Obama to overhaul education system.

[BabyPiglet]

I didn't want to make a new thread that could possibly cause problems, but I really wanted to talk about this. I think most of us would agree that the education system needs help, so could we please try to have a civil conversation?

http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/03/10/obama.education/index.html?eref=rss_topstories

 

[HSMndLKfan92]

The only part of this plan that I'm not a fan of is a longer school year. Other than that, good job for starting to clean up our act the education sector.

*Runs before flamefest ensues*

 

[chisnpeke]

Ohio's governor wants to make the school year longer too, among many new things he wants to instill.

The education system clearly needs help.

 

[Ppufi]

I also agree with everything but the longer school year. I'd go for longer days with a longer weekend, though.

 

[BabyPiglet]

I'm thinking that if you overhaul it in the correct way, a longer school year won't be necassary. Teachers need to find a way to make the material interesting for the students because now they're just sitting bored in a classroom all day listening to monotony.

There are many many ways to help get grades up without lowering the freaking standards. Each students is different, so more one on one time would possibly be effective. Dumbing down the material isn't going to help the students when they move on to college and the real world.

Merit pay for teachers = Big win. Teachers and students should be more challenged.

I think starting in high school it's kind of null and void to keep teaching at such a slow pace. In college and RL things whoosh by so students should be prepared for that.

I'm not sure how, but there has got to be some way to make school better for these kids, so that they'll actually want to show up.

 

[~Serenity~]

It won't affect me, I'm homeschooled. =D

But! I do think the school's need help and I'm glad he's going to do something about it.

 

[K-Shong99]

i'm not obama's biggest fan, but i really respect the way that he is stepping up and trying to get the job done.
hats off to him.
the school system does need some work.

 

[Babyjustrun]

Yeah most people are not gonna be a fan of longer school years, or longer school days.
But honestly, we take into account of things like snow days (which you guys get a lot more of due to the fact that y'all cancel school the night before and nothing might happen) and the mandatory holidays... you miss a lot of school. Add trips and stuff... that's a lot of missed instructional hours.

I think for this, it's not a case of what's gonna feel to be convenient or relaxing, but it's going to be what's needed to make sure everyone's getting the time in class they need.

 

[Addicted.to.Speed]

I think increasing the school year would actually be worse for the country...My school year consits for 180 days of school. I spend 7 hours and 20 minutes at school(bell to bell) and 6 hours and 11 minutes of those 7 hours and 29 minutes i spend in class. (8 classes all 45 minutes long roughly with a half hour lunch and 4 minute passing periods...I think my math is right but you get the point)...For 180 days school is basicallly your life, thats almost half the year. When I'm not in school i spend time socializing with friends and traveling the country experiencing those life skills that really no one can teach. No teacher can teach you how to interact with other students, its one of those life skills you have to teach yourself.(Yes i know you can tell a kid to be respectful, but that kid doesnt understand until he/she experiences being disrepected or disrepectful to others)

Most of the population believes that it's poor teaching that is hurting us in the stats for intelligence. I would argue that fact that about 1/3 of my school doesnt even care about school. It used to be a so hard to go to school, but now its required. I think the thought process of China about education is actually a good one. They have everyone in school and the kids have to preform to a certain degree to move on into the next level. (This is not getting F's, this is getting like C's...i believe) They also have to preform up to a certain standard on tests, this part i dont agree on cause some people arn't good at taking tests, so i think it should be a combination of both and the school administration to decide...There would have to be a set of guidelines to enforce this. Now those people who dont care have to go work at resturants and fulfill the "lower class jobs"(I know that sounds bad, but just take the idea into thought) Now as the the grade level increases the standards change and increase. I think that this would be a great help to achieve the higher test scores and "weed" out the people who dont care.
This process would exclude people with learning disabilites, mentally challenged, ect...

Just my .02 cents

 

[That_Australian_Kid]

I cant read the article, becus that would look weird while im supposed to be typing stuff.

But in aus we have 40 weeks of school, two terms of 10 one of 9 and one of 11, 5 standard lessons a day with some having an early lesson 0 or late lesson 6, one hour for lunch half an hour for 20 minute recess and 10 minute roll call.
andon tuesdays and thursday we have 45 mins for tutoring or assembly which makes lessons 3 and 4 45 mins and lunch 45 mins.


if that made any sense

We have 2 weeks of vacation in spring and autumn and 8 weeks of vacation in summer and 3 weeks in winter

I hope i made sense..
im just getting that out there

and this is at my school whichis a private school, so we are different to public schools. but were basically all in the same structure.

and this only applies to high schools.
which is 7th grade to 12th grade.

im just filling up this thread with useless crap.

 

[bananda]

I cant read the article, becus that would look weird while im supposed to be typing stuff.

But in aus we have 40 weeks of school, two terms of 10 one of 9 and one of 11, 5 standard lessons a day with some having an early lesson 0 or late lesson 6, one hour for lunch half an hour for 20 minute recess and 10 minute roll call.
andon tuesdays and thursday we have 45 mins for tutoring or assembly which makes lessons 3 and 4 45 mins and lunch 45 mins.


if that made any sense

We have 2 weeks of vacation in spring and autumn and 8 weeks of vacation in summer and 3 weeks in winter

I hope i made sense..
im just getting that out there

and this is at my school whichis a private school, so we are different to public schools. but were basically all in the same structure.

and this only applies to high schools.
which is 7th grade to 12th grade.

im just filling up this thread with useless crap.

my school was different. its a private school and its kinder-yr12.

we had 8 lessons (40mins each). the worst thing was double lessons, especially maths. we had i think it was about 15mins roll call before all that.

 

[Babyjustrun]

I think increasing the school year would actually be worse for the country...My school year consits for 180 days of school. I spend 7 hours and 20 minutes at school(bell to bell) and 6 hours and 11 minutes of those 7 hours and 29 minutes i spend in class. (8 classes all 45 minutes long roughly with a half hour lunch and 4 minute passing periods...I think my math is right but you get the point)...For 180 days school is basicallly your life, thats almost half the year. When I'm not in school i spend time socializing with friends and traveling the country experiencing those life skills that really no one can teach. No teacher can teach you how to interact with other students, its one of those life skills you have to teach yourself.(Yes i know you can tell a kid to be respectful, but that kid doesnt understand until he/she experiences being disrepected or disrepectful to others)

Most of the population believes that it's poor teaching that is hurting us in the stats for intelligence. I would argue that fact that about 1/3 of my school doesnt even care about school. It used to be a so hard to go to school, but now its required. I think the thought process of China about education is actually a good one. They have everyone in school and the kids have to preform to a certain degree to move on into the next level. (This is not getting F's, this is getting like C's...i believe) They also have to preform up to a certain standard on tests, this part i dont agree on cause some people arn't good at taking tests, so i think it should be a combination of both and the school administration to decide...There would have to be a set of guidelines to enforce this. Now those people who dont care have to go work at resturants and fulfill the "lower class jobs"(I know that sounds bad, but just take the idea into thought) Now as the the grade level increases the standards change and increase. I think that this would be a great help to achieve the higher test scores and "weed" out the people who dont care.
This process would exclude people with learning disabilites, mentally challenged, ect...

Just my .02 cents

I don't know if they do this in the States..
But in New Brunswick, before high school, it's not possible to fail a grade. I'm talking, you fail? Oh you'll be suggested to take summer school, but if you can't afford it. Whatever, we'll let you pass, maybe you'll do better next year. We can't have older kids in a grade 3 class.
So because of this, the students don't try. They know the teachers will hound them, and eventually give up and pass them. So when they get to high school, they don't think they have to do their work. Youc an't get your report card in HS unless you have everyhting handed in, all tests written. So we've got a really high amount of kids at my school who aren't in the rgith grade because in elementary and JH they weren't doing their work, but still passing.

 

[Addicted.to.Speed]

I don't know if they do this in the States..
But in New Brunswick, before high school, it's not possible to fail a grade. I'm talking, you fail? Oh you'll be suggested to take summer school, but if you can't afford it. Whatever, we'll let you pass, maybe you'll do better next year. We can't have older kids in a grade 3 class.
So because of this, the students don't try. They know the teachers will hound them, and eventually give up and pass them. So when they get to high school, they don't think they have to do their work. Youc an't get your report card in HS unless you have everyhting handed in, all tests written. So we've got a really high amount of kids at my school who aren't in the rgith grade because in elementary and JH they weren't doing their work, but still passing.

So your suggesting that....
Sorry i dont really get the point of your post

 

[That_Australian_Kid]

my school was different. its a private school and its kinder-yr12.

we had 8 lessons (40mins each). the worst thing was double lessons, especially maths. we had i think it was about 15mins roll call before all that.

Ours is kinder y12 too.

And i think some schools around here are like yours. shore.
Try double maths, on a monday.
2 HOURS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Babyjustrun]

So your suggesting that....
Sorry i dont really get the point of your post

The point of my post is that if you fail, you fail. If you don't do your work, you shouldn't be pushed ahead for the sake of fitting in.
I think educational systems allow students to slack too much when they're young, and when they get older they feel as though they can still slack that much.
I'm not entirely proposing anything.

 

[Addicted.to.Speed]

The point of my post is that if you fail, you fail. If you don't do your work, you shouldn't be pushed ahead for the sake of fitting in.
I think educational systems allow students to slack too much when they're young, and when they get older they feel as though they can still slack that much.
I'm not entirely proposing anything.

oh, okay...well thats why i like the way China handels their education

 

[BabyPiglet]

I don't think longer school years would be difficult if the students were actually interested in the material. They could actually really help.

 

[pigletgirl]

I hope he helps with the school system around here. It's terrible the way it is now!

We have alot of ESL (english as second language) and cannot pass the AIMS (our state test -- you must pass it to receive a HS diploma). As of right now, they are cutting the funds create the program to help these students learn english.

I also hope the fine arts are re-introduced, and are encouraged, and not be pushed to the wayside.

 

[questionmark]

i'm glad our education system is finally trying to pick itself up.
i'm a kinda sad that this means that i'm going to be dumber than our future generations though, lol

 

[pigletgirl]

I don't think we'll be dumber per se, but definitely didn't get what our parents received in school! They have made it alot easier on kids these days.