With all that said, I can definitely see how standardized tests could put some unnecessary pressure on studious students, but you will have to find them somewhere else. I agree that teachers need to focus their attention on students strengths and help guide them into a career that is right for them, but that won't happen until parents start taking some of the responsibility.
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Education Reform
Alright, this guy has obviously never observed C-burg High school. While he makes a lot of great points about students who are actually trying, he fails to address the students who gave up before they walked through the door on the first day of school. About 1/3 of my AP Chemistry class (well technically Dr. G's) and less than 10 students in my other two Chem 1 classes are motivated. And honestly I might just be hoping for those results. Dr. G's AP Chem students have done so poorly on there last few exams that he had no choice but to give re-takes because he could not bring himself to fail over 80% of the class. There is no one in there stressed enough to commit suicide over our standardized tests. One student who was failing did not care to try until her father took her car, cell phone, and credit cards, and then gave her a curfew. She came up to me the next day asking me what she could do to get a D--- just to get her stuff back. So standardized tests have no influence on students in this area. My Chem 1 students are only concerned with getting me to give them the chemical formulas for cocaine, crystal meth, and ecstasy so they can make them at home. Standardized tests are not the problem its the so-called parents of these students. They have no respect for authority, barely ever come dressed descent for school, and do not give a crap about a single grade. Their aspirations in life are selling drugs to high school students and catching a buzz.
It sounds like you have some wild classes going on at your school. Although it is sad, but I would have to agree with you that not that many students are interested in what they learn or what they get. Most of students who come in for help are those who's parents have threatened their kids that they will be grounded if they get anything less than a D. I think it is a reality and you will be prepared well for the real experience that you will have when you go into teaching. I think it's better to have "bad" (I didn't know how to put it)group during your student teaching, than having a perfect group. Since, you will be shocked when you get your own class, full of unmotivated students. Hope this semester serves as a good experience for you.
ReplyDeleteMotivation. It seems to be a key element affecting each of us this semester. How do we get the kids interested and engaged in the material? I think this is difficult for us because we all seemed to like school, to want to do well, and to go above and beyond what we are asked. It has become quite a shock to see that college is not motivating to most students. Keep your head up, if you motivate just one, a job well done :)
ReplyDeleteI agree with you. Many of my students are not mature enough/do not have the hindsight to appreciate their education and so need to be motivated other ways. I agree with Alex too- it's hard for us to understand because not attending college wasn't an option. This isn't the case for our students. I'm at a loss for what to do, because I have a class of seniors who are done with high school. The average on a test was a 70 and it's because 15/16 students didn't do the homework. Now that they're in college, they're not motivated to continue.
ReplyDeleteI had a similar experience at CHS. Many of the kids I taught were very unmotivated and did not care that they were failing. I even had one student tell me that they were quitting school as soon as football season was over. No one in this student's family had ever graduated high school. I have a hard time understanding where these students are coming from. My parents could not afford to go to college, but that didn't make me feel like I couldn't go to college just because they didn't. I worked really hard and took out loans and got my degree. I feel like these students do not have any support system at home and do not seem to have had any support system at schoool to motivate them to do well and graduate. I think the biggest problem is that these kids don't believe in themselves and with no support system to help them, they just fall through the cracks of the educational system. I agree with Alex... try to motivate your students as best as you can and even if you just motivate one, you are making a difference in the world.
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