At lunch yesterday, a friend thought a concept I stated was worthy of a Tee Shirt... So here it is... (somewhat refined)
To give this context, we were discussing the stressful discussions that can occur when one spends extended periods of time with elderly loved ones who are part of the Trump cult.
My points were that:
- a person can only change / control themselves
- other people will believe and act as they choose
- time is short for many of the older baby boomers
- do you really want to spend it stressed and arguing
- or do you want to spend it focused on good things
How to deal with Toxic Family Members
How to Deal with Controlling Parents
Remember: Life is short, so enjoy it. Stay in a hotel if too much time together is just TOO MUCH. :-)
Since you were once so focused on education, or lack thereof, you might be interested in this:
ReplyDeletegrade an F-
That is the strangest article... So many statements and so little data or specific sources.
ReplyDeleteEspecially their case that funding has kept up with inflation. And then stating at large funding increase that was mostly inflation. :-O
The Hopkins District does seem challenged. Though the parents seem happy.
But without discussion of poverty and other demographic changes it is pointless to discuss cause and effect.
RDale is facing many of the same problems
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately much of that is due to our increasing poverty and foreign language issues.
And the "equality police" are NOT helping. Troubled kids are kept in the classroom, which disrupts the learning of the other students. :-(
I have seen the extensive raw data on this, which is from the MDE itself. Funding has indeed kept up with inflation, but just barely, while academic results have dropped by roughly 25% across the board. So take funding out of the equation and what you have is that the schools are failing-- getting worse. I am wondering if the problem is what they are teaching, other than the basics, or is it how they are teaching it? If what you are saying is poor black kids can't learn, I'm not buying it. If I were king the next increase in education funding would be tied to strict improvement targets. Fail to improve over 3 years, and the parents get the money instead of the schools. Or just do the universal vouchers thing right away. That would give the publics a few years before real competition set in, encouraging them to improve. Simply denying that the schools have the responsibility must end.
ReplyDeleteOf course kids from:
ReplyDelete- poor households
- non-english speaking households
- high mobility (near homeless) households
- single parent households
- low education parent(s)
- addicted parent households
- etc
Can learn.
Unfortunately it is just really expensive to help them overcome all of the hurdles that they face. Especially when their schools are made up of a lot of children facing the same challenges... :-(
So if the the funding is just keeping up with inflation, and the district's population goes from 20% poverty to 60% poverty... Of course there will be problems.
Especially as the kids with 2 professional parents flee the poor kids... :-O
Unfortunately RDale demographics have changed enough during the last 30 years that I am encouraging that my grandson be placed elsewhere.
The district and teachers are still trying, but the challenges are becoming too great.
"The district and teachers are still trying,..." Prove it. Name ONE thing that has changed in the curriculum or pedagogical approach that responds to these "changing demographics." I've personally seen what happens when a slight change in approach is used for these "poor" students. They can go from near bottom to near top performers very quickly. That they are allowed to languish in the bottom is morally (and fiscally) indefensible. FOR THE CHILDREN, I would be telling these failing schools to improve or "go out of business." It's not the teachers; it's a case of "good people in a bad system get bad results."
ReplyDeleteAre you ready to share the name of these miracle school(s) yet?
ReplyDelete