Teachers’ Feelings About Education

Are you in public education? How do you feel about your job, salary, and various policies and testing going on in public schools today?

I think politicians and other writers of policies have no idea what it is truly like to be in the classroom, with kids ranging the gamut in ability, comprehension, background, etc., and having to get through certain concepts / ideas / lessons in 45 minutes. Though some may be well-intentioned, having some experience in the classroom should be required of anyone making decisions about our education system.

Often times as teachers, we get handed down new rules that look really good on paper, with great ideals of what will happen and our first reaction is “what planet are these people from?” Sure, it always sounds wonderful on paper, and implementing in the classroom, with 25-35 kids, is a whole different ballgame. Now we are not dealing with numbers and facts, but with a certain amount of unpredictable factors that, more than not, throw all good planning aside for on-the-spot adjustment and adaptation.

That’s what makes a good teacher too. Planning and ability to adapt to students.

I ran across poll results of surveys conducted with teachers K-12 throughout the country.

Discipline:   My school & its discipline policy

Clearly stated, consistently enforced:         1995: 43%        2008: 38%
Clearly stated, NOT consistently enforced: 1995: 46%        2008: 50%
NOT clearly stated:                                      1995: 9%          2008: 11%

A slight negative trend regarding discipline enforcement in school. My experience in our school is that the kids themselves have progressively become more rude and disrespectful in general, with a lack of pride in their work, desire to put up effort rather than what they like to call “good enough,” and also a lack of respect for anything in the classroom. By that I mean writting on desks, breaking supplies, having to be asked to throw something away rather than leaving it on the table or on the floor, not picking up something that falls on the floor, etc. Details maybe, but very noticeable in my years of teaching -and we are still considered a somewhat “small” school at just over 700 kids this year. (high school) 

I’d like to also point out that we have some tremendous kids, who are respectful and behave in what I would consider to be normal, descent human being manner.

Teacher Satisfaction:   very/fairly satisfied, in 2008

Quality of teaching                                    81%
Professional development opportunities   71%
Class size                                                  53%
Salaries, benefits                                       45%
Discipline, behavior                                  36%
Level of stress                                           25%

No Child Left Behind (NCLB):        its effect on education

Positive            2003: 22%             2008: 10%
Neutral             2003: 26%             2008: 21%
Negative          2003: 39%              2008: 64%
Not sure          2003: 13%              2008: 5%

64% of teachers today think NCLB is having a negative impact on public education! You can count my vote in there as well.

Here are a couple more noteworthy facts.

Teachers feeling that students are being tested too frequently: 71%
Schools put too much emphasis on preparing for state accountability tests: 69%

This past May, for the entire month, there was not one single day with all of my students in the classroom. Not one! Covering a new concept with half the class means you’ll have to cover it again 3 to 5 times with individual students are they rejoin you class. Same goes with reviewing for semester exam. It’s extremely frustrating. I’ve had conversations with teachers at my school who basically quite teaching at the end of April because of this.

During the end of May, students were gone for:

• TAKS;  3 full days with entire school, then singled out classifications (Fr. Soph. Jr.). This spreads over a good 2 weeks.
• Benchmark tests; individual teachers’ testing
• AP tests: extended 1/2 day testing, am and pm. 
• Field trips: UIL, Band, Theater, Sports
• EOC: End Of Course Exam (different from semester exam)

During all this, we are often times reminded as teachers that the “year is not over” and we are expecting to keep teaching until the last day… hmmm…

And then off course, the last 4 days of the month are spent administering Semester Exams, which we have reviewed the best we could amidst the rest of all the happenings.

These poll results fairly support what I see to be true at my school: too much testing, too much emphasis on standardized tests, downward trend in behavior and discipline, and raising stress levels for teachers, not to mention a growing dissatisfaction with education in general, both from teachers and students.

Gifted & Talented School Workshop

I’ve been at a workshop at school all week. At first I was feeling a little resentful that I had to spend an entire week in yet another booooring workshop. Well, let me tell you… surprise, surprise.

NOT boring at all. This is about how to better serve the G/T kids (i.e. Gifted and Talented). These are the kids that are overly “smart” in one or two particular field but could also be your regular kind of kids in the rest. Their brain literally functions differently than the rest of the population. They get to be the math genius, or music genius, or next most amazing artist, etc.

Get this, 60% of high school drop outs are G/T kids! 60%!

At first I was shocked, and then I thought, well, this makes sense. They are uterly bored because they get it the first time, and then have to sit through the same lesson for the next 5 days until everybody catches up.

My general experience with some of these kids is that they tend to be the clowns, the trouble makers, the rebels. They are in fact too smart for their own good.   Now I’ve also had some that were wonderful, mature, and a joy to work with.

What we must do, as educators, is channel that brain into challenging activities that will keep them engaged and interested.

Anyway, back to the work shop. It had been a tremendous eye opener, and I’d say probably the most useful and practical workshop I have been to in my years of teaching high school. The presenter is doing an excellent job. I would recommend for every educator out there to get the information. It’s that good.

The irony is that the public schools are very well funded and supported for all special ed. services, but lags behind for the G/T kids. Who do you think is most likely to run a corporation, come up with new inventions, cure, be elected in public office, or … [fill in the blank]… in the future?

Not to say that special ed services are to be removed. We just need to remember that they are other “special” kids are out who’s needs are not met.

Well, I’m off to the last day of this presentation… 

Renovating The House

I have been very buzy removating the house -basically, I am re-painting most of the walls and re-doing most of the floors.

Since I bought this house a little over 10 years ago now, I have used strictly non-toxic, biodegrable, as-natural-as-I-can-find-it products. A challenge sometimes, particularly on the pocket book.

The walls are now finished, thank goodness. Over the years, I have tried three different types of non-VOC paint, this last one being the best by far. The first one was from an independent store in the area. As it turned out, it never quite covered the walls. Knots and other stains would eventually come through, and that within a few days of painting. No matter how many coats, still showing. Very frustrating to say the least.

A second brand did help the issue a little but not completely.

Finally, the answer, from Home Depot no less.

I love that Home Depot is carrying a “green” option for some of their product, namely Paint. This makes it more accessible to the general population. Yes, I know it takes away from the smaller individually owned stores, which I do my best to support when I can, but the truth of the matter is most real significant strides in spreading the use of green and environmentally friendly products is done through major shopping stores/centers, of which Home Depot is one.

The brand is called FreshAire Choice. The base has no VOC content. There may be a very slight amount in the pigment as it has a very very slight smell to it when freshly painted. I personally can literally not breath around regular fresh paint, so I can tell you how happy I was to find this one.

It goes on very well with either roller or brush, and looks wonderful once dried.

The price is comparable to any other good quality paint, by just $2-4 more. Well worth the investment, for the sake of your health, your family’s, and the planet in general.

As with most natural paints, colors tend to be in the more “natural looking” themes -no bright neon types here- which only enhances the beauty of an organic living space.

Squidoo #6: A Cappella book 2

One lens closer to the Giant Squid title, for which 50 lenses are required…

This #6 is for vol.2 of my own personal book series: A Cappella. I made a lens for book 1 a few days ago and got around to book 2 yesterday. By the way, I upgraded the presentation a little too so look in to book 1 again.

Lens #6: www.squidoo.com/A-Cappella-Book2

The next one I think will be the Lensography that becomes necessary after a certain number of lenses are reached. It’s basically an index lens of one’s lenses. I know, I know, I only have 6 so far -but I figure I might as well set it up and plug in one lens at a time as I make it, rather than wait until I have 20 or 30 or more, and have to organize the whole thing. Much more efficient that way, don’t you agree?

So, for the next couple of days, I’ll be looking in on other lensmaster’s lensography to see the various formats for ideas, and get started on mine.

As always, be sure and visit the lens, rate it if you wish, and all comments always welcomed.

Updated Moebius Squidoo Lens

I have just finished updating my Moebius squidoo lens.

I’ve got a couple more ideas and then I think it’ll be good for a while. This is my best performing lens to date, and my goal is to submit it as “Lens of the Day”… so I want to make sure I do all I know to do to get it accepted.

I’m going to let it be for a couple of days, see how I like it, add an image or two, and submit.

Keep your fingers crossed… and in the mean time, visit the lens, comment, rate it, and send friends over to check it out.

Right here –> www.squidoo.com/MoebiusComics