New Attack On Education.

[Courage]

...hundreds of thousands!

 

[Full-Auto]

Wow! I just discovered this message board, as I am sitting here with my coffee, waking up and checking email. What a great way to start the day! (ok, yes, being sarcastic).

As an elementary school principal (26 years now), who gives all I've got to our amazing kids...from dawn to dark...day in and out...please allow me to disagree with you. Oh, did I say elementary "school?" Because of the lack of funds this year I have been principal of two, K-5 elementary schools. Looks to be the same for next year. Why? Because even given this challenge, my amazing staff and I have pulled off...kids who are happy and high achieving, parents who are happy and supportive of our schools, and staff who have what they need to do a good job.

I can only apologize for the awful administrators it sounds like you had to endure, and promise you that there are tens of thousands of amazing and wonderful school staff already at work this morning....

Well let me start off by thanking you for the dedication to our nations children. However no two districts are alike. I am very supportive of our local Elementary, number one in the State last year. My grandchildren attend, coming from a failing school taken over by the State.

There are many legitimate complaints about how education is handled in this country. This thread may not apply to you but it still applies.

As a principle how did you feel when it was reported that Teachers and staff were cheating on tests for the students? That turned out to be all over the country.

 

[regent]

hell in America the best schools are the ones with stronger unions

How do you know that?

Maryland, supposedly is the state with the best education in America. Do they have a teacher union, you bet they do.
The five states offering the worst education in America, by law do not allow teacher unions.

 

[Jackson]

The attack comes from the most dangerous source: the Department of Education.

"The New York City Department of Education is waging a war on words of sorts, and is seeking to have words they deem upsetting removed from standardized tests.

Abuse (physical, sexual, emotional, or psychological)

Alcohol (beer and liquor), tobacco, or drugs

Birthday celebrations (and birthdays)

Bodily functions

Cancer (and other diseases)

Catastrophes/disasters (tsunamis and hurricanes)

Celebrities

Children dealing with serious issues

Cigarettes (and other smoking paraphernalia)

Computers in the home (acceptable in a school or library setting)

Crime

Death and disease

Divorce


Evolution

Expensive gifts, vacations, and prizes

Gambling involving money

Halloween

Homelessness

Homes with swimming pools

Hunting

Junk food

In-depth discussions of sports that require prior knowledge

Loss of employment

Nuclear weapons

Occult topics (i.e. fortune-telling)

Parapsychology

Politics

Pornography

Poverty

Rap Music

Religion

Religious holidays and festivals (including but not limited to Christmas, Yom Kippur, and Ramadan)

Rock-and-Roll music

Running away

Sex

Slavery

Terrorism

Television and video games (excessive use)

Traumatic material (including material that may be particularly upsetting such as animal shelters)

Vermin (rats and roaches)

Violence

War and bloodshed

Weapons (guns, knives, etc.)

Witchcraft, sorcery, etc."
War On Words: NYC Dept. Of Education Wants 50 'Forbidden' Words Banned From Standardized Tests « CBS New York


Perhaps they are unaware of this word:
ed·u·ca·tion/ˌejəˈkāSHən/
Noun:
The process of receiving or giving systematic instruction, esp. at a school or university: "a new system of public education".
The theory and practice of teaching.

"The New York City Department of Education is waging a war on words of sorts, and is seeking to have words they deem upsetting removed from standardized tests.

Actually, I don't have a problem with this. We are talking about the standardized tests that evaluate the basic curriculum that have definitive answers that either correct or incorrect.

The topics listed are fine to be discussed in schools but not to be evaluated on a standardized test because it brings in the childs personal background and thoughts. We wouldn't want students' answers marked wrong when it is a judgment call on the test taker. Keep the standardized tests on math, reading comprehension and science where the answers have truly correct or incorrect answers.