I would never give my students one another's paper to grade. I would only pass their papers out face down and I would never announce a grade aloud. I feel that if they want their grades broadcasted, let them do it. I have seen on TV shows, etc. where teachers call out the student's name and then announce their grade (Saved by the Bell was notorious for that!:) ). Sometimes, my students don't discuss their grades. I have heard students lie to their peers (when they thought I wasn't listening) and say they had a better grade than they really earned.

The problem is that too much emphasis is placed on grades these days. Of course, grades are important, but I've seen students come to tears over getting an 89 instead of a 90. I know that one point can make a difference between an 'A' or a 'B,' but is it really that serious? Grades are not a measure of knowledge anymore these days. It's more of a competition and it all ties to self-esteem. Students feel that if they are "smart" and the "dumbest girl/boy in class" gets a better grade, then they are a COMPLETE failure. No, it may just mean that the "dumb kid" is better at memorization! I have weaker students in my class who have once or twice scored higher than some of my stronger kids. I have also overhead the stronger ones question the weak students about whether or not they cheated, etc. :rolleyes:

We have to let our students know that grades are important, but they should not be the entire basis on which they value their self-worth.

We have to let our students know that grades are important, but they should not be the entire basis on which they value their self-worth. [/B][/QUOTE]



SHOW YOU RIGHT!!!!! Alot of my former classmates who had the real good grades shocked me...... when we got out of school because they demonstrated that they self-worth was low by means of the tasteless activities that they got themselves into. BUT let me also say that their were those who made good grades and did go on to doing very well for themselves. So all I'm saying is more emphasis need to be placed on morals.

Re: Nope..
 

I remember doing the same thing too. :D

I have a friend who is a high school teacher. There was this one female student who missed class all the time, to the point that she was not going to graduate from high school unless she attended summer school. Her mother came up to the school explaining that her daughter was pregnant and should be allowed to graduate on time. My friend simply said, "If she doesn't go to summer school, she's not graduating!!" It wasn't my friend's fault that girl decided to lay down and get pregnant.:mad:

Another friend had this one little boy who never came to school with the required materials (pen, paper, etc.). She had to always remind him to come to school prepared. During Open School Night, my friend addressed this issue to the boy's mother. That woman had the nerve to say to my friend, "Well, you're the teacher. You're supposed to have pen and paper" WTF??? If that were the case, places like Staples would not exist!! What a moron!

Re: Re: Nope..
 

Please believe that I would have told that woman that if she didn't provide her child with supplies that I would gladly start deducting points. I would have no problem helping out if a parent would notify the school or me (the teacher0 personally and let me know that she had financial problems. But to just ASSume that we should be responsible for providing school supplies is outlandish!

As for the pregnant girl, too bad, so sad. She can do summer school or just be prepared for a second chance at senior year. I have a friend that went to school until the day that she went into labor, so she has no excuse.

Re: Re: Re: Nope..
 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by RedefinedDiva
[B]

Please believe that I would have told that woman that if she didn't provide her child with supplies that I would gladly start deducting points. I would have no problem helping out if a parent would notify the school or me (the teacher0 personally and let me know that she had financial problems. But to just ASSume that we should be responsible for providing school supplies is outlandish!
Honey child, at our school we MUST supply the pencil and paper...:mad: To me our children are losing the sense of RESPONSIBILITY!!!!! Last year 90% of my students were either failing or had a D average and they thought a D was GOOD! When I contacted parents throughout the year whose kid(s) was failing NONE of them returned a phone call! I saw a total of MAYBE 15 parents the whole school year and they were the SAME parents! I teach in an urban school setting, the hygiene,the number of pregnancies and STD's, and the lack of respect is p-i-t-i-f-u-l. Don't get me wrong I have students who just shine...that's what keeps me going...but I have too many whose PAREnts just don't care. People don't realize but teachers play momma,daddy, counselor and everything else..and some of these parents trip me out with all these lawsuits and telling their kids what they can say and do to teachers....:mad: :(

Re: Re: Re: Nope..
 

OOOHHHH- Just imagine what that child has to go through. His/Her mother will not even buy the child school supplies. It is not the childs fault. How old is the child- Is the child old enough to get a job? If not I would give the child school supplies. Why should he/she get a bad grade because they have an irresponsible parent. Most of us probably did not have to deal with this but don't take it out on the child- they have no control over their parents actions! I would refer this situation to the social worker or school counselor- Maybe something else is going on............... Some people are too proud to say anything.

Re: Re: Re: Re: Nope..
 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by miss priss
[B]
Parents are a childs first teachers! If these parents do not care about their children than who else will! Maybe they do care but have so many issues to deal with that they are overwhelmed. Poverty brings a host of issues. Having taught in an urban environment- I under stand where you are coming from but I had to remember why I was there- The smart good kids are going to do well and succeed. Most have good parents but what about the difficult kids. I felt much better as an teacher when I could get through to a troubled off track kid than a straight arrow. I found that once I sat down and got to know who I was teaching and where the kids were coming from I was able to better understand my kids. Of course this is difficult when you are suppose to be teaching but I think it is important for educators to get to know their students. Especially the troubled ones. You may be the only person who listens to that child all day.

IF NOT ME THEN WHO......
IF NOT NOW THEN WHEN................

Re: Re: Re: Re: Nope..
 

I teach at a school that provides supplies for the students. And yes, when they come to class unprepared, they lose points. These may not necessarily grade/participation points, but simply points that I, PERSONALLY, keep to mark down if a student comes to class prepared, is helpful, behavior in line, etc. They could come out of that student's bonus points pool (the ones that can provide the swing between a 'B' or an 'A', etc.) I do this to teach the students responsibility.

I don't have a problem with a teacher providing paper and pencil or whatever for a child sometimes, but to do it everyday is crazy (unless you have to)! We have to make parents responsible for something! Parents get off too easy sometimes. I'm not saying that we can spot a child that's struggling financially, but if you can walk into my class with tennis shoes that cost more than my outfit, shoes, and handbag put together, and you have no paper and pen, then YES, WE HAVE A PROBLEM! I would talk to the counselor if I sense a major problem. That can make a huge difference.

well said ms diva! Half these kids come in bling bling and sugar sharp! And can't spell what they have on....But sell some snacks you will make a killing($)!
Usually, if I see them buying snacks they pay for the pencils and paper and I don't sell it cheap!
It is crazy! We had a "Valentine Ball",keep in mind I teach middle school, these so and so's rolled up in stretch limos! The girls had on see- thru dresses w/really high heels and the boys had on dobs and what I call Ghetto suits that matched...ya know the lime green and orange suits lookin like a bowl of j-e-l-l-o.@#$$@%$% I wanted to smack the taste out of these parents for letting these BABIES look like smuts. And they had the audacity to take pictures. They just looked too grown. But wait that's not the first time either.Let me digress now........

:eek: MIDDLE SCHOOL!!?? :eek: I didn't even have a limo for my SENIOR prom, let alone a Valentine's Ball. :rolleyes: Believe me, I have to go :eek: sometimes when I see what some of these kids wear these days! But then, sometimes, when you see the parents you know why..... :rolleyes:

Yep....
 

ANNNNNNND let's not talk about 8th grade recognition! It was pitiful.....they cat-called (ya know POOOOKY, RAY-RAY whatup dog!!!), they had a limo and the parents allowed their kids to go out for a LATE night dinner (I'm talking past 10 p.m....tooooo late for a child to go out) after the dance we had for them....


These 3 girls had on a black dress that were variations of each other....picture this ....one was a reallly low cut dress that had an accordian type sleeve that was see-thru which kinda reminded you of a choir robe v-sleeve and the bottom was a mini skirt with a sheer bottom. Their hair was in a top not (pin curls) and they had glitter EVERYWHERE! Now what do they have to look forward too?

Re: Yep....
 

not a damn thing!

and as for the supplies thing I buy supplies--but I have a home and child too. It seems to me that only educators are to buy the tools to their jobs and we don't make squat. I don't know any engineers that HAD to go out and buy a drafting table for their office in a large firm.
Many of these mothers sit at home--and welfare takes care of them. I couldn't get WIC or $350 worth of food stamps a month because of my income--so I have to leave my baby and go to work!

And these ladies get free everything!! School supplies included if they got of their behinds and sought out the help.

And as for these middle school students--child please-many of them went to a school sponsored trip to Europe last year ($1000) and they can't bring a pen to my class:rolleyes:

I provide supplies and they still won't do the work.

:mad:

Re: Re: Yep....
 

Girl, you said it!! That is the point that I wanted to make, but I was trying not to go there! But you blazed the trail and I'm right behind you!!

I know that there are people out there on welfare, get food stamps, WIC, supplement checks for electricity, Section 8, Medicare, etc. YET they don't buy supplies for their children. They know how to seek out all the "luxuries" of being poor, yet still put the burden off on teachers. If I could get $8 rent (I know someone that paid "that much" :rolleyes: ), free electricity, water, food stamps--which can also be used like a debit card now,-- free insurance (medical care), etc., you had better believe that my kids would have paper stacked to the ceiling, be fresh and clean everyday, and all that. They know how to seek out free this and that, but don't know how to find programs that provide uniforms, school supplies, and other things for kids.

I am not coming down on people that truly have it hard because I know that they are families out there that get these supplements and still struggle. However, the overwhelming number of families that I know that receive this aid are living larger than me and I WORK EVERY DAY! I'm not struggling or anything, but I'm not living lavishly either. I love my job and I can't complain about helping kids, but when the children who don't have paper can come to school dressed to the nines, I have to think. How can you buy a $125 pair of Jordans for a kid, but can't buy a 25 cent pack of paper? :rolleyes:

But ya know what reallllly ticks me off is when they say you are not doing YOUR job and have the audacity to go to the principal or board to "tell" on you and you may need to "tell" FIA how their child can't read or do simple math in the 8th grade!

Look, I love the kids I teach because I grew up like them. But the time has drawn nigh to hold parents MORE responsible for their kids education....Like instituting mandantory PTSA meetings at least 3-5 times per year, tutorial/afterschool programs for slow learners...no exceptions!.., if they can't read or add by kindergarten they don't move to the next grade or risk losing ANY federal funding you get, and I personally think they should wear uniforms....

However this is a much deeper issue....
I'm tired of seeing some mothers risk potentially smart kids by smoking weed or drinking during pregnancy..you can tell this is going on by how they act throughout the day....its just sad:(

I can go on and on for days about what I am sick of, but the one thing that I hate most is SPECIAL EDUCATION!! Don't get me wrong, I am a special ed. teacher and I love it. I also know that there are some kids out there who really do need the help of special ed. But then you have the kids who have virtually NOTHING wrong with them whose parent(s) have them declared "special" or "challanged" to simply get the check!! WHY stick this stigma on your child for the rest of their lives just for a small financial gain? :mad:

I'm just going to stop there before I get riled up in here! :o