23 Baltimore City Schools Have Zero Students Proficient in Math

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:1. 23 schools have zero students proficient in math.

https://wpde.com/news/nation-world/23-baltimore-schools-have-zero-students-proficient-in-math-state-test-results-reveal-maryland-comprehensive-assessment-program-department-of-education-statistics-school-failures

2. Teachers can earn more than $90K after a few years in the classroom.

https://teachbaltimorecity.org/your-career/salary-and-benefits

3. Baltimore City is the fourth highest funded large school system in the country.

https://foxbaltimore.com/news/project-baltimore/baltimore-city-schools-spending-per-student-2022-enrollment-performance-kirwan-new-york-boston-washington

I don’t see how this city can be saved. If you think otherwise, why?

I'm just shocked this came out of nowhere. One year everything was fine, then they switched to this new and unproven test and everyone isn't proficient!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:1. 23 schools have zero students proficient in math.

https://wpde.com/news/nation-world/23-baltimore-schools-have-zero-students-proficient-in-math-state-test-results-reveal-maryland-comprehensive-assessment-program-department-of-education-statistics-school-failures

2. Teachers can earn more than $90K after a few years in the classroom.

https://teachbaltimorecity.org/your-career/salary-and-benefits

3. Baltimore City is the fourth highest funded large school system in the country.

https://foxbaltimore.com/news/project-baltimore/baltimore-city-schools-spending-per-student-2022-enrollment-performance-kirwan-new-york-boston-washington

I don’t see how this city can be saved. If you think otherwise, why?

The teachers are not the problem and you know it.

Contrary to the fable, nobody can spin straw into gold.

OP never said teachers are the problem, but all the money being spent in Baltimore hasn't worked.

Because you can’t substitute bad parenting and no varying of education at home by throwing money at schools and teachers.

*valuing

Sounds like you are saying that teachers can't do anything when the parents don't value education. If that's the case, then probably just get any warm body in the classroom. No need for high teacher salaries. It's not doing to do anything anyway.

Probably true. But then that wouldn’t be “fair.” All kids have the opportunity to get an education, as they should. But if the kids don’t come to class, don’t listen, don’t behave, don’t do the work, it isn’t the teacher’s fault. We would be better off grouping kids by academic ability and willingness to be taught/learn together vs zip code. Put all the low preforming and behaviors problem kids in the same school. Teachers can then better teach to their level and more specifically address their struggles.

We have middle school.choice and high school choice in the city. The problem.is there are so many low performing students they fill up 23 schools as the Fox data shows. Their parents are often educated in the same failing school district and behave the same way. Did anyone see the mother at Mervo High that snuck into school on her lunch break from the post office to fight a group of kids with her daughter. The video went viral.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What’s your issue with #2? They honestly need so much more to make that job worth it.

They need to be paid all that money to do a good job teaching.

Imagine kindergarten teacher #1: her students all come from homes where both parents are literate, 85%have college and 50% have graduate degrees. Their children have been to parks, zoos, museums, restaurants, libraries, and community classes and sports. Most of her students have been read aloud too since they were babies and their families have accumulated libraries in their homes with a selection of books they read together. The students are familiar with books and even have favorites.

And teacher #2: about a quarter of her students come from homes where parents are not literate in any language. Another quarter have basic literacy in a language other than English. More than half of her students’ parents did not attend college for any length of time. Their parents work double shifts during which time the kids are watched by extended family. They go on outings occasionally but have not yet visited a library or museum, and have not been in an organized group like a class or day care. More than half the students have not been read to and there are no books in the home. The students are largely unfamiliar with books and cannot handle one correctly (identify the cover, turn the pages in the right direction).

If teacher #2’s kids are not achieving the same as teacher #1 at the end of the year, you can blame the teacher, or you can look at the systemic issues that are causing students to enter their first day of their first year of school already woefully behind. Obviously we need good teachers in Baltimore. But there is much more at work than “bad teachers.”

These are so clearly extraordinarily different jobs. They should be paid differently, supported differently, and trained differently.

I'm generally pro-union, but the teachers unions who insist that all teachers be paid on the sale scale really shoot themselves in the foot.

[Anonymous]

It's b/c the students there don't care and don't want to learn.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's b/c the students there don't care and don't want to learn.

Students everywhere fail this test. It doesn't matter where they live.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's b/c the students there don't care and don't want to learn.

So what's the solution? Not require school for them? At least in DC, the school closures seem linked to a higher youth crime rate, so not having kids in school seems to not be an overall societal benefit. Plus you probably still need people who have basic reading and math skills to work those low-wage jobs we all depend on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What’s your issue with #2? They honestly need so much more to make that job worth it.

They need to be paid all that money to do a good job teaching.

Imagine kindergarten teacher #1: her students all come from homes where both parents are literate, 85%have college and 50% have graduate degrees. Their children have been to parks, zoos, museums, restaurants, libraries, and community classes and sports. Most of her students have been read aloud too since they were babies and their families have accumulated libraries in their homes with a selection of books they read together. The students are familiar with books and even have favorites.

And teacher #2: about a quarter of her students come from homes where parents are not literate in any language. Another quarter have basic literacy in a language other than English. More than half of her students’ parents did not attend college for any length of time. Their parents work double shifts during which time the kids are watched by extended family. They go on outings occasionally but have not yet visited a library or museum, and have not been in an organized group like a class or day care. More than half the students have not been read to and there are no books in the home. The students are largely unfamiliar with books and cannot handle one correctly (identify the cover, turn the pages in the right direction).

If teacher #2’s kids are not achieving the same as teacher #1 at the end of the year, you can blame the teacher, or you can look at the systemic issues that are causing students to enter their first day of their first year of school already woefully behind. Obviously we need good teachers in Baltimore. But there is much more at work than “bad teachers.”

Trying to teach kids to read when there aren't even basic needs met is a ridiculous threshold. We need more counselors, social workers, basic skills, IEP aides, etc. in classes. You also cant teach kids that arent in class.

The hypothetical for teacher #2 didn’t say the kids “basic needs” weren’t met.

Oh yep that's right the basic needs are met but everything else listed isn't with illiterate parents, parents who work multiple jobs, transient care, social and developmental skills not taught by daycare/preschool providers that at least have a certification but instead of with extended family who are either also working multiple jobs and likely sleeping or not working at all (see illiterate) or underemployed. They are unfamiliar with books. Their physiological needs may be met, albeit barely but you have to get safety met as well. Do you think these kids are in stable environments- meaning people, housing, dedicated income, water, and electrical bills paid on time, working A/C, working heat, clothes and shoes that fit and are for the appropriate season, etc? Are their schools happy and safe places to be?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What’s your issue with #2? They honestly need so much more to make that job worth it.

They need to be paid all that money to do a good job teaching.

Imagine kindergarten teacher #1: her students all come from homes where both parents are literate, 85%have college and 50% have graduate degrees. Their children have been to parks, zoos, museums, restaurants, libraries, and community classes and sports. Most of her students have been read aloud too since they were babies and their families have accumulated libraries in their homes with a selection of books they read together. The students are familiar with books and even have favorites.

And teacher #2: about a quarter of her students come from homes where parents are not literate in any language. Another quarter have basic literacy in a language other than English. More than half of her students’ parents did not attend college for any length of time. Their parents work double shifts during which time the kids are watched by extended family. They go on outings occasionally but have not yet visited a library or museum, and have not been in an organized group like a class or day care. More than half the students have not been read to and there are no books in the home. The students are largely unfamiliar with books and cannot handle one correctly (identify the cover, turn the pages in the right direction).

If teacher #2’s kids are not achieving the same as teacher #1 at the end of the year, you can blame the teacher, or you can look at the systemic issues that are causing students to enter their first day of their first year of school already woefully behind. Obviously we need good teachers in Baltimore. But there is much more at work than “bad teachers.”

Trying to teach kids to read when there aren't even basic needs met is a ridiculous threshold. We need more counselors, social workers, basic skills, IEP aides, etc. in classes. You also cant teach kids that arent in class.

The hypothetical for teacher #2 didn’t say the kids “basic needs” weren’t met.

Oh yep that's right the basic needs are met but everything else listed isn't with illiterate parents, parents who work multiple jobs, transient care, social and developmental skills not taught by daycare/preschool providers that at least have a certification but instead of with extended family who are either also working multiple jobs and likely sleeping or not working at all (see illiterate) or underemployed. They are unfamiliar with books. Their physiological needs may be met, albeit barely but you have to get safety met as well. Do you think these kids are in stable environments- meaning people, housing, dedicated income, water, and electrical bills paid on time, working A/C, working heat, clothes and shoes that fit and are for the appropriate season, etc? Are their schools happy and safe places to be?

What would you recommend for those kids, if the adults around them are not providing for them?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What’s your issue with #2? They honestly need so much more to make that job worth it.

They need to be paid all that money to do a good job teaching.

Imagine kindergarten teacher #1: her students all come from homes where both parents are literate, 85%have college and 50% have graduate degrees. Their children have been to parks, zoos, museums, restaurants, libraries, and community classes and sports. Most of her students have been read aloud too since they were babies and their families have accumulated libraries in their homes with a selection of books they read together. The students are familiar with books and even have favorites.

And teacher #2: about a quarter of her students come from homes where parents are not literate in any language. Another quarter have basic literacy in a language other than English. More than half of her students’ parents did not attend college for any length of time. Their parents work double shifts during which time the kids are watched by extended family. They go on outings occasionally but have not yet visited a library or museum, and have not been in an organized group like a class or day care. More than half the students have not been read to and there are no books in the home. The students are largely unfamiliar with books and cannot handle one correctly (identify the cover, turn the pages in the right direction).

If teacher #2’s kids are not achieving the same as teacher #1 at the end of the year, you can blame the teacher, or you can look at the systemic issues that are causing students to enter their first day of their first year of school already woefully behind. Obviously we need good teachers in Baltimore. But there is much more at work than “bad teachers.”

Trying to teach kids to read when there aren't even basic needs met is a ridiculous threshold. We need more counselors, social workers, basic skills, IEP aides, etc. in classes. You also cant teach kids that arent in class.

The hypothetical for teacher #2 didn’t say the kids “basic needs” weren’t met.

Oh yep that's right the basic needs are met but everything else listed isn't with illiterate parents, parents who work multiple jobs, transient care, social and developmental skills not taught by daycare/preschool providers that at least have a certification but instead of with extended family who are either also working multiple jobs and likely sleeping or not working at all (see illiterate) or underemployed. They are unfamiliar with books. Their physiological needs may be met, albeit barely but you have to get safety met as well. Do you think these kids are in stable environments- meaning people, housing, dedicated income, water, and electrical bills paid on time, working A/C, working heat, clothes and shoes that fit and are for the appropriate season, etc? Are their schools happy and safe places to be?

What would you recommend for those kids, if the adults around them are not providing for them?

As stated in my original comment: We need more counselors, social workers, basic skills, IEP aides, etc. in classes. Or we need universal Pre-K. Or truancy. Or anything other than setting kids up for failure and acting like every kid/community has the same needs. https://www.npr.org/2019/02/26/696794821/why-white-school-districts-have-so-much-more-money#:~:text=%22For%20every%20student%20enrolled%2C%20the%20average%20nonwhite%20school,than%20districts%20composed%20primarily%20of%20students%20of%20color.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What’s your issue with #2? They honestly need so much more to make that job worth it.

They need to be paid all that money to do a good job teaching.

Imagine kindergarten teacher #1: her students all come from homes where both parents are literate, 85%have college and 50% have graduate degrees. Their children have been to parks, zoos, museums, restaurants, libraries, and community classes and sports. Most of her students have been read aloud too since they were babies and their families have accumulated libraries in their homes with a selection of books they read together. The students are familiar with books and even have favorites.

And teacher #2: about a quarter of her students come from homes where parents are not literate in any language. Another quarter have basic literacy in a language other than English. More than half of her students’ parents did not attend college for any length of time. Their parents work double shifts during which time the kids are watched by extended family. They go on outings occasionally but have not yet visited a library or museum, and have not been in an organized group like a class or day care. More than half the students have not been read to and there are no books in the home. The students are largely unfamiliar with books and cannot handle one correctly (identify the cover, turn the pages in the right direction).

If teacher #2’s kids are not achieving the same as teacher #1 at the end of the year, you can blame the teacher, or you can look at the systemic issues that are causing students to enter their first day of their first year of school already woefully behind. Obviously we need good teachers in Baltimore. But there is much more at work than “bad teachers.”

Trying to teach kids to read when there aren't even basic needs met is a ridiculous threshold. We need more counselors, social workers, basic skills, IEP aides, etc. in classes. You also cant teach kids that arent in class.

The hypothetical for teacher #2 didn’t say the kids “basic needs” weren’t met.

Oh yep that's right the basic needs are met but everything else listed isn't with illiterate parents, parents who work multiple jobs, transient care, social and developmental skills not taught by daycare/preschool providers that at least have a certification but instead of with extended family who are either also working multiple jobs and likely sleeping or not working at all (see illiterate) or underemployed. They are unfamiliar with books. Their physiological needs may be met, albeit barely but you have to get safety met as well. Do you think these kids are in stable environments- meaning people, housing, dedicated income, water, and electrical bills paid on time, working A/C, working heat, clothes and shoes that fit and are for the appropriate season, etc? Are their schools happy and safe places to be?

What would you recommend for those kids, if the adults around them are not providing for them?

As stated in my original comment: We need more counselors, social workers, basic skills, IEP aides, etc. in classes. Or we need universal Pre-K. Or truancy. Or anything other than setting kids up for failure and acting like every kid/community has the same needs. https://www.npr.org/2019/02/26/696794821/why-white-school-districts-have-so-much-more-money#:~:text=%22For%20every%20student%20enrolled%2C%20the%20average%20nonwhite%20school,than%20districts%20composed%20primarily%20of%20students%20of%20color.

The alternative position, which is the current position given that truancy laws are not enforced, is that if parents want to let their kids self-select out of a public benefit, let them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:1. 23 schools have zero students proficient in math.

https://wpde.com/news/nation-world/23-baltimore-schools-have-zero-students-proficient-in-math-state-test-results-reveal-maryland-comprehensive-assessment-program-department-of-education-statistics-school-failures

2. Teachers can earn more than $90K after a few years in the classroom.

https://teachbaltimorecity.org/your-career/salary-and-benefits

3. Baltimore City is the fourth highest funded large school system in the country.

https://foxbaltimore.com/news/project-baltimore/baltimore-city-schools-spending-per-student-2022-enrollment-performance-kirwan-new-york-boston-washington

I don’t see how this city can be saved. If you think otherwise, why?

I'm just shocked this came out of nowhere. One year everything was fine, then they switched to this new and unproven test and everyone isn't proficient!

You are joking, right?

Baltimore city schools have been well below the failing mark for decades.

[Anonymous]

At least 20% of the adults in Baltimore city are illiterate (i.e., nearly one quarter of adult city residents are unable to read).

90% of welfare recipients are high school drop-outs.


https://warnockfoundation.org/publications-and-media/speak-up-baltimore/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Fox News logic never ceases to amaze me. Baltimore can barely attract teachers to stay more than a couple years as-is, but hey, let’s insinuate that we believe they’re overpaid!

+1

Republicans don't care about our schools; they only want to fearmonger.

Sit TF down, OP.

Friendly reminder: Balto is a 100% All-Dem city, friend

Tragic. Will never forget once hearing “If you wanted to keep poor people in chains, you would do EXACTLY what Democrats are doing.”

[Anonymous]

I have a child at BSA. The academics are baaaaad; it’s been a huge disappointment. But DC and friends are NOT deficient in math at all - taking engineering classes at Hopkins in the summer, etc etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's b/c the students there don't care and don't want to learn.

Students everywhere fail this test. It doesn't matter where they live.

Students elsewhere also manage to pass the test. You can read sample questions- the test isn't that hard