Wednesday, February 15, 2006
Six Points
Dear Guidance Guy,
I am a parent and tax payer and I have several problems with our school system.
First, students do not have time to eat lunch after standing in a lunch line for 25 minutes. So many children skip lunch.
Second, honor classes are unfair to the students. Why are these students working so hard to get C's which get calculated to a B? And if these same students took the regular classes they would probably get an A which is a higher grade point average. Best is not always better.
Third, is it fair that a student gets a borderline C than a B in the following? If the same student gets a high B on the state exam and gets the teacher a pay raise by making a B on the state exam. When the student get a C; the B on the State Exam should not get the teacher a pay raise. If a B is the standard for the pay raise, everyone should have a B, even the hard working student.
Fourth, high school should end in the 10th grade. If you do not know arithmetic, language, and reading by then something is wrong with the whole school system. Most other developed countries finish school at age sixteen. Students are getting burned out before getting to college.
Fifth, when an error occurs in a grade, why would the school system think they do not have to correct the grade be it teacher or machine given error grade?
Sixth, why do teachers and school system think their opinions matter more than a parent's opinion? More parents today could teacher their own children. Life is not getting better between taxpayers, students, parents, teachers, and administrators.
Am I One and Only Concerned Parent
*****
Dear Concerned,
You have some interesting points, some of which I agree with and some I don't. I think you're absolutely right about many students not having enough time for lunch. In fact most school lunch programs are doing our kids a terrible disservice in the types of foods they serve, as well as the very limited time they give kids to eat. It's nice to see many districts moving in the direction of healthier choices and getting the soft drinks (and their money) out of the school systems.
I don't think honors classes are unfair so much as the importance of grading and grade point averages. If kids are up for a challenge, let them take the most difficult courses they can handle! Most of the college admissions officers I know would rather see students take the most challenging courses they can handle. They do look at grades, but the quality of courses is more important for many. I tell my students not to chase the grade point average or class rank; chase the LEARNING. No one will care what their class rank was in 20 years, but they will care about what they know and what they know how to do.
Looks like your last two concerns have to do with what goes on in your individual school. Hopefully you've brought these issues up in a way that gives you the best results...firmly but respectfully. Many parents can teach their own children, and many do make that choice. If that's what you're considering, I applaud you. Do what's best for your child. After all, what's more important?
Thanks for your input,
The Guidance Guy
I am a parent and tax payer and I have several problems with our school system.
First, students do not have time to eat lunch after standing in a lunch line for 25 minutes. So many children skip lunch.
Second, honor classes are unfair to the students. Why are these students working so hard to get C's which get calculated to a B? And if these same students took the regular classes they would probably get an A which is a higher grade point average. Best is not always better.
Third, is it fair that a student gets a borderline C than a B in the following? If the same student gets a high B on the state exam and gets the teacher a pay raise by making a B on the state exam. When the student get a C; the B on the State Exam should not get the teacher a pay raise. If a B is the standard for the pay raise, everyone should have a B, even the hard working student.
Fourth, high school should end in the 10th grade. If you do not know arithmetic, language, and reading by then something is wrong with the whole school system. Most other developed countries finish school at age sixteen. Students are getting burned out before getting to college.
Fifth, when an error occurs in a grade, why would the school system think they do not have to correct the grade be it teacher or machine given error grade?
Sixth, why do teachers and school system think their opinions matter more than a parent's opinion? More parents today could teacher their own children. Life is not getting better between taxpayers, students, parents, teachers, and administrators.
Am I One and Only Concerned Parent
*****
Dear Concerned,
You have some interesting points, some of which I agree with and some I don't. I think you're absolutely right about many students not having enough time for lunch. In fact most school lunch programs are doing our kids a terrible disservice in the types of foods they serve, as well as the very limited time they give kids to eat. It's nice to see many districts moving in the direction of healthier choices and getting the soft drinks (and their money) out of the school systems.
I don't think honors classes are unfair so much as the importance of grading and grade point averages. If kids are up for a challenge, let them take the most difficult courses they can handle! Most of the college admissions officers I know would rather see students take the most challenging courses they can handle. They do look at grades, but the quality of courses is more important for many. I tell my students not to chase the grade point average or class rank; chase the LEARNING. No one will care what their class rank was in 20 years, but they will care about what they know and what they know how to do.
Looks like your last two concerns have to do with what goes on in your individual school. Hopefully you've brought these issues up in a way that gives you the best results...firmly but respectfully. Many parents can teach their own children, and many do make that choice. If that's what you're considering, I applaud you. Do what's best for your child. After all, what's more important?
Thanks for your input,
The Guidance Guy
