins and two siblings whom are teachers. Sometimes after a certain amount of time of teaching they test to see how much of the knowlege has transfered over. That is a way they test to see how much the child knows.
No, I was not fornicating. Just because we slept in the same bed does not mean that we were fornicating, which we were not. Yes I have been raised with the word and am still a strong believer in the lord and his word!!!! I think I was not allowed to say it because just as some people are stronger in the lord than others, I am sure that demons have strength levels and higher powers and ranks. Satan probably sent one that he knew could win with me. The first thing I knew to do was to cast it out, and after trying to say the lords name for a certain amount of time, I finaly was allowed to say,"Jesus!" And he disappeared. I didnt eel the need to include the entire ordeal in my original question.
2006-10-06 12:06:10 · answer #5 · answered by robyn 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋
The school system in the U.S. is pathetic and dictated towards achieving the minimal standard just to meet government regulations. The whole goal is to give students enough education to go to the voting poll and elect some crook into office.
2006-10-06 11:34:52 · answer #6 · answered by JistheRealDeal 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Instead of making students memorize dates and places teach them how to file their taxes, how to interview for a job and how to get along better with their peers. There's too little practical stuff being taught at our schools and it shows.
2006-10-06 11:35:19 · answer #7 · answered by dardekkis 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Four words....No Child Left Behind...the tests are government mandated...believe me we'd rather be teaching useful knowledge.
2006-10-06 11:32:12 · answer #8 · answered by obuprincess 5 · 2⤊ 1⤋
The education system in America is in such disarray its insane. They never taught me how to think. I had to figure it out on my own.
2006-10-06 11:29:17 · answer #9 · answered by mojo2093@sbcglobal.net 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋