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This sounds like a great idea!

Question:

In Oregon.. our schools are funded with property Tax Dollars… In the last 10 years to measures have been passed to cut the property taxes..BUT..do nothing to make up that money for the schools.. the legislature is "working on it".. they have passed a few things to help increase the level of funding to smaller schools… ( currently the student count determines how much money the school gets) example.. a LARGE school.. with a few thousand students will get more money.. not only because they have more students.. but in the past they were actually getting MORE money per student…while the small schools (our school district has about 800 kids total K-12). get less money..for less students .. but also less per student. Last year they passed a state bill.. creating a small school fund.. which will be phased in over the next 5 years.. BUT… this year our student count dropped.. which means we get les money to begin with..so the little extra we get for the small schools act.. will JUST make up the difference.. luckily we were able to keep the existing programs/staff this year.. but have to delay needed repairs..etc..that need to be done. I don’t think the public school system itself is to blame.. the way the schools are funded is the problem.. Kass Amused <amus…@REMOVEhotmail.com> wrote in message

news:xFaX4.37$96.10948@news-west.eli.net… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> I think the opportunities for education, even for the poor, would be there > if we pooled our resources. > Maybe vouchers? Every family still pays taxes, but instead of going to > Washington, it stays in your state. Then that money is put into a voucher > account, only for education, to be used as the parents see fit. > No, I don’t think you’re a communist, lol. > Amused > "Ian" <a…@anon.com> wrote in message news:392C8D51.1D324AE3@anon.com… > > Hi Amused, > > Well, we homeschool, even as our taxes fund the public system. Yes, it’s > a pain > > that we don’t get any tax concessions for doing this. > > Cutting public education was one of the things that led to the Russian > > Revolution! Paying tax is part of living in the society. Of course, I > loathe > > our new Goods and Services Tax, but I fervently believe in "free" > education, > > even at the University level (which we had until recently). What other > chance > > have the bright but poor got? The rich and stupid will always have their > > opportunities… > > Ian > > (Don’t call me a godless communist) > > Amused wrote: > > > I wish I could get back every tax dollar of mine that goes for public > > > education, on both the federal and local level. > > > I wish my neighbors could get theirs back as well. > > > With this money, we could fund our own school, and do so much more with > it > > > than is being done now. It’s a ridiculous notion that we need to send > our > > > money to Washington, to be divided, pay for bureaucracy, fund social > > > experimentation, and then have it sent back with strings attached. > > > Amused > > > "Whisper" <whis…@bctonline.com> wrote in message > > > news:caHW4.47$DU4.408@sea-read.news.verio.net… > > > > I don’t know about the schools in other states.. but I am on the > school > > > > budget committee for my children’s school.. we have cut about > everything > > > we > > > > can cut..and still come up short for funds.. we have no music.. no > art. no > > > > PE teachers ( at the elementary level).. sports are pay to lay…( we > > > just > > > > reinstated SOME money for sports).. we have put off badly needed > building > > > > repairs.. cut teachers..etc..etc.. but are still expected to meet > state > > > and > > > > federal standards of class sizes..etc..we have to come up with a > balanced > > > > budget months before we actually know how much money we will or will > not > > > be > > > > getting from he government… > > > > Teachers are under paid.. we are understaffed.. we even went 3 years > > > without > > > > a highschool principal because we cut the salary from the budget to > keep > > > > needed teachers and programs > > > > Sooo….I don’t know about LARGE schools.. but I know the small school > > > > district we are in is SUFFERING from a LACK of funds.. and there is no > > > > "padding" of the budget.. it is BARE BONES. > > > > Kass > > > > Chairperson of the School budget committee..2 years running..<G> and > > > > involved parent! > > > > floridanewbie <floridanew…@hotmail.com> wrote in message > > > > news:39282f91.110221639@news.mindspring.com… > > > > > On 21 May 2000 17:26:44 GMT, oceanmo…@aol.com (Oceanmomma) wrote: > > > > > >What do you think Miss Cee and any other educators out there? >************************************************************************** > > > > > >********************* > > > > > >Chicago Teachers To Grade Parents > > > > > >By NICOLE ZIEGLER DIZON > > > > > >.c The Associated Press > > > > > >CHICAGO (AP) – Teachers in Chicago will send home a new type of > > > progress > > > > report > > > > > >next year – one that evaluates Mom and Dad on their parenting > skills. > > > > > >The “parent checklists” won’t contain letter grades but will tell > > > > parents > > > > > >whether they’re helping enough with homework or getting their > children > > > to > > > > > >school on time, school officials said Thursday. > > > > > When I think back to when I was a kid the parents got that kind of > > > > > feedback without it being a stated school policy. Unfortunately > with > > > > > the Chicago Public Schools, thanks in part to an obstructionist > union > > > > > led by fairly ignorant people, many of the teachers long ago washed > > > > > their hands of such activities … many were just putting in their > > > > > time, taking their money and were persuaded there was nothing they > > > > > could do to affect a very dismal organization. > > > > > That started to change with the appointment of Paul Vallas … for > the > > > > > first time in memory, someone at the top of the school system made > the > > > > > education of children the most important priority in a chaotic, > > > > > inefficient, corrupt system that wasted tens of millions of dollars > a > > > > > year on every thing but education. > > > > > Here is an interesting view of Vallas and how he works: > > > > > http://www.catalyst-chicago.org/12-96/126main.htm > > > > > In many systems it would not be necessary to try something like this > > > > > but places like Chicago need this kind of "new" program as a > > > > > motivational tool to try to get parents to talk with the teachers > and > > > > > take an interest in the educational process. Kids in Chicago’s > > > > > special magnet schools and a small handful of other good schools > > > > > already have involved parents but it is astonishing to hear many of > > > > > the parents interviewed on TV who think getting an education > involves > > > > > the same effort as getting a loaf of bread from the store … you > > > > > "walk into school and get one of those education things." > > > > > >Parents with low marks could be referred to a parent training > academy. > > > > > Yeah, this will really go over well … would these be the same > > > > > parents who won’t even bring the kids down to the medical vans that > > > > > come to the doorstep to give needed innoculations for free because > the > > > > > parents won’t take the kids to the city and country run free > clinics? > > > > > It would be nice to see an assembly for parents before school starts > > > > > where the parents might be given some clues about ways to help their > > > > > kids … many of the parents themselves had uninvolved, uneducated > > > > > parents and thus do not know any better. Forget the PhDs with the > > > > > big words though; use people who can speak the language of the > > > > > neighborhood. Give out good door prizes to get a decent > attendance > > > > > if necessary. > > > > > I’d suggest a free brochure sent home with the kids or given out at > > > > > the parent assembly written for the parents in very simple language > on > > > > > how to help a child study and learn. > > > > > <snip> > > > > > >Some parents criticized the idea as way to shift blame for poor > student > > > > > >performance onto parents instead of teachers and school officials. > > > > > Yep .. send the kid in for a loaf of education … teachers failed! > > > > > Funny thing … if you look at the performance of kids who did head > > > > > start, they start off testing very well. However, about the middle > > > > > of their elementary school experience the advantage seems to fade. > > > > > This cannot be entirely the blame of the teachers … for many kids, > > > > > the benefit of head start may be minimizing contact with their > > > > > uncaring parents while being intellectually nurtured instead of > being > > > > > left in front of a blaring TV. > > > > > >Johnny O-Neal Holmes, father of a 15-year-old boy in Chicago public > > > > schools, > > > > > >said parents who would heed the advice already pay attention to > their > > > > children > > > > > >at home. > > > > > >“If you can’t even get people to come to school for a parent > > > conference, > > > > how > > > > > >can you get them to take a parenting class?” Holmes asked. > > > > > >He called the parent report cards a “smokescreen” to divert > attention > > > > from > > > > > >the large number of students poised to fail the eighth grade. On > > > > Wednesday, a > > > > > >dozen students at one elementary school were arrested for starting > a > > > food > > > > fight > > > > > >after a counselor announced half of the eighth graders

Response:

I think the opportunities for education, even for the poor, would be there if we pooled our resources. Maybe vouchers? Every family still pays taxes, but instead of going to Washington, it stays in your state. Then that money is put into a voucher account, only for education, to be used as the parents see fit. No, I don’t think you’re a communist, lol. Amused – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -"Ian" <a…@anon.com> wrote in message news:392C8D51.1D324AE3@anon.com… > Hi Amused, > Well, we homeschool, even as our taxes fund the public system. Yes, it’s a pain > that we don’t get any tax concessions for doing this. > Cutting public education was one of the things that led to the Russian > Revolution! Paying tax is part of living in the society. Of course, I loathe > our new Goods and Services Tax, but I fervently believe in "free" education, > even at the University level (which we had until recently). What other chance > have the bright but poor got? The rich and stupid will always have their > opportunities… > Ian > (Don’t call me a godless communist) > Amused wrote: > > I wish I could get back every tax dollar of mine that goes for public > > education, on both the federal and local level. > > I wish my neighbors could get theirs back as well. > > With this money, we could fund our own school, and do so much more with it > > than is being done now. It’s a ridiculous notion that we need to send our > > money to Washington, to be divided, pay for bureaucracy, fund social > > experimentation, and then have it sent back with strings attached. > > Amused > > "Whisper" <whis…@bctonline.com> wrote in message > > news:caHW4.47$DU4.408@sea-read.news.verio.net… > > > I don’t know about the schools in other states.. but I am on the school > > > budget committee for my children’s school.. we have cut about everything > > we > > > can cut..and still come up short for funds.. we have no music.. no art. no > > > PE teachers ( at the elementary level).. sports are pay to play…( we > > just > > > reinstated SOME money for sports).. we have put off badly needed building > > > repairs.. cut teachers..etc..etc.. but are still expected to meet state > > and > > > federal standards of class sizes..etc..we have to come up with a balanced > > > budget months before we actually know how much money we will or will not > > be > > > getting from he government… > > > Teachers are under paid.. we are understaffed.. we even went 3 years > > without > > > a highschool principal because we cut the salary from the budget to keep > > > needed teachers and programs > > > Sooo….I don’t know about LARGE schools.. but I know the small school > > > district we are in is SUFFERING from a LACK of funds.. and there is no > > > "padding" of the budget.. it is BARE BONES. > > > Kass > > > Chairperson of the School budget committee..2 years running..<G> and > > > involved parent! > > > floridanewbie <floridanew…@hotmail.com> wrote in message > > > news:39282f91.110221639@news.mindspring.com… > > > > On 21 May 2000 17:26:44 GMT, oceanmo…@aol.com (Oceanmomma) wrote: > > > > >What do you think Miss Cee and any other educators out there? >************************************************************************** > > > > >********************* > > > > >Chicago Teachers To Grade Parents > > > > >By NICOLE ZIEGLER DIZON > > > > >.c The Associated Press > > > > >CHICAGO (AP) – Teachers in Chicago will send home a new type of > > progress > > > report > > > > >next year – one that evaluates Mom and Dad on their parenting skills. > > > > >The “parent checklists” won’t contain letter grades but will tell > > > parents > > > > >whether they’re helping enough with homework or getting their children > > to > > > > >school on time, school officials said Thursday. > > > > When I think back to when I was a kid the parents got that kind of > > > > feedback without it being a stated school policy. Unfortunately with > > > > the Chicago Public Schools, thanks in part to an obstructionist union > > > > led by fairly ignorant people, many of the teachers long ago washed > > > > their hands of such activities … many were just putting in their > > > > time, taking their money and were persuaded there was nothing they > > > > could do to affect a very dismal organization. > > > > That started to change with the appointment of Paul Vallas … for the > > > > first time in memory, someone at the top of the school system made the > > > > education of children the most important priority in a chaotic, > > > > inefficient, corrupt system that wasted tens of millions of dollars a > > > > year on every thing but education. > > > > Here is an interesting view of Vallas and how he works: > > > > http://www.catalyst-chicago.org/12-96/126main.htm > > > > In many systems it would not be necessary to try something like this > > > > but places like Chicago need this kind of "new" program as a > > > > motivational tool to try to get parents to talk with the teachers and > > > > take an interest in the educational process. Kids in Chicago’s > > > > special magnet schools and a small handful of other good schools > > > > already have involved parents but it is astonishing to hear many of > > > > the parents interviewed on TV who think getting an education involves > > > > the same effort as getting a loaf of bread from the store … you > > > > "walk into school and get one of those education things." > > > > >Parents with low marks could be referred to a parent training academy. > > > > Yeah, this will really go over well … would these be the same > > > > parents who won’t even bring the kids down to the medical vans that > > > > come to the doorstep to give needed innoculations for free because the > > > > parents won’t take the kids to the city and country run free clinics? > > > > It would be nice to see an assembly for parents before school starts > > > > where the parents might be given some clues about ways to help their > > > > kids … many of the parents themselves had uninvolved, uneducated > > > > parents and thus do not know any better. Forget the PhDs with the > > > > big words though; use people who can speak the language of the > > > > neighborhood. Give out good door prizes to get a decent attendance > > > > if necessary. > > > > I’d suggest a free brochure sent home with the kids or given out at > > > > the parent assembly written for the parents in very simple language on > > > > how to help a child study and learn. > > > > <snip> > > > > >Some parents criticized the idea as way to shift blame for poor student > > > > >performance onto parents instead of teachers and school officials. > > > > Yep .. send the kid in for a loaf of education … teachers failed! > > > > Funny thing … if you look at the performance of kids who did head > > > > start, they start off testing very well. However, about the middle > > > > of their elementary school experience the advantage seems to fade. > > > > This cannot be entirely the blame of the teachers … for many kids, > > > > the benefit of head start may be minimizing contact with their > > > > uncaring parents while being intellectually nurtured instead of being > > > > left in front of a blaring TV. > > > > >Johnny O-Neal Holmes, father of a 15-year-old boy in Chicago public > > > schools, > > > > >said parents who would heed the advice already pay attention to their > > > children > > > > >at home. > > > > >“If you can’t even get people to come to school for a parent > > conference, > > > how > > > > >can you get them to take a parenting class?” Holmes asked. > > > > >He called the parent report cards a “smokescreen” to divert attention > > > from > > > > >the large number of students poised to fail the eighth grade. On > > > Wednesday, a > > > > >dozen students at one elementary school were arrested for starting a > > food > > > fight > > > > >after a counselor announced half of the eighth graders would not > > graduate > > > on > > > > >time. > > > > One thing Vallas ended was "social promotion" where kids made it into > > > > and through high school without being able to read at better than 3rd > > > > grade level. Now summer school is mandatory for those who are failed > > > > and if they do not perform to a minimum level, they will repeat the > > > > grade. This has upset many parents who believe breathing is the only > > > > requirement that should be evaluated. > > > > >Vallas dismissed those charges. He said the checklists are simply a way > > > to help > > > > >parents guide their children. > > > > >“We all complain about the lack of parental involvement,” Vallas > > said. > > > > >“Well, what about the parents? Let’s do something about it.” > > > > Vallas is not perfect .. he has made his share of mistakes. When you > > > > try to reform anything as large as that politically charged system, > > > > the real test is whether things are getting better or worse … there > > > > is almost no one who can deny the system is getting better which is > > > > quite an achievement given that getting worse was the only thing the > > > > system did year after year before he took over. > > > > I am amazed he is still there … he works a huge number of hours and > > > > is attacked by every faction in the city … if they could get rid of > > > > him there is a lot of money that could be diverted into the pockets of > > > > the old time thieves. > > > > >Patty Yoxall, a spokeswoman for the National Parent Teacher > > Association, > > > said > > > > >she has not heard of other school districts distributing parent > > > checklists. > > > > >She said the intention seems good, and may help open the

Response:

Hi Amused, Well, we homeschool, even as our taxes fund the public system. Yes, it’s a pain that we don’t get any tax concessions for doing this. Cutting public education was one of the things that led to the Russian Revolution! Paying tax is part of living in the society. Of course, I loathe our new Goods and Services Tax, but I fervently believe in "free" education, even at the University level (which we had until recently). What other chance have the bright but poor got? The rich and stupid will always have their opportunities… Ian (Don’t call me a godless communist) – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Amused wrote: > I wish I could get back every tax dollar of mine that goes for public > education, on both the federal and local level. > I wish my neighbors could get theirs back as well. > With this money, we could fund our own school, and do so much more with it > than is being done now. It’s a ridiculous notion that we need to send our > money to Washington, to be divided, pay for bureaucracy, fund social > experimentation, and then have it sent back with strings attached. > Amused > "Whisper" <whis…@bctonline.com> wrote in message > news:caHW4.47$DU4.408@sea-read.news.verio.net… > > I don’t know about the schools in other states.. but I am on the school > > budget committee for my children’s school.. we have cut about everything > we > > can cut..and still come up short for funds.. we have no music.. no art. no > > PE teachers ( at the elementary level).. sports are pay to play…( we > just > > reinstated SOME money for sports).. we have put off badly needed building > > repairs.. cut teachers..etc..etc.. but are still expected to meet state > and > > federal standards of class sizes..etc..we have to come up with a balanced > > budget months before we actually know how much money we will or will not > be > > getting from he government… > > Teachers are under paid.. we are understaffed.. we even went 3 years > without > > a highschool principal because we cut the salary from the budget to keep > > needed teachers and programs > > Sooo….I don’t know about LARGE schools.. but I know the small school > > district we are in is SUFFERING from a LACK of funds.. and there is no > > "padding" of the budget.. it is BARE BONES. > > Kass > > Chairperson of the School budget committee..2 years running..<G> and > > involved parent! > > floridanewbie <floridanew…@hotmail.com> wrote in message > > news:39282f91.110221639@news.mindspring.com… > > > On 21 May 2000 17:26:44 GMT, oceanmo…@aol.com (Oceanmomma) wrote: > > > >What do you think Miss Cee and any other educators out there? > >************************************************************************** > > > >********************* > > > >Chicago Teachers To Grade Parents > > > >By NICOLE ZIEGLER DIZON > > > >.c The Associated Press > > > >CHICAGO (AP) – Teachers in Chicago will send home a new type of > progress > > report > > > >next year – one that evaluates Mom and Dad on their parenting skills. > > > >The “parent checklists” won’t contain letter grades but will tell > > parents > > > >whether they’re helping enough with homework or getting their children > to > > > >school on time, school officials said Thursday. > > > When I think back to when I was a kid the parents got that kind of > > > feedback without it being a stated school policy. Unfortunately with > > > the Chicago Public Schools, thanks in part to an obstructionist union > > > led by fairly ignorant people, many of the teachers long ago washed > > > their hands of such activities … many were just putting in their > > > time, taking their money and were persuaded there was nothing they > > > could do to affect a very dismal organization. > > > That started to change with the appointment of Paul Vallas … for the > > > first time in memory, someone at the top of the school system made the > > > education of children the most important priority in a chaotic, > > > inefficient, corrupt system that wasted tens of millions of dollars a > > > year on every thing but education. > > > Here is an interesting view of Vallas and how he works: > > > http://www.catalyst-chicago.org/12-96/126main.htm > > > In many systems it would not be necessary to try something like this > > > but places like Chicago need this kind of "new" program as a > > > motivational tool to try to get parents to talk with the teachers and > > > take an interest in the educational process. Kids in Chicago’s > > > special magnet schools and a small handful of other good schools > > > already have involved parents but it is astonishing to hear many of > > > the parents interviewed on TV who think getting an education involves > > > the same effort as getting a loaf of bread from the store … you > > > "walk into school and get one of those education things." > > > >Parents with low marks could be referred to a parent training academy. > > > Yeah, this will really go over well … would these be the same > > > parents who won’t even bring the kids down to the medical vans that > > > come to the doorstep to give needed innoculations for free because the > > > parents won’t take the kids to the city and country run free clinics? > > > It would be nice to see an assembly for parents before school starts > > > where the parents might be given some clues about ways to help their > > > kids … many of the parents themselves had uninvolved, uneducated > > > parents and thus do not know any better. Forget the PhDs with the > > > big words though; use people who can speak the language of the > > > neighborhood. Give out good door prizes to get a decent attendance > > > if necessary. > > > I’d suggest a free brochure sent home with the kids or given out at > > > the parent assembly written for the parents in very simple language on > > > how to help a child study and learn. > > > <snip> > > > >Some parents criticized the idea as way to shift blame for poor student > > > >performance onto parents instead of teachers and school officials. > > > Yep .. send the kid in for a loaf of education … teachers failed! > > > Funny thing … if you look at the performance of kids who did head > > > start, they start off testing very well. However, about the middle > > > of their elementary school experience the advantage seems to fade. > > > This cannot be entirely the blame of the teachers … for many kids, > > > the benefit of head start may be minimizing contact with their > > > uncaring parents while being intellectually nurtured instead of being > > > left in front of a blaring TV. > > > >Johnny O-Neal Holmes, father of a 15-year-old boy in Chicago public > > schools, > > > >said parents who would heed the advice already pay attention to their > > children > > > >at home. > > > >“If you can’t even get people to come to school for a parent > conference, > > how > > > >can you get them to take a parenting class?” Holmes asked. > > > >He called the parent report cards a “smokescreen” to divert attention > > from > > > >the large number of students poised to fail the eighth grade. On > > Wednesday, a > > > >dozen students at one elementary school were arrested for starting a > food > > fight > > > >after a counselor announced half of the eighth graders would not > graduate > > on > > > >time. > > > One thing Vallas ended was "social promotion" where kids made it into > > > and through high school without being able to read at better than 3rd > > > grade level. Now summer school is mandatory for those who are failed > > > and if they do not perform to a minimum level, they will repeat the > > > grade. This has upset many parents who believe breathing is the only > > > requirement that should be evaluated. > > > >Vallas dismissed those charges. He said the checklists are simply a way > > to help > > > >parents guide their children. > > > >“We all complain about the lack of parental involvement,” Vallas > said. > > > >“Well, what about the parents? Let’s do something about it.” > > > Vallas is not perfect .. he has made his share of mistakes. When you > > > try to reform anything as large as that politically charged system, > > > the real test is whether things are getting better or worse … there > > > is almost no one who can deny the system is getting better which is > > > quite an achievement given that getting worse was the only thing the > > > system did year after year before he took over. > > > I am amazed he is still there … he works a huge number of hours and > > > is attacked by every faction in the city … if they could get rid of > > > him there is a lot of money that could be diverted into the pockets of > > > the old time thieves. > > > >Patty Yoxall, a spokeswoman for the National Parent Teacher > Association, > > said > > > >she has not heard of other school districts distributing parent > > checklists. > > > >She said the intention seems good, and may help open the lines of > > communication > > > >between parents and teachers, but added it’s too early to tell how > > effective it > > > >might be. > > > >“The reaction could be everything from grateful to sort of > irritated,” > > Yoxall > > > >said. > > > Well duh! > > > Unfortunately it probably will not make much of a difference … we > > > need a magic pill to make parents want to care about their offspring > > > >Julie Woestehoff, executive director of the Chicago reform group > Parents > > United > > > >for Responsible Education, said teachers who are doing their jobs > already > > call > > > >parents if a child is failing to wear glasses or skipping class. > > > Yeah, no one needs tell the good teachers to do this … but that huge > > > system has quite a few mediocre teachers. > > > >Other possible

Response:

I am the same way.. I work part time…and attend all the school conferences ..etc.. but the child has to take some of the responsibility for his/her education as well My sons school sends home weekly progress reports ( actually mail them to the parents). the child has to write the letter .. telling the parent what assignments have not been turned in what his/her grades are.. etc I talk with my son about it.. find out why his assignments weren’t done on time..etc…and have put down some ground rules.. etc.. but if he isn’t willing to make the effort.. no amount of my "help"..is going to make a difference. We .. his father..myself and my husband.. and even his teacher are here for him.. but he has to have the desire and the determination to want to learn as well. Kass Oceanmomma <oceanmo…@aol.com> wrote in message

news:20000522132826.21604.00000733@ng-fe1.aol.com… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> >From: cjmorga…@aol.com > >I’m somewhat inclined to agree with Johnny > >O-Neal Holmes, who said that parents who would heed the advice already pay > >attention to their children at home. When he said,“If you can’t even get > >people to come to school for a parent conference, how can you get them to > >take > >a parenting class?” I think he had a good point. > I consider myself to be a decent-good parent. Far from perfect however. I > work very part time and spend most of my time being a stay at home mom. Does > that mean that I don’t need reminders about how to help my kid? No. Does that > mean that I wouldn’t benefit from mandatory child development classes? No. > Does that mean that my daughter wouldn’t do better if I occassionally got a > reminder from her school letting me know what areas she needs help and how I > could best serve her? Heck no. I would love a reminder from time to time that > yes, I could be doing a better job. I would not take it as a threat nor feel > that the school system is looking to blame me. > It all depends upon how you look at it. I see and hear a lot of cynicism…and > cynicism is usually based on fear and/or ignorance. (I am not suggesting that > you are being cynical or ignorant). > "If, in reading this, you are uncertain as to whether a specific > statement is meant seriously or not, simply apply this rule of thumb: > If the statement makes you consider filing a lawsuit, I was kidding. > Ha ha!" – Dave Barry (thanks FN)

Response:

I wish I could get back every tax dollar of mine that goes for public education, on both the federal and local level. I wish my neighbors could get theirs back as well. With this money, we could fund our own school, and do so much more with it than is being done now. It’s a ridiculous notion that we need to send our money to Washington, to be divided, pay for bureaucracy, fund social experimentation, and then have it sent back with strings attached. Amused "Whisper" <whis…@bctonline.com> wrote in message

news:caHW4.47$DU4.408@sea-read.news.verio.net… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> I don’t know about the schools in other states.. but I am on the school > budget committee for my children’s school.. we have cut about everything we > can cut..and still come up short for funds.. we have no music.. no art. no > PE teachers ( at the elementary level).. sports are pay to play…( we just > reinstated SOME money for sports).. we have put off badly needed building > repairs.. cut teachers..etc..etc.. but are still expected to meet state and > federal standards of class sizes..etc..we have to come up with a balanced > budget months before we actually know how much money we will or will not be > getting from he government… > Teachers are under paid.. we are understaffed.. we even went 3 years without > a highschool principal because we cut the salary from the budget to keep > needed teachers and programs > Sooo….I don’t know about LARGE schools.. but I know the small school > district we are in is SUFFERING from a LACK of funds.. and there is no > "padding" of the budget.. it is BARE BONES. > Kass > Chairperson of the School budget committee..2 years running..<G> and > involved parent! > floridanewbie <floridanew…@hotmail.com> wrote in message > news:39282f91.110221639@news.mindspring.com… > > On 21 May 2000 17:26:44 GMT, oceanmo…@aol.com (Oceanmomma) wrote: > > >What do you think Miss Cee and any other educators out there? >************************************************************************** > > >********************* > > >Chicago Teachers To Grade Parents > > >By NICOLE ZIEGLER DIZON > > >.c The Associated Press > > >CHICAGO (AP) – Teachers in Chicago will send home a new type of progress > report > > >next year – one that evaluates Mom and Dad on their parenting skills. > > >The “parent checklists” won’t contain letter grades but will tell > parents > > >whether they’re helping enough with homework or getting their children to > > >school on time, school officials said Thursday. > > When I think back to when I was a kid the parents got that kind of > > feedback without it being a stated school policy. Unfortunately with > > the Chicago Public Schools, thanks in part to an obstructionist union > > led by fairly ignorant people, many of the teachers long ago washed > > their hands of such activities … many were just putting in their > > time, taking their money and were persuaded there was nothing they > > could do to affect a very dismal organization. > > That started to change with the appointment of Paul Vallas … for the > > first time in memory, someone at the top of the school system made the > > education of children the most important priority in a chaotic, > > inefficient, corrupt system that wasted tens of millions of dollars a > > year on every thing but education. > > Here is an interesting view of Vallas and how he works: > > http://www.catalyst-chicago.org/12-96/126main.htm > > In many systems it would not be necessary to try something like this > > but places like Chicago need this kind of "new" program as a > > motivational tool to try to get parents to talk with the teachers and > > take an interest in the educational process. Kids in Chicago’s > > special magnet schools and a small handful of other good schools > > already have involved parents but it is astonishing to hear many of > > the parents interviewed on TV who think getting an education involves > > the same effort as getting a loaf of bread from the store … you > > "walk into school and get one of those education things." > > >Parents with low marks could be referred to a parent training academy. > > Yeah, this will really go over well … would these be the same > > parents who won’t even bring the kids down to the medical vans that > > come to the doorstep to give needed innoculations for free because the > > parents won’t take the kids to the city and country run free clinics? > > It would be nice to see an assembly for parents before school starts > > where the parents might be given some clues about ways to help their > > kids … many of the parents themselves had uninvolved, uneducated > > parents and thus do not know any better. Forget the PhDs with the > > big words though; use people who can speak the language of the > > neighborhood. Give out good door prizes to get a decent attendance > > if necessary. > > I’d suggest a free brochure sent home with the kids or given out at > > the parent assembly written for the parents in very simple language on > > how to help a child study and learn. > > <snip> > > >Some parents criticized the idea as way to shift blame for poor student > > >performance onto parents instead of teachers and school officials. > > Yep .. send the kid in for a loaf of education … teachers failed! > > Funny thing … if you look at the performance of kids who did head > > start, they start off testing very well. However, about the middle > > of their elementary school experience the advantage seems to fade. > > This cannot be entirely the blame of the teachers … for many kids, > > the benefit of head start may be minimizing contact with their > > uncaring parents while being intellectually nurtured instead of being > > left in front of a blaring TV. > > >Johnny O-Neal Holmes, father of a 15-year-old boy in Chicago public > schools, > > >said parents who would heed the advice already pay attention to their > children > > >at home. > > >“If you can’t even get people to come to school for a parent conference, > how > > >can you get them to take a parenting class?” Holmes asked. > > >He called the parent report cards a “smokescreen” to divert attention > from > > >the large number of students poised to fail the eighth grade. On > Wednesday, a > > >dozen students at one elementary school were arrested for starting a food > fight > > >after a counselor announced half of the eighth graders would not graduate > on > > >time. > > One thing Vallas ended was "social promotion" where kids made it into > > and through high school without being able to read at better than 3rd > > grade level. Now summer school is mandatory for those who are failed > > and if they do not perform to a minimum level, they will repeat the > > grade. This has upset many parents who believe breathing is the only > > requirement that should be evaluated. > > >Vallas dismissed those charges. He said the checklists are simply a way > to help > > >parents guide their children. > > >“We all complain about the lack of parental involvement,” Vallas said. > > >“Well, what about the parents? Let’s do something about it.” > > Vallas is not perfect .. he has made his share of mistakes. When you > > try to reform anything as large as that politically charged system, > > the real test is whether things are getting better or worse … there > > is almost no one who can deny the system is getting better which is > > quite an achievement given that getting worse was the only thing the > > system did year after year before he took over. > > I am amazed he is still there … he works a huge number of hours and > > is attacked by every faction in the city … if they could get rid of > > him there is a lot of money that could be diverted into the pockets of > > the old time thieves. > > >Patty Yoxall, a spokeswoman for the National Parent Teacher Association, > said > > >she has not heard of other school districts distributing parent > checklists. > > >She said the intention seems good, and may help open the lines of > communication > > >between parents and teachers, but added it’s too early to tell how > effective it > > >might be. > > >“The reaction could be everything from grateful to sort of irritated,” > Yoxall > > >said. > > Well duh! > > Unfortunately it probably will not make much of a difference … we > > need a magic pill to make parents want to care about their offspring > > >Julie Woestehoff, executive director of the Chicago reform group Parents > United > > >for Responsible Education, said teachers who are doing their jobs already > call > > >parents if a child is failing to wear glasses or skipping class. > > Yeah, no one needs tell the good teachers to do this … but that huge > > system has quite a few mediocre teachers. > > >Other possible items on the checklist – such as whether a child is going > to bed > > >at a proper time – invade a family’s privacy, she said. > > Hahahaha …. kid falls asleep in class or complains he is starving > > and the teachers are supposed to ignore it? The report is going to > > the parents … whose privacy is being invaded? Perhaps there is a > > medical problem that needs to be addressed? Ignoring abnormal > > behavior puts the teacher at risk of being blamed if later it comes > > out everyone but the parents knew of some condition. > > >“You have to have a relationship with the teacher,” Woestehoff said. > “It has > > >to be face to face and personal. It can’t be a checklist, which I think > is very > > >cold.” > > Consider how difficult it is to reach many parents by phone … the > > note from school can be quite effective in creating that face to face, > > personal contact. So it is a checklist … a note is a note. > > Floridanewbie

Response:

Oceanmo…@aol.com (Oceanmomma) — quoting the article, wrote: >Patty Yoxall, a spokeswoman for the National Parent Teacher Association, said >she has not heard of other school districts distributing parent checklists. >She said the intention seems good, and may help open the lines of >communication >between parents and teachers, but added it’s too early to tell how effective >it might be.

That seems the bottom line for right now. This "progress report" could go one of two ways — either being exploited as a means of dumping educational blame on parents, or used responsibly to ensure greater communications between teachers and parents. I’m somewhat inclined to agree with Johnny O-Neal Holmes, who said that parents who would heed the advice already pay attention to their children at home. When he said,“If you can’t even get people to come to school for a parent conference, how can you get them to take a parenting class?” I think he had a good point. My own work with kids isn’t in schools but rather through Scouts, and it’s not altogether different. Those who care most about their kids also tend to be the ones who give of their time and energies to play a supporting role in activity we have. Those parents who are more apathetic tend to shuffle their kids off to Scouts like it’s a glorified baby-sitting service. And as a Scoutmaster, there is not much I can do to inspire or influence any parent to be more caring. That’s an attitude parents either have or don’t have with regard to the welfare of their children, and I’m inclined to believe teachers likewise have little power or control over influencing parental attitudes for such things. Nevertheless, if such "progress reports" aren’t used by teachers to blame shift, and instead used constructively to foster better parent-teacher communication, then they might be useful. But as Yoxal pointed out, at this point, before implimentation, it’s too early to tell how effective it might be. C.J.

Response:

I don’t know about the schools in other states.. but I am on the school budget committee for my children’s school.. we have cut about everything we can cut..and still come up short for funds.. we have no music.. no art. no PE teachers ( at the elementary level).. sports are pay to play…( we just reinstated SOME money for sports).. we have put off badly needed building repairs.. cut teachers..etc..etc.. but are still expected to meet state and federal standards of class sizes..etc..we have to come up with a balanced budget months before we actually know how much money we will or will not be getting from he government… Teachers are under paid.. we are understaffed.. we even went 3 years without a highschool principal because we cut the salary from the budget to keep needed teachers and programs Sooo….I don’t know about LARGE schools.. but I know the small school district we are in is SUFFERING from a LACK of funds.. and there is no "padding" of the budget.. it is BARE BONES. Kass Chairperson of the School budget committee..2 years running..<G> and involved parent! floridanewbie <floridanew…@hotmail.com> wrote in message

news:39282f91.110221639@news.mindspring.com… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> On 21 May 2000 17:26:44 GMT, oceanmo…@aol.com (Oceanmomma) wrote: > >What do you think Miss Cee and any other educators out there? >************************************************************************** > >********************* > >Chicago Teachers To Grade Parents > >By NICOLE ZIEGLER DIZON > >.c The Associated Press > >CHICAGO (AP) – Teachers in Chicago will send home a new type of progress report > >next year – one that evaluates Mom and Dad on their parenting skills. > >The “parent checklists” won’t contain letter grades but will tell parents > >whether they’re helping enough with homework or getting their children to > >school on time, school officials said Thursday. > When I think back to when I was a kid the parents got that kind of > feedback without it being a stated school policy. Unfortunately with > the Chicago Public Schools, thanks in part to an obstructionist union > led by fairly ignorant people, many of the teachers long ago washed > their hands of such activities … many were just putting in their > time, taking their money and were persuaded there was nothing they > could do to affect a very dismal organization. > That started to change with the appointment of Paul Vallas … for the > first time in memory, someone at the top of the school system made the > education of children the most important priority in a chaotic, > inefficient, corrupt system that wasted tens of millions of dollars a > year on every thing but education. > Here is an interesting view of Vallas and how he works: > http://www.catalyst-chicago.org/12-96/126main.htm > In many systems it would not be necessary to try something like this > but places like Chicago need this kind of "new" program as a > motivational tool to try to get parents to talk with the teachers and > take an interest in the educational process. Kids in Chicago’s > special magnet schools and a small handful of other good schools > already have involved parents but it is astonishing to hear many of > the parents interviewed on TV who think getting an education involves > the same effort as getting a loaf of bread from the store … you > "walk into school and get one of those education things." > >Parents with low marks could be referred to a parent training academy. > Yeah, this will really go over well … would these be the same > parents who won’t even bring the kids down to the medical vans that > come to the doorstep to give needed innoculations for free because the > parents won’t take the kids to the city and country run free clinics? > It would be nice to see an assembly for parents before school starts > where the parents might be given some clues about ways to help their > kids … many of the parents themselves had uninvolved, uneducated > parents and thus do not know any better. Forget the PhDs with the > big words though; use people who can speak the language of the > neighborhood. Give out good door prizes to get a decent attendance > if necessary. > I’d suggest a free brochure sent home with the kids or given out at > the parent assembly written for the parents in very simple language on > how to help a child study and learn. > <snip> > >Some parents criticized the idea as way to shift blame for poor student > >performance onto parents instead of teachers and school officials. > Yep .. send the kid in for a loaf of education … teachers failed! > Funny thing … if you look at the performance of kids who did head > start, they start off testing very well. However, about the middle > of their elementary school experience the advantage seems to fade. > This cannot be entirely the blame of the teachers … for many kids, > the benefit of head start may be minimizing contact with their > uncaring parents while being intellectually nurtured instead of being > left in front of a blaring TV. > >Johnny O-Neal Holmes, father of a 15-year-old boy in Chicago public schools, > >said parents who would heed the advice already pay attention to their children > >at home. > >“If you can’t even get people to come to school for a parent conference, how > >can you get them to take a parenting class?” Holmes asked. > >He called the parent report cards a “smokescreen” to divert attention from > >the large number of students poised to fail the eighth grade. On Wednesday, a > >dozen students at one elementary school were arrested for starting a food fight > >after a counselor announced half of the eighth graders would not graduate on > >time. > One thing Vallas ended was "social promotion" where kids made it into > and through high school without being able to read at better than 3rd > grade level. Now summer school is mandatory for those who are failed > and if they do not perform to a minimum level, they will repeat the > grade. This has upset many parents who believe breathing is the only > requirement that should be evaluated. > >Vallas dismissed those charges. He said the checklists are simply a way to help > >parents guide their children. > >“We all complain about the lack of parental involvement,” Vallas said. > >“Well, what about the parents? Let’s do something about it.” > Vallas is not perfect .. he has made his share of mistakes. When you > try to reform anything as large as that politically charged system, > the real test is whether things are getting better or worse … there > is almost no one who can deny the system is getting better which is > quite an achievement given that getting worse was the only thing the > system did year after year before he took over. > I am amazed he is still there … he works a huge number of hours and > is attacked by every faction in the city … if they could get rid of > him there is a lot of money that could be diverted into the pockets of > the old time thieves. > >Patty Yoxall, a spokeswoman for the National Parent Teacher Association, said > >she has not heard of other school districts distributing parent checklists. > >She said the intention seems good, and may help open the lines of communication > >between parents and teachers, but added it’s too early to tell how effective it > >might be. > >“The reaction could be everything from grateful to sort of irritated,” Yoxall > >said. > Well duh! > Unfortunately it probably will not make much of a difference … we > need a magic pill to make parents want to care about their offspring > >Julie Woestehoff, executive director of the Chicago reform group Parents United > >for Responsible Education, said teachers who are doing their jobs already call > >parents if a child is failing to wear glasses or skipping class. > Yeah, no one needs tell the good teachers to do this … but that huge > system has quite a few mediocre teachers. > >Other possible items on the checklist – such as whether a child is going to bed > >at a proper time – invade a family’s privacy, she said. > Hahahaha …. kid falls asleep in class or complains he is starving > and the teachers are supposed to ignore it? The report is going to > the parents … whose privacy is being invaded? Perhaps there is a > medical problem that needs to be addressed? Ignoring abnormal > behavior puts the teacher at risk of being blamed if later it comes > out everyone but the parents knew of some condition. > >“You have to have a relationship with the teacher,” Woestehoff said. “It has > >to be face to face and personal. It can’t be a checklist, which I think is very > >cold.” > Consider how difficult it is to reach many parents by phone … the > note from school can be quite effective in creating that face to face, > personal contact. So it is a checklist … a note is a note. > Floridanewbie

Response:

Hi Kass, When The Arts go, you know society’s in trouble. Best wishes, Ian (sometime homeschooling parent) – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Whisper wrote: > I don’t know about the schools in other states.. but I am on the school > budget committee for my children’s school.. we have cut about everything we > can cut..and still come up short for funds.. we have no music.. no art. no > PE teachers ( at the elementary level).. sports are pay to play…( we just > reinstated SOME money for sports).. we have put off badly needed building > repairs.. cut teachers..etc..etc.. but are still expected to meet state and > federal standards of class sizes..etc..we have to come up with a balanced > budget months before we actually know how much money we will or will not be > getting from he government… > Teachers are under paid.. we are understaffed.. we even went 3 years without > a highschool principal because we cut the salary from the budget to keep > needed teachers and programs > Sooo….I don’t know about LARGE schools.. but I know the small school > district we are in is SUFFERING from a LACK of funds.. and there is no > "padding" of the budget.. it is BARE BONES. > Kass > Chairperson of the School budget committee..2 years running..<G> and > involved parent! > floridanewbie <floridanew…@hotmail.com> wrote in message > news:39282f91.110221639@news.mindspring.com… > > On 21 May 2000 17:26:44 GMT, oceanmo…@aol.com (Oceanmomma) wrote: > > >What do you think Miss Cee and any other educators out there? > >************************************************************************** > > >********************* > > >Chicago Teachers To Grade Parents > > >By NICOLE ZIEGLER DIZON > > >.c The Associated Press > > >CHICAGO (AP) – Teachers in Chicago will send home a new type of progress > report > > >next year – one that evaluates Mom and Dad on their parenting skills. > > >The “parent checklists” won’t contain letter grades but will tell > parents > > >whether they’re helping enough with homework or getting their children to > > >school on time, school officials said Thursday. > > When I think back to when I was a kid the parents got that kind of > > feedback without it being a stated school policy. Unfortunately with > > the Chicago Public Schools, thanks in part to an obstructionist union > > led by fairly ignorant people, many of the teachers long ago washed > > their hands of such activities … many were just putting in their > > time, taking their money and were persuaded there was nothing they > > could do to affect a very dismal organization. > > That started to change with the appointment of Paul Vallas … for the > > first time in memory, someone at the top of the school system made the > > education of children the most important priority in a chaotic, > > inefficient, corrupt system that wasted tens of millions of dollars a > > year on every thing but education. > > Here is an interesting view of Vallas and how he works: > > http://www.catalyst-chicago.org/12-96/126main.htm > > In many systems it would not be necessary to try something like this > > but places like Chicago need this kind of "new" program as a > > motivational tool to try to get parents to talk with the teachers and > > take an interest in the educational process. Kids in Chicago’s > > special magnet schools and a small handful of other good schools > > already have involved parents but it is astonishing to hear many of > > the parents interviewed on TV who think getting an education involves > > the same effort as getting a loaf of bread from the store … you > > "walk into school and get one of those education things." > > >Parents with low marks could be referred to a parent training academy. > > Yeah, this will really go over well … would these be the same > > parents who won’t even bring the kids down to the medical vans that > > come to the doorstep to give needed innoculations for free because the > > parents won’t take the kids to the city and country run free clinics? > > It would be nice to see an assembly for parents before school starts > > where the parents might be given some clues about ways to help their > > kids … many of the parents themselves had uninvolved, uneducated > > parents and thus do not know any better. Forget the PhDs with the > > big words though; use people who can speak the language of the > > neighborhood. Give out good door prizes to get a decent attendance > > if necessary. > > I’d suggest a free brochure sent home with the kids or given out at > > the parent assembly written for the parents in very simple language on > > how to help a child study and learn. > > <snip> > > >Some parents criticized the idea as way to shift blame for poor student > > >performance onto parents instead of teachers and school officials. > > Yep .. send the kid in for a loaf of education … teachers failed! > > Funny thing … if you look at the performance of kids who did head > > start, they start off testing very well. However, about the middle > > of their elementary school experience the advantage seems to fade. > > This cannot be entirely the blame of the teachers … for many kids, > > the benefit of head start may be minimizing contact with their > > uncaring parents while being intellectually nurtured instead of being > > left in front of a blaring TV. > > >Johnny O-Neal Holmes, father of a 15-year-old boy in Chicago public > schools, > > >said parents who would heed the advice already pay attention to their > children > > >at home. > > >“If you can’t even get people to come to school for a parent conference, > how > > >can you get them to take a parenting class?” Holmes asked. > > >He called the parent report cards a “smokescreen” to divert attention > from > > >the large number of students poised to fail the eighth grade. On > Wednesday, a > > >dozen students at one elementary school were arrested for starting a food > fight > > >after a counselor announced half of the eighth graders would not graduate > on > > >time. > > One thing Vallas ended was "social promotion" where kids made it into > > and through high school without being able to read at better than 3rd > > grade level. Now summer school is mandatory for those who are failed > > and if they do not perform to a minimum level, they will repeat the > > grade. This has upset many parents who believe breathing is the only > > requirement that should be evaluated. > > >Vallas dismissed those charges. He said the checklists are simply a way > to help > > >parents guide their children. > > >“We all complain about the lack of parental involvement,” Vallas said. > > >“Well, what about the parents? Let’s do something about it.” > > Vallas is not perfect .. he has made his share of mistakes. When you > > try to reform anything as large as that politically charged system, > > the real test is whether things are getting better or worse … there > > is almost no one who can deny the system is getting better which is > > quite an achievement given that getting worse was the only thing the > > system did year after year before he took over. > > I am amazed he is still there … he works a huge number of hours and > > is attacked by every faction in the city … if they could get rid of > > him there is a lot of money that could be diverted into the pockets of > > the old time thieves. > > >Patty Yoxall, a spokeswoman for the National Parent Teacher Association, > said > > >she has not heard of other school districts distributing parent > checklists. > > >She said the intention seems good, and may help open the lines of > communication > > >between parents and teachers, but added it’s too early to tell how > effective it > > >might be. > > >“The reaction could be everything from grateful to sort of irritated,” > Yoxall > > >said. > > Well duh! > > Unfortunately it probably will not make much of a difference … we > > need a magic pill to make parents want to care about their offspring > > >Julie Woestehoff, executive director of the Chicago reform group Parents > United > > >for Responsible Education, said teachers who are doing their jobs already > call > > >parents if a child is failing to wear glasses or skipping class. > > Yeah, no one needs tell the good teachers to do this … but that huge > > system has quite a few mediocre teachers. > > >Other possible items on the checklist – such as whether a child is going > to bed > > >at a proper time – invade a family’s privacy, she said. > > Hahahaha …. kid falls asleep in class or complains he is starving > > and the teachers are supposed to ignore it? The report is going to > > the parents … whose privacy is being invaded? Perhaps there is a > > medical problem that needs to be addressed? Ignoring abnormal > > behavior puts the teacher at risk of being blamed if later it comes > > out everyone but the parents knew of some condition. > > >“You have to have a relationship with the teacher,” Woestehoff said. > “It has > > >to be face to face and personal. It can’t be a checklist, which I think > is very > > >cold.” > > Consider how difficult it is to reach many parents by phone … the > > note from school can be quite effective in creating that face to face, > > personal contact. So it is a checklist … a note is a note. > > Floridanewbie

Response:

oceanmo…@aol.com (Oceanmomma) wrote: >I consider myself to be a decent-good parent. Far from perfect however. I >work very part time and spend most of my time being a stay at home mom. Does >that mean that I don’t need reminders about how to help my kid? No. Does >that >mean that I wouldn’t benefit from mandatory child development classes? No. >Does that mean that my daughter wouldn’t do better if I occassionally got a >reminder from her school letting me know what areas she needs help and how I >could best serve her? Heck no. I would love a reminder from time to time that >yes, I could be doing a better job. I would not take it as a threat nor feel >that the school system is looking to blame me.

Then you’re one of those parents who has a good attitude and who this would probably benefit. ************** >It all depends upon how you look at it. I see and hear a lot of cynicism…

It’s not at all extraordinary that some might use these reports to play the blame game. It can either be a useful tool for parent/teacher communication, or it can be misused by those who see failure and are quick to point fingers of blame. But we have to wait until it’s impliments to actually see to whether it acts more as a help or a hindrence. **************** >and cynicism is usually based on fear and/or ignorance.

Prejudice is usually based on fear and/or ignorance. Cynicism is more often the product of being burned one too many times. C.J.

Response:

Sometimes cynicism is based on experience. I think we all need to help support one another as parents, but there is nothing unique about teachers that make them experts at parenting. Teachers are as fallible as anyone else. As for parenting classes, I would prefer they be taught by empty-nesters whose kids turned out great. Amused "Oceanmomma" <oceanmo…@aol.com> wrote in message

Response:

In article <9j6his08jq3aalg0ruit90hc0mq8sen…@4ax.com>, PP – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -<docrev…@yantsoff.com> wrote: >On 21 May 2000 17:26:44 GMT, oceanmo…@aol.com (Oceanmomma) wrote: >What about the parents who have poor educations themselves? How are >they going to help their child with schoolwork when they don’t know >it? >This is just another bandaid by the guvmint to make it look like they >are doing something about the public schools. >The government has no interest in having the majority of the >population highly educated. >PP

Be careful what you wish for… I the state of Washington, there is a concentrated effort to make K-12 students demonstrate their understanding. There is an examination for grades 4/7/10 called WASL that concentrates on the process used to solve a problem instead of the answer. The way that math is taught is affected greatly. Our 7th grade daughter has been challenged for the last 2 years to discover the process instead of just giving the answer. This has been a real challenge, even with two educated parents and one who understands the math thoroughly. Our daughter was capable in math, the 2nd-best math student in her class of 26 (in an inner-city parochial school in Seattle). She is coping with a lot of support. Other students are drowning. We have a really dedicated teacher, with a charter to do whatever is necessary, but many students are intimidated and suffering from the changes. The goal of Washington’s effort is admirable, but I really regret those who are getting left behind in the effort to change. PP, when a state gummint just rearranges the same old excuses on education, remember that real change is not simple and safe. — Gale * Sent from RemarQ http://www.remarq.com The Internet’s Discussion Network * The fastest and easiest way to search and participate in Usenet – Free!

Response:

On Sun, 21 May 2000 21:26:58 -0500, PP <docrev…@yantsoff.com> wrote: >On 21 May 2000 17:26:44 GMT, oceanmo…@aol.com (Oceanmomma) wrote: >What about the parents who have poor educations themselves? How are >they going to help their child with schoolwork when they don’t know it?

My mother could not help me with school work past the elementary level … my dad was no help shortly thereafter in math and science .. yet because they both knew education was important, I picked up on that idea very early in life. Of my six siblings, five of us have college, professional or graduate degrees. One of my favorite stories is of the single mother living in poverty who displayed great interest in her son’s education. Each week he had to read at least one book and write a report for her. He became a medical doctor … I’m not sure when he learned his mother could not read (maybe some time in college?) …. Hard to know if this really is a true story given all the adult literacy programs that exist today but perhaps such programs were not available when the story is alleged to have happened. Regardless, speak positive, encouraging words and have good expectations of kids and they will respond to the challenge. >This is just another bandaid by the guvmint to make it look like they >are doing something about the public schools.

If you knew anything about the Chicago Public schools you would not say that. The inertia in large systems is very hard to overcome, especially when things have been so poorly run in the past. Granted, if we could blow the entire system off the planet and start over with fresh buildings, new teachers and all the kids in kindergarden any academic could design a better system but Vallas has to work with reality instead of theoretical academic dreams >The government has no interest in having the majority of the >population highly educated.

How do you arrive at that conclusion? As the average educational level of a country increases, the rate of poverty declines … as does the birth rate, the crime rate, etc. It was the GI Bill after WWII that brought huge numbers of people to colleges who never had considered that option before. Floridanewbie

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>From: cjmorga…@aol.com >I’m somewhat inclined to agree with Johnny >O-Neal Holmes, who said that parents who would heed the advice already pay >attention to their children at home. When he said,“If you can’t even get >people to come to school for a parent conference, how can you get them to >take >a parenting class?” I think he had a good point.

I consider myself to be a decent-good parent. Far from perfect however. I work very part time and spend most of my time being a stay at home mom. Does that mean that I don’t need reminders about how to help my kid? No. Does that mean that I wouldn’t benefit from mandatory child development classes? No. Does that mean that my daughter wouldn’t do better if I occassionally got a reminder from her school letting me know what areas she needs help and how I could best serve her? Heck no. I would love a reminder from time to time that yes, I could be doing a better job. I would not take it as a threat nor feel that the school system is looking to blame me. It all depends upon how you look at it. I see and hear a lot of cynicism…and cynicism is usually based on fear and/or ignorance. (I am not suggesting that you are being cynical or ignorant). "If, in reading this, you are uncertain as to whether a specific statement is meant seriously or not, simply apply this rule of thumb: If the statement makes you consider filing a lawsuit, I was kidding. Ha ha!" – Dave Barry (thanks FN)

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>From: PP docrev…@yantsoff.com >Date: 5/21/00 7:26 PM Pacific >What about the parents who have poor educations themselves? How are >they going to help their child with schoolwork when they don’t know >it?

One does not need to be a college graduate (nor a high school graduate for that matter) to learn how to be a good parent. Have a higher degree however don’t ask me about algebra or geometry. There are libararies, computers and help classes available. The key is learning how to be a good parent. If you are not equiped to help your child learn…learn how to provide what your child needs. My parents had poor educations and made it a top priority for all three of us not to follow in their footsteps. I did not learn math or science from my mother, but I did learn where to go for help classes, tutors and the good old library. A good teacher is one that gives us the skills and tools, not the answers. If a parent does not have that in them, a parenting class surely can’t hurt. >The government has no interest in having the majority of the >population highly educated.

This comment is based on what? "If, in reading this, you are uncertain as to whether a specific statement is meant seriously or not, simply apply this rule of thumb: If the statement makes you consider filing a lawsuit, I was kidding. Ha ha!" – Dave Barry (thanks FN)

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