Race Based Academic goals

Teachers should be accountable for advancing a given child one grade per year. There are tests available that give a decent benchmark of what grade level a child is performing at in a given subject. For example, math. if a child entering 4th grade is tested and is performing at a 2nd grade level, then that individual teacher should be held to a minimum of advancing that child from 2nd grade level to 3rd grade level. If the school system wants to advance that child to a caught up level then the school system needs to offer (and the parents need to support both financially and emotionally) weekend and/or summer school for a charge to get the child caught up.

This would take much of the 'high stakes' debate away and put the onus where it should be... the parents and the certain school system that fostered the defecit.
 
Stmpe??
So you have a room full of 4th graders, say 25
and 2 of them are only at second grade level

and YOU think one teacher has time to teach the other 23 at grade level
while also somehow teaching the 2 who are behind?

have you ever been in a classroom?
 
6721 is correct. Also, if a kid is that far behind, there is usually a reason for it. It may be a learning disability, terrible home life, etc. Kids that are behind less than even one grade level (forget two) get a massive amount of small group or 1 on 1 attention from interventionists. So giving the blame or credit to the teacher alone isn't accurate. The kids that are that far behind almost always have a learning disability or are highly mobile.

As far as the "advancing one grade level" idea - its garbage. Smart kids learn faster. Kids with good home lives make more progress. Just like any other "merit pay" program, it will put the best teachers in the best schools.

I have personally participated in a value added program and our scores tanked so bad that we almost got an unacceptable rating from the state. Those type of programs make the false assumption that poor teacher motivation is what holding schools back. They are trying to solve the wrong problem.
 
Watch the movie "Idiocracy". You will find your answer.

I agree parents are the most important factor on a student reaching his educational potential, but I see this as finally the white flag to the lie that everyone can be educated to an equal level. They cant, and it is ridiculous to expect it.
 
...we need to match kids' education to their skills, work ethic, etc. like they do in countries like Germany.

The US would be very well-served to copy much of what Germany does.

Including healthcare.
 
Stampe
One more question
from your post
"Unfortunately we don't have many leaders that are willing to tell parents that their childs achievement in school is partly their fault or their triumph."

No kidding? You seriously think we need the gov't to tell parents they need to make sure their childrens study?


whiteflag.gif


I bet you think the government should tell all parents to not let their kids eat double cheesebirgers for lunch and dinner every day
should to government also tell the parents to not let their kids play in a busy street?

think back to the first waves of immigrants to this country, neither the adults or kids spoke a lick of English. Did our gov't tell those immigrants to it was in their hands to see their kids studied?

How about Earl Campbell's mother ( just one example btw). did she need the gov't to tell her Earl and his siblings to study?

I know so many economically poor parents, single parents , who are making sure their kids study and learn. No gov't has to tell them

it is to wrong to lay every aspect on a Government. I don't want a bunch of Julias .
 
6721,
Yes I do think leaders (not just politcians btw) need to say 'parents are responsible' not because it is an original idea but because it specifcially counters the belief that we can blame the lack of progress on teachers, and therefore the solutions become government centered rather than requiring parents to take ownership.

When our society starts saying 'parents are responsible' then the 'blame the school' thinking becomes less the norm and less acceptable.

As it is now, some parents aren't doing a good job of being parents and the national dialogue(fostered by the leaders I'm referring to) still seems to blame the system and look for systemic government answers by spending more money.
 
Stmpe
when you explain it like that I see your point . You are right as it stand now we are blaming teachers and the system.
 
I agree with your last post. High stakes testing is also a part of the same problem. Schools are pretty much forced to pick up wherever the parent left off in order to get scores up. We aren't really able to take a "not my job" mentality.
 
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