Should teachers be held responsible for making sure their students learn what they are teaching...?

Question

before letting them advance to the next grade?
How do we know the teacher is doing their job?

I understand that parents play a role.
I just can't understand how a child can graduate and not be able to read or write above the level of a 3rd grader. Whose decision was it to let this child advance? Did it do the child a favor? I wouldn't think so.

Answer 1

let me add a statement to this...

If you place a handicapped kid in a "normal" classroom setting, which has happened before in my district, then the answer should be no. The teacher is not able to fully work with the individual on a one-to-one basis.

However, I personally think that the majority of the problems of the kids in todays society stemms from home. Being a senior at a 4-year university, I am appalled by the attitudes of the freshman. They reak of "I don't have to do that because mommie and daddie say so."

What ever happened to good old-fashioned family values where the parents would BACK the teachers and their decisions instead of trying to circumvent them and making their lives hell?

Answer 2

We do the best we can with what we have.
Some students learn faster than others. Some have the ability, but don't try because they don't care. Others have emotional difficulties or family issues that slow progress. Certainly the teacher cannot be held responsible if the parent is abusing the child and causing emotional trauma. Abuse and neglect follow the child into the classroom.

Parents need to take an active roll. They should become involved with their children and homework. Instead, many don't want to be bothered. They 'plop' the child in front of the television or Play Station while they search for on-line love in chat rooms or dance away in nightclubs. Hey! It really happens.

Other parents discourage children and break their wills with constant scolding, criticism, and demeaning.
"I can't believe you are so stupid!" can destroy a child. We try to encourage kids and make learning fun. Sometimes there is a lot of damage to undo.

If a teacher decides to hold back a child instead of letting them advance to the next grade, all of a sudden the parents get involved. Unfortunately, it is usually in the form of anger and resentment with threats of lawsuits. They cannot accept that their children are being held back because they are not learning. They blame the teacher (like you attempt to do in your question). They even try to get the teacher dismissed.

Many parents use the "race card".
"YOU ARE ONLY HOLDING MY CHILD BACK BECAUSE HE/SHE IS (insert ethic heritage here)! YOU ARE A RACIST AND SHOULD NOT BE TEACHING!" (very ignorant)

We do the best with what we have.

.

Answer 3

Teachers are responsible to teach a particular curriculum. The teacher doesn't have the ability or power to ensure that the students are listening to what is being taught, no way of knowing if you are paying attention although it is very evident regarding some student and it is unfair to blame a teacher if a child is not willing to take the time to do their homework and is playing truent because they don't like this particular subject.

Students have responsibilities too, not just the teachers, children who need individual attention are labelled as being learning disabled meaning they do not learn the way mainstream education is thought therefore require an assistant to make them learn because as a whole teachers don't have the time to do one on one with every child.

Answer 4

How can you make a child learn, it is the teacher and parent responsible . The teacher can teach but if the child doesn't turn in homework, teacher can't show up at the child's home. If you are a parent , see if you can go to the class and stay to see what is being taught.

Answer 5

Don't think the teachers suck as curly said. Its up to the parents to reinforce what's being taught. Teachers can only be held responsible to a certain point.

Answer 6

Not all kids learn at the same rate. If you are concerned about your child's learning, you can sit in the class and observe the teacher.

Answer 7

Why should they start now? Todays kids are stupid. It's because the teachers suck.