Minimum Wage

[Accumulator]

As it is now, far too many college freshmen require remedial classes before they`re anywhere near prepared for their higher education`s coursework. The stuff I had to teach my students so they could do my course simply amazed me, and I doubt things are better these days.

allenk4- Yeah, too bad that "teaching to the test" has acquired a, uhm....new connotation as in, "gaming the system". I`ve always figured that if they learn the curriculum any testing shouldn`t be a big deal.

 

[Bunky]

I find it odd that the Standardized Tests are such a big deal (though I agree that they`re sure taking up a lot of time). They`re not considered a big issue my area and the students in our system score very well without any specialized "teach to the test"-prep.

I`ve seen portions of the tests my local public school system uses and they were so easy that I`d fully expect any remotely diligent student could score well just by having received a normal education. And that`s what the experience with them *is* in my neck of the woods.

I find it odd too. I assume the lectures already cover areas that would be in standardized tests without extra work. If there is too much testing, then the students are just not absorbing the material. It would be the fault of many parties: parents, the students, the school, and the local and state regulating parties.

 

[Ronkh]

I find it odd too. I assume the lectures already cover areas that would be in standardized tests without extra work. If there is too much testing, then the students are just not absorbing the material. It would be the fault of many parties: parents, the students, the school, and the local and state regulating parties.

Look up on FB opt out charlotte county, or opt out Sarasota. You`ll get the idea. Schools, school systems as well as the superintendent actually threaten parents with retention, as well as intimidate the kids and try to punish the parents. Since their funding depends on a satisfactory grade.

 

[Accumulator]

I find it odd too. I assume the lectures already cover areas that would be in standardized tests without extra work. If there is too much testing, then the students are just not absorbing the material. It would be the fault of many parties: parents, the students, the school, and the local and state regulating parties.

Yeah....[sigh] it`s a complicated dynamic, especially where younger kids are concerned. Everything from nutrition and the parents` nurturing/not, to how some school districts proscribe what the teachers are allowed to do.

But I`m simply adamant that testing merely gauges how well the students learned the material. They oughta learn it well and thus test well; if they test poorly then they don`t know the material for some reason.

And to me, "knowing the material" doesn`t mean just being able to spew it out on a test and never know/use it again. I still remember stuff of virtually zero daily value from classes I had decades ago. Once the learning gets to genuine assimilation and synthesis, it`s not just a matter of being able to answer a test question.

Heh heh, all this talk about students and testing reminds me of when I challenged my students to compare their exams from my class with those of another teacher (tests were blank with answers going on a separate page). FWIW, he used "practice tests" and I didn`t, so his students spent more time "testing" while mine spent more time listening to me lecture. Predictable results, including the other faculty member developing a huge grudge. They know the stuff or they don`t.

 

[Bunky]

The celebrity culture does not encourage learning. They are looking for drones to drain money from. There are just too many distractions in kids` lives now as well that can inhibit learning.

 

[rlmccarty2000]

The best teachers that I can remember were a combination of educators and entertainers. You have to get the kids attention and hold it long enough for them to learn and want to learn. If I was in school today I would zone out when they started teaching the tests. I`ve never bought into the "no kid left behind" mantra. Some kids learn slower than other and some faster, but we seem to cater to the slower kids and I don`t think that is a good idea. I guess we need to educate the parents first.

 

[Ronkh]

The best teachers that I can remember were a combination of educators and entertainers. You have to get the kids attention and hold it long enough for them to learn and want to learn. If I was in school today I would zone out when they started teaching the tests. I`ve never bought into the "no kid left behind" mantra. Some kids learn slower than other and some faster, but we seem to cater to the slower kids and I don`t think that is a good idea. I guess we need to educate the parents first.

IMHO, teachers when I was young taught. THey knew how to "reach" kids. Not just stuff an adhd pill in their mouth and read them the lesson........

 

[davidc]

The best teachers that I can remember were a combination of educators and entertainers. You have to get the kids attention and hold it long enough for them to learn and want to learn. If I was in school today I would zone out when they started teaching the tests. I`ve never bought into the "no kid left behind" mantra. Some kids learn slower than other and some faster, but we seem to cater to the slower kids and I don`t think that is a good idea. I guess we need to educate the parents first.

Not to get off subject but the best teacher I remember taught English ( I hated English). She was a Blonde about 5` 5" 105lbs and wore a mini-skirt and high heels, don`t really remember much about pronouns,nouns etc. Just sayin

Dave

 

[Ronkh]

Not to get off subject but the best teacher I remember taught English ( I hated English). She was a Blonde about 5` 5" 105lbs and wore a mini-skirt and high heels, don`t really remember much about pronouns,nouns etc. Just sayin

Dave

But she did keep your attention..........

 

[Poorboy]

can`t believe this thread is still going and has nothing to do with the topic any longer :lol2:

 

[davidc]

But she did keep your attention..........

Oh yeah, it was junior high and the testosterone levels were escalating. Now at 62 everything is going the other way. It was a fun ride tho.

Dave

 

[Accumulator]

The celebrity culture does not encourage learning. They are looking for drones to drain money from. There are just too many distractions in kids` lives now as well that can inhibit learning.

Agree completely, though I`ll posit that the kids can avoid those distractions if the parents work at it and instill the proper values (first-hand knowledge of numerous examples, kids who are all about getting prepared for Life).

The best teachers that I can remember were a combination of educators and entertainers.

Yes, and that doesn`t mean they were pushovers. Gotta maintain their interest (and respect).

I`ve never bought into the "no kid left behind" mantra. Some kids learn slower than other and some faster, but we seem to cater to the slower kids and I don`t think that is a good idea..

The slower kids shouldn`t bring down the rest of the class. I had students who needed a *LOT* of "special attention", even to the point of getting to take exams under special circumstances. They did fine (yes, FINE, they mastered the material) and the other kids weren`t held back. But hey, that was college and younger kids would be a different situation entirely.

I guess we need to educate the parents first..

Heh heh, there oughta be a test for parenthood A very tough, rigorous test. "Oh, it`s gonna work out OK..." just isn`t good enough.

IMHO, teachers when I was young taught. THey knew how to "reach" kids. Not just stuff an adhd pill in their mouth and read them the lesson........

Noting that I have no problem with medicating people if it`s done properly and achieves the objective..yea, that "reaching kids" is critical. And reading the lesson/overhead/powerpoint to them...what`s that [crap] about?!? They can read for themselves, that`s not what a teacher is there for...absolute Pet Peeve of mine.

Not to get off subject but the best teacher I remember taught English ( I hated English). She was a Blonde about 5` 5" 105lbs and wore a mini-skirt and high heels, don`t really remember much about pronouns,nouns etc. Just sayin

For me it was the young (fresh outta college) Psych teacher! Actually did get me interested in Psychology, though I was plenty, uhm...distracted in her class. She ended up running the school district too, still strikes me as attractive.

 

[Ronkh]

Noting that I have no problem with medicating people if it`s done properly and achieves the objective..yea, that "reaching kids" is critical. And reading the lesson/overhead/powerpoint to them...what`s that [crap] about?!? They can read for themselves, that`s not what a teacher is there for...absolute Pet Peeve of mine.

If it`s done properly......... big if.. I can tell you that in a large university in CT that there is over 50% of the student population that is on adhd meds or tranquilizers..

And yeah, just reading the power point to the kids instead of using powerpoint to generate discussion/understanding/learning is useless.

 

[Accumulator]

And yeah, just reading the power point to the kids instead of using powerpoint to generate discussion/understanding/learning is useless.

Some of my Fund Managers need to learn that lesson, they think that reading the material that I already have amounts to an Investor Update..I`m just killing time until they finish doing that [crap] and I can ask `em for something I don`t already know.

 

[Ronkh]

 

[Swanicyouth]

If it`s done properly......... big if.. I can tell you that in a large university in CT that there is over 50% of the student population that is on adhd meds or tranquilizers..

Lolz. I know. Keep the ADHD meds coming. The medical community is cleaning up on this racket. These meds are highly addictive (C2 - the most regulated class of medications) - so it`s a great way to "introduce" the younger generation to drugs.

I know, they really need it. But if they were handing out these drugs when I was a kid - I`d be on all of them. I had all the "bad kid" tags attached to me.

The funny thing is, I deal with a lot of Drs - and not a single one of THEIR kids is on ANY of these medications. Not one.

 

[Ronkh]

Lolz. I know. Keep the ADHD meds coming. The medical community is cleaning up on this racket. These meds are highly addictive (C2 - the most regulated class of medications) - so it`s a great way to "introduce" the younger generation to drugs.

I know, they really need it. But if they were handing out these drugs when I was a kid - I`d be on all of them. I had all the "bad kid" tags attached to me.

The funny thing is, I deal with a lot of Drs - and not a single one of THEIR kids is on ANY of these medications. Not one.

Me too, and that is sorta my point. It`s easier to shove a pill in their throat, instead of trying to "reach" them and the kid and teacher and parents all have a recipe for future success.......

 

[Accumulator]

Rohnkh- What`s that whiteboard from? Replace that Beefaroni with something better and loose the garlic roll and that`d be an OK meal even by my standards.

 

[Accumulator]

The funny thing is, I deal with a lot of Drs - and not a single one of THEIR kids is on ANY of these medications. Not one.

Well, I bet most MDs` kids get a very different start in life compared to a lot of kids, beginning long before they`re even born. Lots of kids are damaged long before birth, and not nutured properly during their preschool years. Not all ADD/etc. stuff is a "destined to be born that way, it was simply gonna happen" situation.

 

[Ronkh]

Rohnkh- What`s that whiteboard from? Replace that Beefaroni with something better and loose the garlic roll and that`d be an OK meal even by my standards.

That was from Jen`s kids school last night. I was laughing at how pc everyone is now. I know in my school it would have been changed to "Barfaroni" within 60 seconds of being put up.