Teacher fired for refusing to give students a score of 50% on assignments they failed to turn in.

[Wyatt earp]

You mean welcome to the RW world where teachers have no tenure/no union to protect them from such idiocy.

Once again my question remains the same, Why do government workers need Unions to protect them from themselves?

 

[SweetSue92]

Someone do some research. The Department of Education was created under the "great" President jimmy carter in 1979 (I believe.)

Since that dept was created, how has the education in this country ranked in the world with grade school and high school ages?

Comparing it to other nations is not a great tool for measuring success.

The purpose of education is not to out do Germany or the UK or whoever.

We should look at how well education worked in this nation before the department was created and how it has done since.

Although the Department is a relative newcomer among Cabinet-level agencies, its origins goes back to 1867, when President Andrew Johnson signed legislation creating the first Department of Education. Its main purpose was to collect information and statistics about the nation's schools. However, due to concern that the Department would exercise too much control over local schools, the new Department was demoted to an Office of Education in 1868.

Over the years, the office remained relatively small, operating under different titles and housed in various agencies, including the U.S. Department of the Interior and the former U.S. Department of Health Education and Welfare (now Health and Human Services).

Beginning in the 1950s, political and social changes resulted in expanded federal funding for education. The successful launch of the Soviet Union's Sputnik in 1957 spurred nationwide concern that led to increased aid for science education programs. The 1960s saw even more expansion of federal education funding: President Lyndon Johnson's "War on Poverty" called for the creation of many programs to improve education for poor students at all levels—early childhood through postsecondary. This expansion continued in the 1970s with national efforts to help racial minorities, women, people with disabilities and non-English speaking students gain equal access to education. In October 1979, Congress passed the Department of Education Organization Act (Public Law 96-88). Created by combining offices from several federal agencies, the Department began operations in May 1980.

In the 1860s, a budget of $15,000 and four employees handled education fact-finding. By 1965, the Office of Education had more than 2,100 employees and a budget of $1.5 billion. As of mid-2010, the Department has nearly 4,300 employees and a budget of about $60 billion.
An Overview of the U.S. Department of Education-- Pg 1

Essentially, the problem is that public education is being tasked with too much; the costly, specialized programs for children with special needs and being expected to overcome community influences in poor, crime ridden communities as if they didn't exist are two of those expectations no one institution can accomplish alone.

This.

And then, blame the teachers when the job doesn't get done. See: teacher shortage. No one can do this.

Just one more nail in the coffin of our society, I'm convinced of that.

 

[SweetSue92]

Florida teacher says she was fired for refusing to give students partial credit on an assignment they didn't turn in

A teacher in Port St. Lucie, Fla., says that she was fired for refusing to give students partial credit for work they did not turn in to her.

According to WCMH, after many students didn’t hand in an Explorer Notebook project, Diana Tirado, an eighth-grade history teacher at West Gate, gave them a zero for a grade. According to Tirado, she was let go because of the school’s no-zero policy, allegedly included in the student and parent handbook.

“But what if they don’t turn it in, and they say we’ll give them a 50. Oh no we don’t,” Tirado told WCMH.

Tirado, who was still in her probationary period, was terminated from her position on Sept. 14. However, no clause was mentioned in the letter from the principal.

According to WFTV, a chief information officer for West Gate said in a statement: “There is no district or individual school policy prohibiting teachers from recording a grade of zero for work not turned in. The district’s uniform grading system utilizes letter grades A-F, numerical grades 100 to zero and grade point averages from four to zero.”

Tirado, who says, “Teaching is a calling for me,” claims she was told never to give a student a zero.

“I’m so upset, because we have a nation of kids that are expecting to get paid and live their life just for showing up, and it’s not real,” the teacher said.

On Tirado’s last day, she wrote a message on her whiteboard to the students and posted it on Facebook...

Liberalism is a mental disorder.

This is the problem of what happens when POLITICIANS start getting involved in education.

The worst two things educators have to deal with are

1) bosses who haven't got a clue what the **** their doing and;

2) Parents who haven't got a ******* clue what's going on.

But no fault on teachers or their unions right?

FWIW I despise the NEA and do not belong. Haven't belonged for years.

 

[SweetSue92]

Florida teacher says she was fired for refusing to give students partial credit on an assignment they didn't turn in

A teacher in Port St. Lucie, Fla., says that she was fired for refusing to give students partial credit for work they did not turn in to her.

According to WCMH, after many students didn’t hand in an Explorer Notebook project, Diana Tirado, an eighth-grade history teacher at West Gate, gave them a zero for a grade. According to Tirado, she was let go because of the school’s no-zero policy, allegedly included in the student and parent handbook.

“But what if they don’t turn it in, and they say we’ll give them a 50. Oh no we don’t,” Tirado told WCMH.

Tirado, who was still in her probationary period, was terminated from her position on Sept. 14. However, no clause was mentioned in the letter from the principal.

According to WFTV, a chief information officer for West Gate said in a statement: “There is no district or individual school policy prohibiting teachers from recording a grade of zero for work not turned in. The district’s uniform grading system utilizes letter grades A-F, numerical grades 100 to zero and grade point averages from four to zero.”

Tirado, who says, “Teaching is a calling for me,” claims she was told never to give a student a zero.

“I’m so upset, because we have a nation of kids that are expecting to get paid and live their life just for showing up, and it’s not real,” the teacher said.

On Tirado’s last day, she wrote a message on her whiteboard to the students and posted it on Facebook...

Liberalism is a mental disorder.

What a hot flaming mess of a district. They can't even have a uniform policy on GRADING and have in writing two different policies--one says you CAN give a zero and the other in the school handbook says no grades less than 50% (which is ridiculous).

That's just a mess. I feel bad for the teacher, but maybe she can get a job in a better district.

I bet a private school scoops her up after hearing about this. Good on her! Both she, and her students deserve better than this school offers.

A lot of private school are worse.

Honestly she's better off changing professions.

A lot of teachers (like myself) are just leaving the profession all together. It's not worth the stress anymore.

Some data to support your assertion would be nice. If you expect to be taken seriously... What is a “lot”?

Article about American teachers leaving profession with stats.

Analysis | Why it’s a big problem that so many teachers quit — and what to do about it

It's a problem in the UK too.
Teachers Are Leaving Profession At Highest Rate Since Records Began

We are seeing behaviors in children that I would never, ever have imagined even five, seven years ago. I come from a good district. Every school in my district now has a "crisis" team for when children just lose their minds. And I'm not talking about "special needs" children either--I'm talking about children with no formal diagnosis or no diagnosis YET. Children hitting, kicking, screaming, throwing things, melting down, and running out of the school and into the street.

Elementary school.

This is everywhere.

Of all things, this is what keeps me up at night. I have been teaching a long time. I have a little idea about what has happened to humanity but this--this is very alarming. I'm not kidding.

 

[Vastator]

What a hot flaming mess of a district. They can't even have a uniform policy on GRADING and have in writing two different policies--one says you CAN give a zero and the other in the school handbook says no grades less than 50% (which is ridiculous).

That's just a mess. I feel bad for the teacher, but maybe she can get a job in a better district.

I bet a private school scoops her up after hearing about this. Good on her! Both she, and her students deserve better than this school offers.

A lot of private school are worse.

Honestly she's better off changing professions.

A lot of teachers (like myself) are just leaving the profession all together. It's not worth the stress anymore.

Some data to support your assertion would be nice. If you expect to be taken seriously... What is a “lot”?

Article about American teachers leaving profession with stats.

Analysis | Why it’s a big problem that so many teachers quit — and what to do about it

It's a problem in the UK too.
Teachers Are Leaving Profession At Highest Rate Since Records Began

We are seeing behaviors in children that I would never, ever have imagined even five, seven years ago. I come from a good district. Every school in my district now has a "crisis" team for when children just lose their minds. And I'm not talking about "special needs" children either--I'm talking about children with no formal diagnosis or no diagnosis YET. Children hitting, kicking, screaming, throwing things, melting down, and running out of the school and into the street.

Elementary school.

This is everywhere.

Of all things, this is what keeps me up at night. I have been teaching a long time. I have a little idea about what has happened to humanity but this--this is very alarming. I'm not kidding.

It is impossible to overstate the negative impact, that the destruction of the traditional family unit has had on the development of children.

 

[SweetSue92]

I bet a private school scoops her up after hearing about this. Good on her! Both she, and her students deserve better than this school offers.

A lot of private school are worse.

Honestly she's better off changing professions.

A lot of teachers (like myself) are just leaving the profession all together. It's not worth the stress anymore.

Some data to support your assertion would be nice. If you expect to be taken seriously... What is a “lot”?

Article about American teachers leaving profession with stats.

Analysis | Why it’s a big problem that so many teachers quit — and what to do about it

It's a problem in the UK too.
Teachers Are Leaving Profession At Highest Rate Since Records Began

We are seeing behaviors in children that I would never, ever have imagined even five, seven years ago. I come from a good district. Every school in my district now has a "crisis" team for when children just lose their minds. And I'm not talking about "special needs" children either--I'm talking about children with no formal diagnosis or no diagnosis YET. Children hitting, kicking, screaming, throwing things, melting down, and running out of the school and into the street.

Elementary school.

This is everywhere.

Of all things, this is what keeps me up at night. I have been teaching a long time. I have a little idea about what has happened to humanity but this--this is very alarming. I'm not kidding.

It is impossible to overstate the negative impact, that the destruction of the traditional family unit has had on the development of children.

Oh sure. But that was going on ten years ago, and also 15. Also even when I stepped into the profession over 20 years ago.

I think part of it is the technology we have now. It's utterly decimating children's brains.

 

[Vastator]

A lot of private school are worse.

Honestly she's better off changing professions.

A lot of teachers (like myself) are just leaving the profession all together. It's not worth the stress anymore.

Some data to support your assertion would be nice. If you expect to be taken seriously... What is a “lot”?

Article about American teachers leaving profession with stats.

Analysis | Why it’s a big problem that so many teachers quit — and what to do about it

It's a problem in the UK too.
Teachers Are Leaving Profession At Highest Rate Since Records Began

We are seeing behaviors in children that I would never, ever have imagined even five, seven years ago. I come from a good district. Every school in my district now has a "crisis" team for when children just lose their minds. And I'm not talking about "special needs" children either--I'm talking about children with no formal diagnosis or no diagnosis YET. Children hitting, kicking, screaming, throwing things, melting down, and running out of the school and into the street.

Elementary school.

This is everywhere.

Of all things, this is what keeps me up at night. I have been teaching a long time. I have a little idea about what has happened to humanity but this--this is very alarming. I'm not kidding.

It is impossible to overstate the negative impact, that the destruction of the traditional family unit has had on the development of children.

Oh sure. But that was going on ten years ago, and also 15. Also even when I stepped into the profession over 20 years ago.

I think part of it is the technology we have now. It's utterly decimating children's brains.

What you're witnessing today is the result, of compound, generationl, single motherhood which really started to take off in the late 60's-early 70's. 3rd and fourth generational examples of the decline of the traditional family unit. If you think it's bad now. What do you think it might look like in 2-3 generations from now..?

 

[TemplarKormac]

Florida teacher says she was fired for refusing to give students partial credit on an assignment they didn't turn in

A teacher in Port St. Lucie, Fla., says that she was fired for refusing to give students partial credit for work they did not turn in to her.

According to WCMH, after many students didn’t hand in an Explorer Notebook project, Diana Tirado, an eighth-grade history teacher at West Gate, gave them a zero for a grade. According to Tirado, she was let go because of the school’s no-zero policy, allegedly included in the student and parent handbook.

“But what if they don’t turn it in, and they say we’ll give them a 50. Oh no we don’t,” Tirado told WCMH.

Tirado, who was still in her probationary period, was terminated from her position on Sept. 14. However, no clause was mentioned in the letter from the principal.

According to WFTV, a chief information officer for West Gate said in a statement: “There is no district or individual school policy prohibiting teachers from recording a grade of zero for work not turned in. The district’s uniform grading system utilizes letter grades A-F, numerical grades 100 to zero and grade point averages from four to zero.”

Tirado, who says, “Teaching is a calling for me,” claims she was told never to give a student a zero.

“I’m so upset, because we have a nation of kids that are expecting to get paid and live their life just for showing up, and it’s not real,” the teacher said.

On Tirado’s last day, she wrote a message on her whiteboard to the students and posted it on Facebook...

Liberalism is a mental disorder.

You can't get credit for half-assing something when you don't even half-ass it.

 

[OldLady]

What a hot flaming mess of a district. They can't even have a uniform policy on GRADING and have in writing two different policies--one says you CAN give a zero and the other in the school handbook says no grades less than 50% (which is ridiculous).

That's just a mess. I feel bad for the teacher, but maybe she can get a job in a better district.

I bet a private school scoops her up after hearing about this. Good on her! Both she, and her students deserve better than this school offers.

Some private schools are better. Some are not.

Buyer beware. I’d wager to say that the large majority of private schools offer a much better education than the large majority of government schools. And when it comes to private schools; the parent, as a consumer gets to choose. So a little research is all it takes. Home schooled children fare much better on average, than the average government school. Not to mention it enrages the left to no end when they are denied access to other people’s children.

Let's not forget that private schools also get to choose their students. Public schools have no such power.

True but most parents have no power of choice either and they should

One big act which could solve many problems is to repeal truancy laws.

REPEAL truancy laws? How on earth does that help children get educated?

 

[Ravi]

Florida teacher says she was fired for refusing to give students partial credit on an assignment they didn't turn in

A teacher in Port St. Lucie, Fla., says that she was fired for refusing to give students partial credit for work they did not turn in to her.

According to WCMH, after many students didn’t hand in an Explorer Notebook project, Diana Tirado, an eighth-grade history teacher at West Gate, gave them a zero for a grade. According to Tirado, she was let go because of the school’s no-zero policy, allegedly included in the student and parent handbook.

“But what if they don’t turn it in, and they say we’ll give them a 50. Oh no we don’t,” Tirado told WCMH.

Tirado, who was still in her probationary period, was terminated from her position on Sept. 14. However, no clause was mentioned in the letter from the principal.

According to WFTV, a chief information officer for West Gate said in a statement: “There is no district or individual school policy prohibiting teachers from recording a grade of zero for work not turned in. The district’s uniform grading system utilizes letter grades A-F, numerical grades 100 to zero and grade point averages from four to zero.”

Tirado, who says, “Teaching is a calling for me,” claims she was told never to give a student a zero.

“I’m so upset, because we have a nation of kids that are expecting to get paid and live their life just for showing up, and it’s not real,” the teacher said.

On Tirado’s last day, she wrote a message on her whiteboard to the students and posted it on Facebook...

Liberalism is a mental disorder.

Sounds like she isn't being truthful since the school says they have no such policy.

 

[Vastator]

I bet a private school scoops her up after hearing about this. Good on her! Both she, and her students deserve better than this school offers.

Some private schools are better. Some are not.

Buyer beware. I’d wager to say that the large majority of private schools offer a much better education than the large majority of government schools. And when it comes to private schools; the parent, as a consumer gets to choose. So a little research is all it takes. Home schooled children fare much better on average, than the average government school. Not to mention it enrages the left to no end when they are denied access to other people’s children.

Let's not forget that private schools also get to choose their students. Public schools have no such power.

True but most parents have no power of choice either and they should

One big act which could solve many problems is to repeal truancy laws.

REPEAL truancy laws? How on earth does that help children get educated?

“Help” at gunpoint? How socialist of you...

 

[Soupnazi630]

I bet a private school scoops her up after hearing about this. Good on her! Both she, and her students deserve better than this school offers.

Some private schools are better. Some are not.

Buyer beware. I’d wager to say that the large majority of private schools offer a much better education than the large majority of government schools. And when it comes to private schools; the parent, as a consumer gets to choose. So a little research is all it takes. Home schooled children fare much better on average, than the average government school. Not to mention it enrages the left to no end when they are denied access to other people’s children.

Let's not forget that private schools also get to choose their students. Public schools have no such power.

True but most parents have no power of choice either and they should

One big act which could solve many problems is to repeal truancy laws.

REPEAL truancy laws? How on earth does that help children get educated?

I explained how.

Some schools especially in inner cities are disasters.

But parents with no resources are forced to send their kids to such schools are faced with criminal charges. Meanwhile the government denies how bad they are.

If parents are permitted to pull their kids out of any school for their own reasons then the state will be forced to solve the problem when the certain schools start to empty.

 

[SweetSue92]

Florida teacher says she was fired for refusing to give students partial credit on an assignment they didn't turn in

A teacher in Port St. Lucie, Fla., says that she was fired for refusing to give students partial credit for work they did not turn in to her.

According to WCMH, after many students didn’t hand in an Explorer Notebook project, Diana Tirado, an eighth-grade history teacher at West Gate, gave them a zero for a grade. According to Tirado, she was let go because of the school’s no-zero policy, allegedly included in the student and parent handbook.

“But what if they don’t turn it in, and they say we’ll give them a 50. Oh no we don’t,” Tirado told WCMH.

Tirado, who was still in her probationary period, was terminated from her position on Sept. 14. However, no clause was mentioned in the letter from the principal.

According to WFTV, a chief information officer for West Gate said in a statement: “There is no district or individual school policy prohibiting teachers from recording a grade of zero for work not turned in. The district’s uniform grading system utilizes letter grades A-F, numerical grades 100 to zero and grade point averages from four to zero.”

Tirado, who says, “Teaching is a calling for me,” claims she was told never to give a student a zero.

“I’m so upset, because we have a nation of kids that are expecting to get paid and live their life just for showing up, and it’s not real,” the teacher said.

On Tirado’s last day, she wrote a message on her whiteboard to the students and posted it on Facebook...

Liberalism is a mental disorder.

Sounds like she isn't being truthful since the school says they have no such policy.

I also heard that there were issues with her aside from the grading. I would say the note she left students citing her reason for being fired is less than professional.

 

[OldLady]

Someone do some research. The Department of Education was created under the "great" President jimmy carter in 1979 (I believe.)

Since that dept was created, how has the education in this country ranked in the world with grade school and high school ages?

Comparing it to other nations is not a great tool for measuring success.

The purpose of education is not to out do Germany or the UK or whoever.

We should look at how well education worked in this nation before the department was created and how it has done since.

Although the Department is a relative newcomer among Cabinet-level agencies, its origins goes back to 1867, when President Andrew Johnson signed legislation creating the first Department of Education. Its main purpose was to collect information and statistics about the nation's schools. However, due to concern that the Department would exercise too much control over local schools, the new Department was demoted to an Office of Education in 1868.

Over the years, the office remained relatively small, operating under different titles and housed in various agencies, including the U.S. Department of the Interior and the former U.S. Department of Health Education and Welfare (now Health and Human Services).

Beginning in the 1950s, political and social changes resulted in expanded federal funding for education. The successful launch of the Soviet Union's Sputnik in 1957 spurred nationwide concern that led to increased aid for science education programs. The 1960s saw even more expansion of federal education funding: President Lyndon Johnson's "War on Poverty" called for the creation of many programs to improve education for poor students at all levels—early childhood through postsecondary. This expansion continued in the 1970s with national efforts to help racial minorities, women, people with disabilities and non-English speaking students gain equal access to education. In October 1979, Congress passed the Department of Education Organization Act (Public Law 96-88). Created by combining offices from several federal agencies, the Department began operations in May 1980.

In the 1860s, a budget of $15,000 and four employees handled education fact-finding. By 1965, the Office of Education had more than 2,100 employees and a budget of $1.5 billion. As of mid-2010, the Department has nearly 4,300 employees and a budget of about $60 billion.
An Overview of the U.S. Department of Education-- Pg 1

Essentially, the problem is that public education is being tasked with too much; the costly, specialized programs for children with special needs and being expected to overcome community influences in poor, crime ridden communities as if they didn't exist are two of those expectations no one institution can accomplish alone.

This.

And then, blame the teachers when the job doesn't get done. See: teacher shortage. No one can do this.

Just one more nail in the coffin of our society, I'm convinced of that.

We seem to be muddling through, but I believe we can do better. There is too much political influence in education, and there's nothing to be done about it--all the way down to the local school board, there can be total catastrophes done to a school's action plan.
People who make decisions on schools and education should be educators, I believe. Teachers don't go into it for the money or the glory; they do it to help kids and they are well trained these days and all of them are compelled to stay current with Continuing Education in order to renew their certification.

 

[SweetSue92]

Some private schools are better. Some are not.

Buyer beware. I’d wager to say that the large majority of private schools offer a much better education than the large majority of government schools. And when it comes to private schools; the parent, as a consumer gets to choose. So a little research is all it takes. Home schooled children fare much better on average, than the average government school. Not to mention it enrages the left to no end when they are denied access to other people’s children.

Let's not forget that private schools also get to choose their students. Public schools have no such power.

True but most parents have no power of choice either and they should

One big act which could solve many problems is to repeal truancy laws.

REPEAL truancy laws? How on earth does that help children get educated?

I explained how.

Some schools especially in inner cities are disasters.

But parents with no resources are forced to send their kids to such schools are faced with criminal charges. Meanwhile the government denies how bad they are.

If parents are permitted to pull their kids out of any school for their own reasons then the state will be forced to solve the problem when the certain schools start to empty.

I say this as a conservative, mind you....

I never ceases to amaze me how conservatives think that somehow, some way, schools are like little echelons of DC planted right in the middle of Everywhere, USA. They are "The Government" right there in your hometown.

Well, they are and they aren't.

Here is my point: every local school is a reflection of the community. The parents, children, and even the teachers all come from the surrounding COMMUNITY. The teachers are not typically some liberal transplants from Berkeley unless the school is IN BERKELEY. If your school is inner city--tragically--it is probably failing not because of "the school", but because there is poverty, drugs, joblessness, crime and trauma all around you. Is that an excuse for the school to underachieve? No. But it sure makes educating children difficult, if not near to impossible. And that is simply human development and biology.

 

[Vastator]

Someone do some research. The Department of Education was created under the "great" President jimmy carter in 1979 (I believe.)

Since that dept was created, how has the education in this country ranked in the world with grade school and high school ages?

Comparing it to other nations is not a great tool for measuring success.

The purpose of education is not to out do Germany or the UK or whoever.

We should look at how well education worked in this nation before the department was created and how it has done since.

Although the Department is a relative newcomer among Cabinet-level agencies, its origins goes back to 1867, when President Andrew Johnson signed legislation creating the first Department of Education. Its main purpose was to collect information and statistics about the nation's schools. However, due to concern that the Department would exercise too much control over local schools, the new Department was demoted to an Office of Education in 1868.

Over the years, the office remained relatively small, operating under different titles and housed in various agencies, including the U.S. Department of the Interior and the former U.S. Department of Health Education and Welfare (now Health and Human Services).

Beginning in the 1950s, political and social changes resulted in expanded federal funding for education. The successful launch of the Soviet Union's Sputnik in 1957 spurred nationwide concern that led to increased aid for science education programs. The 1960s saw even more expansion of federal education funding: President Lyndon Johnson's "War on Poverty" called for the creation of many programs to improve education for poor students at all levels—early childhood through postsecondary. This expansion continued in the 1970s with national efforts to help racial minorities, women, people with disabilities and non-English speaking students gain equal access to education. In October 1979, Congress passed the Department of Education Organization Act (Public Law 96-88). Created by combining offices from several federal agencies, the Department began operations in May 1980.

In the 1860s, a budget of $15,000 and four employees handled education fact-finding. By 1965, the Office of Education had more than 2,100 employees and a budget of $1.5 billion. As of mid-2010, the Department has nearly 4,300 employees and a budget of about $60 billion.
An Overview of the U.S. Department of Education-- Pg 1

Essentially, the problem is that public education is being tasked with too much; the costly, specialized programs for children with special needs and being expected to overcome community influences in poor, crime ridden communities as if they didn't exist are two of those expectations no one institution can accomplish alone.

This.

And then, blame the teachers when the job doesn't get done. See: teacher shortage. No one can do this.

Just one more nail in the coffin of our society, I'm convinced of that.

We seem to be muddling through, but I believe we can do better. There is too much political influence in education, and there's nothing to be done about it--all the way down to the local school board, there can be total catastrophes done to a school's action plan.
People who make decisions on schools and education should be educators, I believe. Teachers don't go into it for the money or the glory; they do it to help kids and they are well trained these days and all of them are compelled to stay current with Continuing Education in order to renew their certification.

That’s because we have a governmental department of education. You cannot have governmental interference which is Apolitical...

 

[OldLady]

Some private schools are better. Some are not.

Buyer beware. I’d wager to say that the large majority of private schools offer a much better education than the large majority of government schools. And when it comes to private schools; the parent, as a consumer gets to choose. So a little research is all it takes. Home schooled children fare much better on average, than the average government school. Not to mention it enrages the left to no end when they are denied access to other people’s children.

Let's not forget that private schools also get to choose their students. Public schools have no such power.

True but most parents have no power of choice either and they should

One big act which could solve many problems is to repeal truancy laws.

REPEAL truancy laws? How on earth does that help children get educated?

I explained how.

Some schools especially in inner cities are disasters.

But parents with no resources are forced to send their kids to such schools are faced with criminal charges. Meanwhile the government denies how bad they are.

If parents are permitted to pull their kids out of any school for their own reasons then the state will be forced to solve the problem when the certain schools start to empty.

Unfortunately, if parents are permitted to sleep in and not make sure their kids go to school each morning, they will sleep in and the kids will lose out on an education. That's the side of it that I've seen. Drug addicts, mostly, but there's plenty of them.

 

[SweetSue92]

Someone do some research. The Department of Education was created under the "great" President jimmy carter in 1979 (I believe.)

Since that dept was created, how has the education in this country ranked in the world with grade school and high school ages?

Comparing it to other nations is not a great tool for measuring success.

The purpose of education is not to out do Germany or the UK or whoever.

We should look at how well education worked in this nation before the department was created and how it has done since.

Although the Department is a relative newcomer among Cabinet-level agencies, its origins goes back to 1867, when President Andrew Johnson signed legislation creating the first Department of Education. Its main purpose was to collect information and statistics about the nation's schools. However, due to concern that the Department would exercise too much control over local schools, the new Department was demoted to an Office of Education in 1868.

Over the years, the office remained relatively small, operating under different titles and housed in various agencies, including the U.S. Department of the Interior and the former U.S. Department of Health Education and Welfare (now Health and Human Services).

Beginning in the 1950s, political and social changes resulted in expanded federal funding for education. The successful launch of the Soviet Union's Sputnik in 1957 spurred nationwide concern that led to increased aid for science education programs. The 1960s saw even more expansion of federal education funding: President Lyndon Johnson's "War on Poverty" called for the creation of many programs to improve education for poor students at all levels—early childhood through postsecondary. This expansion continued in the 1970s with national efforts to help racial minorities, women, people with disabilities and non-English speaking students gain equal access to education. In October 1979, Congress passed the Department of Education Organization Act (Public Law 96-88). Created by combining offices from several federal agencies, the Department began operations in May 1980.

In the 1860s, a budget of $15,000 and four employees handled education fact-finding. By 1965, the Office of Education had more than 2,100 employees and a budget of $1.5 billion. As of mid-2010, the Department has nearly 4,300 employees and a budget of about $60 billion.
An Overview of the U.S. Department of Education-- Pg 1

Essentially, the problem is that public education is being tasked with too much; the costly, specialized programs for children with special needs and being expected to overcome community influences in poor, crime ridden communities as if they didn't exist are two of those expectations no one institution can accomplish alone.

This.

And then, blame the teachers when the job doesn't get done. See: teacher shortage. No one can do this.

Just one more nail in the coffin of our society, I'm convinced of that.

We seem to be muddling through, but I believe we can do better. There is too much political influence in education, and there's nothing to be done about it--all the way down to the local school board, there can be total catastrophes done to a school's action plan.
People who make decisions on schools and education should be educators, I believe. Teachers don't go into it for the money or the glory; they do it to help kids and they are well trained these days and all of them are compelled to stay current with Continuing Education in order to renew their certification.

I agree that politicians, of all stripes, are complete dunderheads about education.

I'm home with a bad cold today which is costing me sleep. I used to be able to teach on a minor illness like a cold. I can't anymore. It's too demanding and difficult these days--teaching, I mean. It's already so draining that any little extra like a cold makes it just too hard for the day.

For instance the other day we had to learn how to apply tourniquets and pack wounds. You know. For school shootings and stuff. Because it's not enough to monitor Johnny's diabetes reading and make sure Jane's sensory issues aren't overwhelmed and make sure Jeannette's bladder is emptied every hour. Etc.

I still adore my students and I do love teaching. I just think people do not realize all that people are asked to do. In fact I know they do not.

 

[Soupnazi630]

Buyer beware. I’d wager to say that the large majority of private schools offer a much better education than the large majority of government schools. And when it comes to private schools; the parent, as a consumer gets to choose. So a little research is all it takes. Home schooled children fare much better on average, than the average government school. Not to mention it enrages the left to no end when they are denied access to other people’s children.

Let's not forget that private schools also get to choose their students. Public schools have no such power.

True but most parents have no power of choice either and they should

One big act which could solve many problems is to repeal truancy laws.

REPEAL truancy laws? How on earth does that help children get educated?

I explained how.

Some schools especially in inner cities are disasters.

But parents with no resources are forced to send their kids to such schools are faced with criminal charges. Meanwhile the government denies how bad they are.

If parents are permitted to pull their kids out of any school for their own reasons then the state will be forced to solve the problem when the certain schools start to empty.

I say this as a conservative, mind you....

I never ceases to amaze me how conservatives think that somehow, some way, schools are like little echelons of DC planted right in the middle of Everywhere, USA. They are "The Government" right there in your hometown.

Well, they are and they aren't.

Here is my point: every local school is a reflection of the community. The parents, children, and even the teachers all come from the surrounding COMMUNITY. The teachers are not typically some liberal transplants from Berkeley unless the school is IN BERKELEY. If your school is inner city--tragically--it is probably failing not because of "the school", but because there is poverty, drugs, joblessness, crime and trauma all around you. Is that an excuse for the school to underachieve? No. But it sure makes educating children difficult, if not near to impossible. And that is simply human development and biology.

Nor is it an excuse to force such kids to attend school in such nightmares.

The parents are a better judge of how safe or effective a school is but the state has removed their power to make such judgements.

You and I and especially local, state and federal governments simply do not know what is in the best interests of others.

 

[Soupnazi630]

Buyer beware. I’d wager to say that the large majority of private schools offer a much better education than the large majority of government schools. And when it comes to private schools; the parent, as a consumer gets to choose. So a little research is all it takes. Home schooled children fare much better on average, than the average government school. Not to mention it enrages the left to no end when they are denied access to other people’s children.

Let's not forget that private schools also get to choose their students. Public schools have no such power.

True but most parents have no power of choice either and they should

One big act which could solve many problems is to repeal truancy laws.

REPEAL truancy laws? How on earth does that help children get educated?

I explained how.

Some schools especially in inner cities are disasters.

But parents with no resources are forced to send their kids to such schools are faced with criminal charges. Meanwhile the government denies how bad they are.

If parents are permitted to pull their kids out of any school for their own reasons then the state will be forced to solve the problem when the certain schools start to empty.

Unfortunately, if parents are permitted to sleep in and not make sure their kids go to school each morning, they will sleep in and the kids will lose out on an education. That's the side of it that I've seen. Drug addicts, mostly, but there's plenty of them.

Some will and they already are.

There is no evidence more will. An addict is unlikely to care as much anyways.