Comments on: New York School Principal Tells His Teachers to Ease up on Their Standards http://americaswatchtower.com/2007/12/16/new-york-school-principal-tells-his-teachers-to-ease-up-on-their-standards/ I believe there are more instances of the abridgment of the freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments of those in power, than by violent and sudden usurpations- James Madison Sun, 27 May 2012 00:23:16 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: Gary http://americaswatchtower.com/2007/12/16/new-york-school-principal-tells-his-teachers-to-ease-up-on-their-standards/#comment-14188 Wed, 19 Dec 2007 05:46:56 +0000 http://mpinkeyes.wordpress.com/2007/12/16/new-york-school-principal-tells-his-teachers-to-ease-up-on-their-standards/#comment-14188 Another article spot on.

I would like to add one thing or two.

Being a former ED teacher trained in all the special ed classes, most of those kids likely would not qualify. But staying after school or using downtime (study hall) for tutoring makes total sense.

Also, sometimes the curriculum itself is causing the problem. There is just too much bullpoop in it. It detracts from the true intent of a topic.

As for trying to excuse the kids for having a tough life, the principal and any others like him need to travel to a third world country. My wife is from Mindanao island, Philippines. She started life sleeping on dirt floors and her mom changing the burlap rice sack bags into clothing before her Mom went to work overseas to provide funds for the family to survive. So with her Dad out to sea, her Mom in a different country, raised by slave driving relatives she still managed to graduate often at the top of her class despite the bombs from the Abu Sayyaf going off in their city killing people around them.

So do these kids have it tough? No, suck it up and make a difference like everyone else in the world has to. No excuses.

As for the curriculum, get the bullpoop out of it so the curriculum isn’t a blockade. Then hold the kids to higher standards so they have a chance in life.

]]> By: adsoofmelk http://americaswatchtower.com/2007/12/16/new-york-school-principal-tells-his-teachers-to-ease-up-on-their-standards/#comment-14062 Mon, 17 Dec 2007 00:29:56 +0000 http://mpinkeyes.wordpress.com/2007/12/16/new-york-school-principal-tells-his-teachers-to-ease-up-on-their-standards/#comment-14062 What this inevitably causes is teachers inflating their students’ grades, of course — that’s the easiest thing in the world to do. That way, everyone is “happy” — at least until the deferred bill gets paid (by the un- or under-educated student, of course).

]]> By: arclightzero http://americaswatchtower.com/2007/12/16/new-york-school-principal-tells-his-teachers-to-ease-up-on-their-standards/#comment-14048 Sun, 16 Dec 2007 15:52:00 +0000 http://mpinkeyes.wordpress.com/2007/12/16/new-york-school-principal-tells-his-teachers-to-ease-up-on-their-standards/#comment-14048

I hope the teachers and the principal aren’t putting money ahead of properly educating our children. That would be really sad.

What is sad is that it is probably more true than you might think. Money is the greatest power in the minds of so many, and while we would like to think that people would be noble enough to do the right thing, I seriously have my doubts. Are there some out there who do? You bet, but for every one who does, how many choose money over children?

I did the math once on the education system around here and couldn’t figure it out. We had nearly zero rise in total students over a ten-year period yet the school budgets increased by nearly triple the inflation rate for the same period. Where does the money go? The test scores weren’t going up. The education the kids were getting wasn’t any different. So what is happening? Of course, pay no mind that the superintendent drives around in a new Jaguar…

I think that the kids are coming second (if not third or fourth) when it comes to money in many school systems… And then the administrators claim to need more money because the kids aren’t meeting standards.

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