phlash46 Loc: Westchester County, New York

Helluva question.

andesbill

I’ll return to it here.
We have politicians meddling in curricula, as well as textbook contents. In some school districts textbooks have little to say about evolution, and even less to say about Darwin, one of the greatest geniuses of all time. They also pay short shrift to global warming. This is due to the textbook buying power of Texas and the morons in that state who choose the textbooks and what to put in, and what to leave out. Schools in the rest of the nation are then forced to choose from a list of piss poor texts for their students.
The politicians choose the school chancellors, and in many cases they choose the Principal of the school through school boards.

Teachers are told what to teach and how to do it in many districts, while at the same time they, the teachers are simultaneously held responsible for how the students do on major exams. They are forced to squander huge blocks of time teaching the students the quirks involved in passing particular tests, instead of teaching the subject. At one time I was told that I had to spend one period practicing for a class exam, one period giving it, and one period going over it. I was also required to give an exam every 2 weeks. This is nuts.

In many districts, teachers are not allowed to discuss evolution (except briefly or with a nod to creationism) contraception or STD’s. (I’m speaking about H.S.)
In the Religious schools I taught in, teaching evolution was a bear. I had to spend time off topic discussing the religious concerns the students had re: evolution, without dismissing their concerns, without teaching religion, without giving in to creationism and without alienating the students who knew that I was an atheist. I had to do this if I wanted them to understand evolution, even if only to pass the necessary exams. Try doing this sometime and bring a bottle of Advil.

Tell me what you want me to teach, and judge me & my kids on how well they learn. Or, give me a script you want me to follow and judge me on how well I follow the script.

Teachers are caught in a bind created by no-nothing politicians from all sides of the political spectrum. Just let us teach, PLease.

I taught public and private schools in NYC for 38 years. From 6th grade to 12. General science, Bio, Math, Earth Science, Oceanography, Marine Bio (I helped write a Regents science curriculum in NYC), Computer Literacy, and probably more that I’ve forgotten. I worked day school, Evening H.S., and Summer H.S.
I taught in good schools and schools where we were told not to go out by ourselves.
I mentored teachers and Principals. I know what I’m talking about.

Leo Perez

Fake news

andesbill

What is fake news (besides all Trump tweets)?

berchman Loc: South Central PA

My compliments on your persuasive counter arguments.

hasslichhog

andesbill

Once again, what are you referring to? Or are you limited to simple sentences referencing nothing?

berchman Loc: South Central PA

I used Quote Reply. Perhaps you should look at whom I was quoting?

andesbill

There are so many replies going on, I thought you were Leo Perez with fake news, since your reply fell under his. My apologies. This thread is getting too confusing, so I will leave it.
Have a happy rest of Holiday.

DickC Loc: NE Washington state

And now no cursive writing! We gave a birthday card to our 12 year old grandson, signing it 'Love Grandpa and grandma'----he couldn't read it because it was in cursive!!'

Ratbastard

The guy died in 2014 so I doubt he was in a classroom in 2018.

Hal81 Loc: Bucks County, Pa.

I hated school and would have dropped out if it wasn't for football. While in the navy I put in for every school posted on the board. Im now 89 and still learning. Im vice president of our local historical society for the last eight years. We have speakers come in every month. I also belong to the Lehigh Valley Heritage Society. Your never too old to learn.

DickC Loc: NE Washington state

Good for you Hal, I'm 80 and make knives and classical guitars, ride a bike and go jeeping and trapshooting, always active, age is just a number!!

SteveR Loc: Michigan

I don't believe that about being able to balance a check book. However, the difficulty in balancing a check book lies in capturing all expenditures...including those done with a debit card and automatic withdrawals. It's not simply math. As far as cover letters and resumes....what does a high school student need those for?

Amtrain

So can we blame the school system for producing brain children like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez?