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Lessons From Locke

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It seems to be open season on teachers, led by the likes of Michelle Rhee, who think the problem in education is poor teachers. This is tantamount to blaming a physics professor for failing a student that took advanced physics, regardless of it being their first time in a physics classroom. Gauging teachers on the outcome of a standardized test would be the same as gauging the physics professor on that one student. Teachers do not have the luxury of picking their students, and as the article stated the school Wendy Locke was embedded in had only 11 percent of students who read on their grade level. How is a teacher suppose to have these students proficient enough to pass state tests if less time is spent on teaching the material and more time is spent on remedial studies?

The real solution is not to fire every teacher and try to find ???perfect??? replacements, but to get these kids into head-start programs. Study after study shows that the sooner a child is read to and their mind is engaged in intellectual activities the better they will do in school. So it is not the ???stupid teacher,??? it is the home life and living environment of the student, many of which come from an environment where education is not highly regarded. States and school districts need to focus less on piling on test after test and rather move needed resources to programs and daycares that engage the child at the earliest possible.

Finally, I take issue with the author stating that many teachers come from ???diploma mills.??? What exactly is she implying? If you did not attend a college with ivy growing on the buildings you came from a so called diploma mill. I attended a state college and now teach and believe that my education and training was top notch. I also believe I know my subject area well and I am an effective teacher.

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Posted By: wilbrown @ 10/31/2008 1:46:55 PM

gggg
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Posted By: wilbrown @ 10/31/2008 1:45:05 PM

I entered the teaching profession after 24 years of military service. I see the problems in schools primarily as a lack of discipline, direction and guidance. I teach in a rural school in upstate NY. Many of my students see no future and therfore see no need for school. While I try to make the most of the 40 minutes a day that I have them the influence outside of my classroom by peers and parents overwhelms any message that I may be trying to instill. When schools are viewed as social centers and not centers of learning we will continue to face the same problems.
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Posted By: texas kid @ 08/14/2008 11:52:11 PM

It seems to be open season on teachers, led by the likes of Michelle Rhee, who think the problem in education is poor teachers. This is tantamount to blaming a physics professor for failing a student that took advanced physics, regardless of it being their first time in a physics classroom. Gauging teachers on the outcome of a standardized test would be the same as gauging the physics professor on that one student. Teachers do not have the luxury of picking their students, and as the article stated the school Wendy Locke was embedded in had only 11 percent of students who read on their grade level. How is a teacher suppose to have these students proficient enough to pass state tests if less time is spent on teaching the material and more time is spent on remedial studies?

The real solution is not to fire every teacher and try to find ???perfect??? replacements, but to get these kids into head-start programs. Study after study shows that the sooner a child is read to and their mind is engaged in intellectual activities the better they will do in school. So it is not the ???stupid teacher,??? it is the home life and living environment of the student, many of which come from an environment where education is not highly regarded. States and school districts need to focus less on piling on test after test and rather move needed resources to programs and daycares that engage the child at the earliest possible.

Finally, I take issue with the author stating that many teachers come from ???diploma mills.??? What exactly is she implying? If you did not attend a college with ivy growing on the buildings you came from a so called diploma mill. I attended a state college and now teach and believe that my education and training was top notch. I also believe I know my subject area well and I am an effective teacher.