SOL DAY

[Anonymous]

So, clearly I do not have a school age child, but did anyone else read this as a "s**t out of luck" day?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: Before every school had different "minimum" standards. Kids were graduating high school unable to read.

Graduating FROM high school, Jethro.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: Before every school had different "minimum" standards. Kids were graduating high school unable to read.

Graduating FROM high school, Jethro.

[list]Yur a jurk (off) - Git it!!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:SOL's are a waste of time, but they are mandated by the Commonwealth of VA as it's implementation of No Child Left Behind. NCLB is an intrusive law passed as the forefront of the education policy of the newly elected President in 2001. That would be George W. Bush.

By defining metrics to evaluate the the schools, you are defining what will be covered in school.

It is, IMHO, a horrible system. If you protest by walking out the school will be punished by reduction of federal funds.

And his buddy, Teddy Kennedy. Let's not forget him.

The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB)[1][2] is a United States Act of Congress that came about as wide public concern about the state of education. First proposed by the administration of George W. Bush immediately after he took office,[3] the bill passed in the U.S. Congress with limited bipartisan support.[4]

I am teacher in FCPS and SOLs were around even before NCLB came into effect. NCLB is good in theory because it tracks all students and forces the schools to not just let certain groups (LEP, Special Ed, certain minority groups, etc) slip through the cracks. But, I agree, that the tests are not ideal and really don't assess much knowledge of anything other than memorization of facts. That said, the score a child needs to pass is extremely low. I think in my high school, out of 70 questions, the students only need to get about 50% correct to pass.

[list]Tracking, tracking, TRACKING!!!!???? OH MY!! Certainly that doesn't happen in Fairfax County. AAP, AAP, AAP, AAP, AAP....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:SOL's are a waste of time, but they are mandated by the Commonwealth of VA as it's implementation of No Child Left Behind. NCLB is an intrusive law passed as the forefront of the education policy of the newly elected President in 2001. That would be George W. Bush.

By defining metrics to evaluate the the schools, you are defining what will be covered in school.

It is, IMHO, a horrible system. If you protest by walking out the school will be punished by reduction of federal funds.

And his buddy, Teddy Kennedy. Let's not forget him.

The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB)[1][2] is a United States Act of Congress that came about as wide public concern about the state of education. First proposed by the administration of George W. Bush immediately after he took office,[3] the bill passed in the U.S. Congress with limited bipartisan support.[4]

I am teacher in FCPS and SOLs were around even before NCLB came into effect. NCLB is good in theory because it tracks all students and forces the schools to not just let certain groups (LEP, Special Ed, certain minority groups, etc) slip through the cracks. But, I agree, that the tests are not ideal and really don't assess much knowledge of anything other than memorization of facts. That said, the score a child needs to pass is extremely low. I think in my high school, out of 70 questions, the students only need to get about 50% correct to pass.

[list]Tracking, tracking, TRACKING!!!!???? OH MY!! Certainly that doesn't happen in Fairfax County. AAP, AAP, AAP, AAP, AAP....

I meant tracking as in "keep track of", not tracking as in putting students in classes based on "ability". As for AAP, I teach in a high school, so I don't really know anything about that.

[Anonymous]

the last SOL is around May 31 which is less than 2 weeks away. School is pretty much over at that point. Might as well leave for vacation - nothing much gets done after that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So, clearly I do not have a school age child, but did anyone else read this as a "s**t out of luck" day?

Every single time I hear it mentioned.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
By defining metrics to evaluate the the schools, you are defining what will be covered in school.

Yes! That's the point. Before every school had different "minimum" standards. Kids were graduating high school unable to read.

That's what "being held back" is for. But schools don't do that now, because it might hurt someone's self-esteem. Please.

You're repeating conventional wisdom and not speaking from a position of knowledge.

I'm a teacher. I think I'm speaking from a position of knowledge.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
By defining metrics to evaluate the the schools, you are defining what will be covered in school.

Yes! That's the point. Before every school had different "minimum" standards. Kids were graduating high school unable to read.

That's what "being held back" is for. But schools don't do that now, because it might hurt someone's self-esteem. Please.

You're repeating conventional wisdom and not speaking from a position of knowledge.

I'm a teacher. I think I'm speaking from a position of knowledge.

What school? I'd like to know so I can avoid it.

What kind of teacher says something like "schools don't hold kids back because it might hurt their self-esteem?"

Or, are you just a liar on the Internet?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
By defining metrics to evaluate the the schools, you are defining what will be covered in school.

Yes! That's the point. Before every school had different "minimum" standards. Kids were graduating high school unable to read.

That's what "being held back" is for. But schools don't do that now, because it might hurt someone's self-esteem. Please.

You're repeating conventional wisdom and not speaking from a position of knowledge.

I'm a teacher. I think I'm speaking from a position of knowledge.

Just because you're a teacher doesn't make you an authoritative source on grade retention. We know there is a huge range in the skill, expertise and quality of teachers even within a very good system. You, clearly, are one of the marginal ones if you aren't familiar with the research and reasons behind the change in practice. I suggest you talk to your administrators or some of the special ed teachers about your thoughts on grade retention.

[Anonymous]

There are many of us, as the other teachers on the board know, who agree with 23:45, but your faux-righteousness will not allow you to admit that on this message board.

The truth is, our job is harder and harder because of the "advances" of the past 15 or so years in the field. And, in the long run, worse for the students as well. But those of you who make the most noise are happy to sidestep the low bar. No wonder so many are leaving the profession.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There are many of us, as the other teachers on the board know, who agree with 23:45, but your faux-righteousness will not allow you to admit that on this message board.

The truth is, our job is harder and harder because of the "advances" of the past 15 or so years in the field. And, in the long run, worse for the students as well. But those of you who make the most noise are happy to sidestep the low bar. No wonder so many are leaving the profession.

You make no sense.

[Anonymous]

What are you even talking about? Your statement is way overgeneralized. As for advances over the past 15 years, some have been good and others bad. Scores have been improving for most children in the US. Which is why we do not need teachers to teach to these SOL's as much anymore. They should be assessment tests, nothing more.

[Anonymous]

Which advances do you not like? Be specific if you're going to make a comment like that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Scores have been improving for most children in the US. Which is why we do not need teachers to teach to these SOL's as much anymore. They should be assessment tests, nothing more.

Oh, are you counting the schools which change the grades to passing ones, so they can get MONEY?