[Fredslist] Today's NY Times includes son's research on NY Schools

[Diane DiResta]

I second Gail's and Raj's comments. I worked for 10 years in the NYC
schools. There were good and bad teachers and I'm so glad I left. I don't
fare well in a system that extols mediocrity.
What is different today is the increase in animosity between parents and
teachers.  I was expected to respect my teachers and my parents held me
responsible for my grades.
My friend works at a community college in California teaching nursing
students. She hates it because there is pressure to pass students for
college funding purposes and the students argue for individual points on
tests.

More parents need to take responsibility for expecting their children to
study and excel. The good parents already do.

Diane

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-----Original Message-----
From: fredslist-bounces at gothamnetworking.com
[mailto:fredslist-bounces at gothamnetworking.com] On Behalf Of Raj Goel
Sent: Tuesday, October 12, 2010 9:35 AM
To: 'Gail Koelln'; bearak at aol.com
Cc: fredslist at gothamnetworking.com
Subject: RE: [Fredslist] Today's NY Times includes son's research on NY
Schools

Gail,

	You're preaching to the choir.

	I am *SHOCKED* at the lack of involvement, or hostile engagement,
PARENTS have with their kids education.

	If we got bad scores, my parents didn't yell at the teacher...they
held me accountable.

	As a parent of young kids, I see other parents arguing with teachers
about grades, behavioural reports -- and that saddens me.

	Having listened to countless NPR and WNYC stories about the state of
education, knowledge economy and the income gap between African Americans,
American-born Hispanics and Immigrants, I'm always amazed how no one holds
parents to account.

	When did schools and teachers become free childcare?

	How and when did we become a country that worships ball players, and
spits on educators, when .0001% of ball players will get professional
contracts, and 90% of college grads WILL get jobs.

	Which isn't to say that bureaucracy, administration and UFT haven't
been impediments.  I've seen good teachers get run over, and bad teachers
propped up by UFT, even at world-class schools like Bronx Science and
Stuyvesant.


- Raj

Raj Goel, CISSP
CTO, Brainlink International, Inc.
Raj at brainlink.com
917-685-7731
You run your business, and leave the IT to us.


-----Original Message-----
From: Gail Koelln [mailto:gkoelln at gkgrantwriting.com] 
Sent: Tuesday, October 12, 2010 8:38 AM
To: bearak at aol.com
Cc: fredslist at gothamnetworking.com; CISSP Raj Goel
Subject: Re: [Fredslist] Today's NY Times includes son's research on NY
Schools

I second Corey's motion.  I come from a family of teachers and know many
more.  Although there certainly are bad ones and better ways to deal with
them must be developed, it is too easy to blame everything on teachers.  How
about a class of someone I know where about half of the kids barely speak
English, but yet the teacher is expected to teach them the same material as
the rest of the class?  What about parents who don't attend parent-teacher
meetings?  Or principals with unrealistic expectations?  I could go on and
on and on...

I know so many teachers with morales in the basement and who can't wait to
stop teaching.  How will our kids do when no one wants to be a teacher
anymore?

I'm waiting for the documentary filmmaker who will make a film from the
teachers' perspective...any takers???

Can you tell this makes my blood boil??

Thanks,
Gail

Gail Koelln
President
GK Grant Writing
82-52 211 Street
Hollis Hills, NY 11427
phone (718) 776-7284
fax (718) 776-9806
gkoelln at gkgrantwriting.com
www.gkgrantwriting.com



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