Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:School is partially childcare, and we should run with that instead of chanting "school isn't childcare" and hoping that becomes true.

School programming should be available at least 9 to 5 if not longer. It shouldn't all be mandatory or in the classroom but we need to accommodate working parents and we need provide the supervision and enrichment activities that lower income working parents cant/won't. Our society would be much better for it.

School is not and schools not be childcare. Cities should be required to make truly affordable, high quality enrichment programs available after school hours to any family who chooses to enroll their children. This would allow us to decrease school hours for younger students.

I'm curious why it's so important to you that they be separate. If you are OK with the government subsidizing childcare / enrichment, why not have those activities at and as a voluntary extension of school?

Anonymous wrote:I teach in a private high school school now, but much of my experience has been in public schools.

It’s a HUGE disservice to private school students to a) have so many uncertified teachers, and b) to have such a lack of standardization across courses (ie all teachers teaching the same course do it however they want and do not align with other teachers at all). This results in HUGE gaps in student achievement.

+1 as a graduate of parochial school.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No. It had much more challenging STEM and smarter, more driven kids.

Class size wasn't smaller, I'll give you that.

We don't believe that STEM is the be all and end all or that elementary school children should be "driven" or that there are children (or people) who are not smart.

That is the exact attitude that I am glad to be away from.

If you are aware of the tech. advances happening around you, success in the future is going to be based on your aptitude in the hard sciences and math. Its going to be all STEM and even the management folks need to be good at STEM. WAKE UP.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The majority of kids diagnosed with ADHD don't have ADHD. Their true issue is that they just aren't very bright.

Also, future generations will look back at the ADHD and other stimulant meds given so freely to out children, and they will be amazed that we did not realize how tremendously harmful these drugs are. Sort of the way we look back at Victorians who used to dose up on laudanum, unaware of the terrible consequences to their health.

and you know this how.....

Worldwide, ADHD incidence is 3-5%. In some regions of the US, ADHD diagnosis is 20% or more.

And within the US it strikes mostly in certain class/racial groups

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The majority of kids diagnosed with ADHD don't have ADHD. Their true issue is that they just aren't very bright.

Also, future generations will look back at the ADHD and other stimulant meds given so freely to out children, and they will be amazed that we did not realize how tremendously harmful these drugs are. Sort of the way we look back at Victorians who used to dose up on laudanum, unaware of the terrible consequences to their health.

and you know this how.....

Worldwide, ADHD incidence is 3-5%. In some regions of the US, ADHD diagnosis is 20% or more.

In general, Asians are better at parenting. I am basing this theory on years of experience in the classroom. I've had intelligent and not-so-intelligent Asian students, but ALL of them have been hard working, disciplined, polite kids who never cried, whined, or suffered bouts of inattentive antics in the classroom. I don't think this is due to genetics, but to whatever cultural mores and values these kids' parents instill in them. The parents are demanding of their children, and of the teachers, but they are respectful and don't tolerate nonsense, and their kids are a delight to teach.

More recess, less homework, & higher teacher pay are all desperately needed.

Few parents are truly qualified to homeschool & should be required to take a special set of classes & pass a test/have an application approved before doing so.

Most DCUMers are every teacher’s worst nightmare.

Teachers who complain that they have to spend their own money on their classroom are a part of the problem. When they spend their own money they are enabling the school and parents to not do so.

I teach in an elementary school.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The majority of kids diagnosed with ADHD don't have ADHD. Their true issue is that they just aren't very bright.

Also, future generations will look back at the ADHD and other stimulant meds given so freely to out children, and they will be amazed that we did not realize how tremendously harmful these drugs are. Sort of the way we look back at Victorians who used to dose up on laudanum, unaware of the terrible consequences to their health.

and you know this how.....

I've been teaching for a long time.

Anonymous wrote:I teach in a private high school school now, but much of my experience has been in public schools.

It’s a HUGE disservice to private school students to a) have so many uncertified teachers, and b) to have such a lack of standardization across courses (ie all teachers teaching the same course do it however they want and do not align with other teachers at all). This results in HUGE gaps in student achievement.

+1 This is my experience as well. One of my colleagues really should be fired for the corners she cuts and the shockingly poor "lessons" she delivers. But, she gives As to almost everyone, basing her assessment on stupid "fun" projects that do not require the kids to read the novels at all. She gives "bonus rounds" in which students are asked to answer questions about their classmates favorite foods/hobbies, and this fluffs up the grades. I keep waiting for admin to notice that she leaves an hour early every day and doesn't attend any assemblies or meetings.

She is, however, best friends with the department chair, who doesn't ever observe classes. I am shocked that the chair backs this woman up when parents complain about the borderline bullying behavior this teacher directs toward two or three students. The parents are right, though.

Anonymous wrote:Private schools are,generally speaking, a complete waste of money.

YES.

Anonymous wrote:The majority of kids diagnosed with ADHD don't have ADHD. Their true issue is that they just aren't very bright.

Also, future generations will look back at the ADHD and other stimulant meds given so freely to out children, and they will be amazed that we did not realize how tremendously harmful these drugs are. Sort of the way we look back at Victorians who used to dose up on laudanum, unaware of the terrible consequences to their health.

And the kids labeled as bright are actually not that bright either.

Anonymous wrote:The majority of kids diagnosed with ADHD don't have ADHD. Their true issue is that they just aren't very bright.

Also, future generations will look back at the ADHD and other stimulant meds given so freely to out children, and they will be amazed that we did not realize how tremendously harmful these drugs are. Sort of the way we look back at Victorians who used to dose up on laudanum, unaware of the terrible consequences to their health.

and you know this how.....