Our Failing Education System

[cewfa]

OK, since I got my ass popped for my comment in Dave1982's thread about a two sided ruler, I thought I would bring it here.

My comment was that because a teacher wanted a two sided ruler of six inches on one side and twelve on the other was "no wonder our education system is in the shitter."

Discuss.

[Greenday]

[ ] Surprises me
[X] Doesn't surprise me


There's still plenty of good teachers but there's just too many dumb ones who I can't fathom why they chose education. Cause of summers off? Shorter days?

[Wingates_Hellsing]

Actually, at least 'round here, there's a serious shortage of teachers. Attendance rates in this area are climbing dramatically every year and there just aren't any new teachers to hire for being good, so they're forced to do what they can with sub-par applicants. All of which strains the budget to the point where the usually ever-present TA's (*like, me, for instance) had to be severed so they can pay for the 'essentials'.

*Not so much severed as not-re-hired for the next year, but still...

[Greenday]

A lot of schools are also refusing to hire anyone without experience (can be said about the entire job market tbh). Plenty of people with degrees out there but no experience so schools won't hire.

[Mongo Skruddgemire]

My comment was that because a teacher wanted a two sided ruler of six inches on one side and twelve on the other was "no wonder our education system is in the shitter."

Discuss.

Well without being able to find this other thread, I have to shoot from the hip and go with my first instincts.

1. Depending on the age of the students that the teacher is teaching, I can see where a 12-inch ruler with a second side that only goes to 6 inches is a good visualization for children to understand the concept of "Half-a-foot" at the younger ages where numerical values are something they are just developing the ability to understand.

2. If the teacher *was* really that stupid, then I'll have to say that it's not the reason that the education system is in the toilet. The reason being that they have misconstrued what "no child left behind" really means and the fact that instead of teaching the material so that it is well learned knowledge that will allow the students to pass the standardized placement tests, they teach the tests so the kids will pass them without being able to retain any of the knowledge beyond the day of the tests.
.

[KabeRinnaul]

A lot of schools are also refusing to hire anyone without experience (can be said about the entire job market tbh). Plenty of people with degrees out there but no experience so schools won't hire.

Kheldarson was having this problem for quite some time. Recently got a job, but...

Between her first two tests, it sounds like there have been about a half-dozen to a dozen passing grades. For basic U.S. Geography, 6th grade, here are some of the answers she's gotten:

"North Virginia" and "South Virginia" for West Va. and Virginia.
"New Virginia" for W.V.
"Washington DC" for Maryland.
And one student put down Kentucky, Tennessee, and Alabama on a test covering the Atlantic coast states.

The reason being that they have misconstrued what "no child left behind" really means and the fact that instead of teaching the material so that it is well learned knowledge that will allow the students to pass the standardized placement tests, they teach the tests so the kids will pass them without being able to retain any of the knowledge beyond the day of the tests..

That being the easiest way to assure that the students do well on the test and the school keeps it's funding.