If my kid was making D's and F's the last thing I would be worried about was him playing a sport and being on the practice field. His butt needs to be in the classroom , study hall , tutoring and getting some help at home. Kids should not be rewarded for being respectfull and giving an honest effort. That should be what is expected and demanded of them. They should be rewarded for their results in the classroom. If not take up the grade books and just pass out the diplomas.
The reason I feel so strongly about his is because I was one of those kids. I never applied myself in school. I did just enough to get by. I had to suffer and overcome my own lazyness in the classroom at a later age. I earned two college degrees while working a full time job and then put my wife through college. It was a tough hard road but I did it to myself. I wish someone had the guts to do this kind of thing when I was in school. I would have got my act together I can tell you that.
School is for school not for sports. If you got your school straight then you can play. If you dont you should not be able to play. Try it in college and see how long you play. Why not learn now?
First there was a huge push towards "finding the learning style". Are you a hands on person, lecture person, group project person etc.... Then we brainwashed these kids into thinking that the only way to learn is this way. Hard work is now lowered a peg.
Second there was a huge push towards "mainstreaming classes". Put all learning types and levels into one classroom. Doesn't matter if it is a valedictorian candidate or a kid who requires special needs - put them together and teach them all.
Third there was a huge push towards "everyone can go to college". Now we design our curriculum and school setting towards high level math and science classes. Computers are the wave of the future so we need to get everyone strong in math and science. Now we lose our vocational kids and lower mid level kids because most of them can't / don't want to go to college.
Fourth kids became entitled and think everything should be handed to them. Kids come into class expecting a dinner and show thinking that the teacher is going to magically put the information into their heads. Hard work just went down another peg.
Fifth politicians try to hold everyone accountable by mandating standardized testing. No problem with that but each state if left up to how they want to implement it. North Carolina has a pretty good set up. You take the test at the end of the course and if you pass it then you pass the clss (the simplified explanation because there are many factors here). In Kentucky the student is not accountable for the end of course test in any way shape, form or fasion. If they show up and want to bomb the test nothing happens to them but the state will nail the school to the wall for "not doing our job".
Honestly this is what gets me more than anything. Last year at my last school the social studies department had to have a training day because our scores went down. Now let me set this up for you. For the previous three years the social studies scores went up and we were the only department to do so. So we get this one group who's scores go down and everyone freaks out. Our techniques and strategies don't work according to them. So in this training I am sitting there steaming and I ask how did that group compare to when they took the same test in 8th grade. The lady in charge looked it up and said they improved quite a bit. So we increased their scores but we now all of a sudden we aren't good enough? Garbage.
The last thing kids want to do is come to school because it's not fun and everything in life worth doing is supposed to be fun. This goes back to education not held high enough by society.
Society has changed from the teacher is right and if you misbehave in class then you get it again when you get home to the teacher is picking on my kid and that is why he fails. I'm all about teaching kids some responsibility but some parents are just missing the boat. I have kids who don't turn their homework in becuase they had to work at the local store / restaurant until 11:30 at night. What makes it worse is the family doesn't need the money. The kid has to get the job to teach them responsibility but it never sinks in that they are costing their kid an education. Nor do they realize that this business is breaking federal laws on child labor.
I'm not a big Hillary Clinton fan but she not only hit the nail on the head but she built a house with all the nails - it takes a village to raise a child. The politicians are failing our educationsal system, the schools are failing our educational system, the teachers are failing our educational system, the parents are failing our educational system and the kids are failing our educational system. We all know there is a problem but we can't get together on how to find a solution.
Just because W*O*R*K has four letters doesn't make it a cuss word. We need to incorporate this word back into everyday use.
Second there was a huge push towards "mainstreaming classes". Put all learning types and levels into one classroom. Doesn't matter if it is a valedictorian candidate or a kid who requires special needs - put them together and teach them all.
Third there was a huge push towards "everyone can go to college". Now we design our curriculum and school setting towards high level math and science classes. Computers are the wave of the future so we need to get everyone strong in math and science. Now we lose our vocational kids and lower mid level kids because most of them can't / don't want to go to college.
Fourth kids became entitled and think everything should be handed to them. Kids come into class expecting a dinner and show thinking that the teacher is going to magically put the information into their heads. Hard work just went down another peg.
Fifth politicians try to hold everyone accountable by mandating standardized testing. No problem with that but each state if left up to how they want to implement it. North Carolina has a pretty good set up. You take the test at the end of the course and if you pass it then you pass the clss (the simplified explanation because there are many factors here). In Kentucky the student is not accountable for the end of course test in any way shape, form or fasion. If they show up and want to bomb the test nothing happens to them but the state will nail the school to the wall for "not doing our job".
Honestly this is what gets me more than anything. Last year at my last school the social studies department had to have a training day because our scores went down. Now let me set this up for you. For the previous three years the social studies scores went up and we were the only department to do so. So we get this one group who's scores go down and everyone freaks out. Our techniques and strategies don't work according to them. So in this training I am sitting there steaming and I ask how did that group compare to when they took the same test in 8th grade. The lady in charge looked it up and said they improved quite a bit. So we increased their scores but we now all of a sudden we aren't good enough? Garbage.
The last thing kids want to do is come to school because it's not fun and everything in life worth doing is supposed to be fun. This goes back to education not held high enough by society.
Society has changed from the teacher is right and if you misbehave in class then you get it again when you get home to the teacher is picking on my kid and that is why he fails. I'm all about teaching kids some responsibility but some parents are just missing the boat. I have kids who don't turn their homework in becuase they had to work at the local store / restaurant until 11:30 at night. What makes it worse is the family doesn't need the money. The kid has to get the job to teach them responsibility but it never sinks in that they are costing their kid an education. Nor do they realize that this business is breaking federal laws on child labor.
I'm not a big Hillary Clinton fan but she not only hit the nail on the head but she built a house with all the nails - it takes a village to raise a child. The politicians are failing our educationsal system, the schools are failing our educational system, the teachers are failing our educational system, the parents are failing our educational system and the kids are failing our educational system. We all know there is a problem but we can't get together on how to find a solution.
Just because W*O*R*K has four letters doesn't make it a cuss word. We need to incorporate this word back into everyday use.
coach2709, I hope you've already made the move to NC, as your location on your post indicates, because we sure need more like you here. You nailed it with at least 2 of your points. 1) Not all kids are alike, they don't learn alike and they don't have identical abilities, interests or intelligence levels; trying to teach them all the same curriculum is insane, and 2) Parents are ultimately responsible for the education of their children. If it isn't working, try something different. I have 4 sons. I home schooled two of them until 10th grade, one until 9th grade and one until 7th grade. The twins are in college now, one excelling at an academically challenging university and planning to continue with a JD/MBA degree in international business, the other twin is struggling and quite honestly probably has no business in college but is ill-prepared to do anything else having been channeled into a college-prep curriculum in high school. The third was an honors student and is playing baseball at a D-1 school that is also quite challenging academically. But the youngest - well he decided he didn't like to study. Loved going to school, as long as he didn't have to do any work! After nearly failing 8th grade we gave him one semester of public high school to show us he was serious about improving his grades. We gave him every tool he needed, made sure he wasn't learning disabled (nope, just lazy), provided tutoring, worked with the teachers, checked homework, etc., etc. Nothing helped. He was also a baseball player with some promise (RHP, 6'2" as a 14 y-o) who claimed to want to play in college but didn't seem to care that his grades in high school might keep him off the team. After one semester in our local public high school where his grades continued to hover just above failing and his attitude and behavior continued to deteriorate, and just prior to baseball try-outs for his freshman season, we packed him up and drove him to military school two hours away from home. It would be weeks before we would see him again. It was a last resort effort to get through to him that we were serious about his education and his behavior. I don't think he really believed we would do it. It was the most difficult, painful decision I have ever made - lots of tears and lots of doubts, but it was also one of the best decisions we ever made. He is now making A's and B's, is thriving in the structured environment, has been promoted from Private to Corporal and now to Sergeant in charge of a squad of cadets. He is extremely respectful, made the varsity baseball team, is appreciative of everything we do for him and is already talking with colleges. It was not cheap and retirement will have to wait several years longer than we had hoped but it is worth it. Kids have to be held accountable, and the adults in charge are required to do the difficult things that will make positive differences in our children's lives.
Although I applaud the principal for taking a stand, it is really too little and too late. The "high" standards and "no compromise" approach has to be instituted in elementary and middle school so that by the time kids get to high school they have internalized the standards.
The larger problem is not the athletes, but the rest of the students who are getting D's and F's. The athletes can be motivated by dangling the ability to play. What do you do for the others? I will bet you that school district is graduating 90% of their senior class every year, which tells you this is all for show.
The larger problem is not the athletes, but the rest of the students who are getting D's and F's. The athletes can be motivated by dangling the ability to play. What do you do for the others? I will bet you that school district is graduating 90% of their senior class every year, which tells you this is all for show.
Baseball Buzz,
That was a great post. You gave him the opportunity to turn it around and he didnt and you gave him a consuequence. It took a lot for you to drop him off at that military school, it would me with my son, but you did what you thought needed to be done and he sounds like hes doing well. good for your family(I also homeschooled my son up until 7th grade and quite a difference in attitude and test scores even though he continued to do well.) Anyway great post .
That was a great post. You gave him the opportunity to turn it around and he didnt and you gave him a consuequence. It took a lot for you to drop him off at that military school, it would me with my son, but you did what you thought needed to be done and he sounds like hes doing well. good for your family(I also homeschooled my son up until 7th grade and quite a difference in attitude and test scores even though he continued to do well.) Anyway great post .
I believe a big problem nowadays is the emphasis parents put on school. In general American children only goto summer school if they get poor grades. Children of other nations goto summer school every year and the only reason you dont goto summer school is because your poor.
Its hard on the parents. Us, parents that grew up in the 70s or 80s where more likely to have 2 parents and with 1 parent at home keeping a strong eye and hand on us. Nowadays 30% of the kids in my sons school have divorced or single parents. And if they and both parents, they most likely working full time ( and still cant afford a house )
I like what the principal is doing. A HS education isnt gana do it in this day in age anymore. In the 70s -80s you can get a job at a manufacturing plant with minimal education and support your family. But now its outsourced and we are competeing in the world market. And in the world market the USA has the lowest test scores in math and science for industrialized nations, so something has to give.
Its hard on the parents. Us, parents that grew up in the 70s or 80s where more likely to have 2 parents and with 1 parent at home keeping a strong eye and hand on us. Nowadays 30% of the kids in my sons school have divorced or single parents. And if they and both parents, they most likely working full time ( and still cant afford a house )
I like what the principal is doing. A HS education isnt gana do it in this day in age anymore. In the 70s -80s you can get a job at a manufacturing plant with minimal education and support your family. But now its outsourced and we are competeing in the world market. And in the world market the USA has the lowest test scores in math and science for industrialized nations, so something has to give.
Baseball Buzz thanks and congrats on being an outstanding father / parent. I couldn't imagine how hard it was for you to let your son go like that but as you have found out it was the best decision. I tell my guys / students all the time "the best decision isn't always the most popular one".
Brod I'm going to disagree a little with you on the too little too late. Yes by the time they reach high school it is much more difficult to change habits and practices but it can be done. It just takes a lot of work and sticking to your guns. It may not work with everyone but if you can get most of them that is better than just sitting around griping about the problem (not that I am saying that is what you are doing).
I agree that the focus is mainly on the extra stuff kids but if you think about it at most schools a very large percentage of kids are into something. The most obvious ones are the athletes but if you include (which I believe this guy is) band, clubs and the different organizations the school has you are going to nail a lot of kids with these standards. Unfortunately you won't catch them all but I don't think you can. You could add on that if you want to drive to school then you have to meet these requirements then go for it but you are only getting Juniors, Seniors and most Sophomores at the end of the year.
I agree if we want to reach the kids we need to start with the lower grades but the best place to start at is the home before they reach school. That is where most problems start.
Brod I'm going to disagree a little with you on the too little too late. Yes by the time they reach high school it is much more difficult to change habits and practices but it can be done. It just takes a lot of work and sticking to your guns. It may not work with everyone but if you can get most of them that is better than just sitting around griping about the problem (not that I am saying that is what you are doing).
I agree that the focus is mainly on the extra stuff kids but if you think about it at most schools a very large percentage of kids are into something. The most obvious ones are the athletes but if you include (which I believe this guy is) band, clubs and the different organizations the school has you are going to nail a lot of kids with these standards. Unfortunately you won't catch them all but I don't think you can. You could add on that if you want to drive to school then you have to meet these requirements then go for it but you are only getting Juniors, Seniors and most Sophomores at the end of the year.
I agree if we want to reach the kids we need to start with the lower grades but the best place to start at is the home before they reach school. That is where most problems start.