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keltic63
the kilted one
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Joined: 17 May 2002
Posts: 8574
Location: under the weather
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 Posted: 11/01/02 - 13:54 Post subject: the stuff is hitting the fan as we speak......
principal in this building called a meeting this past tuesday, and another this morning. we will have more meetings next week: All regarding Achievement testing and the fact that our students did poorly on the math section. He has made it clear that the test scores will improve on the test that is given in the spring. Classroom teachers are all a buzz. this means they will have to change the way they teach. Principal came to me personally this morning to talk about how I can help. I'm on board with him; I've been a big critic of the teaching strategies that our teachers use (they are antiquated). he told me that he will be speaking with each teacher in the building and letting them know that he expects changes, that they will get moving on this, or they should haul their a$$es out the door.
ramifications of another poor score: we must write a strategic plan for improvement, then implement it. we must notify parents that we don't do a good job and offer the students placement in another school in the district if they choose. an additional low score means that the teachers of this building are scattered to other buildings and all new teachers and administrators are brought in. if the low scores continue, then the state could take over.
I'll be avoiding the teacher's lounge for a while.
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monk25
Member
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Joined: 25 Jun 2002
Posts: 3922
Location: The Beautiful South Shore of L.I. NY
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Posted: 11/01/02 - 13:56 Post subject:
Yeesh! 
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jrjo
Gone Fishin
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Joined: 15 May 2002
Posts: 16451
Location: Lake Wobegon, MN
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Posted: 11/01/02 - 13:57 Post subject:
You didn't give him the dog training post ideas, did ya?
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keltic63
the kilted one
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Joined: 17 May 2002
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Posted: 11/01/02 - 14:00 Post subject:
| jrjo wrote: | | You didn't give him the dog training post ideas, did ya? |
just the stuff about swift beatings and a big stick
that's ok, don't you think? 
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akern
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Joined: 31 May 2002
Posts: 17149
Location: CTU
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Posted: 11/01/02 - 14:02 Post subject:
| keltic63 wrote: | | jrjo wrote: | | You didn't give him the dog training post ideas, did ya? |
just the stuff about swift beatings and a big stick
that's ok, don't you think? |
Sounds good to me! 
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copteacher
Adjunct
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Joined: 08 Jun 2002
Posts: 20588
Location: Teaching in the Halls of Justice
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Posted: 11/01/02 - 14:04 Post subject:
i know that music has quite a bit of math to it as well
there are definite ways you could help
perhaps have them memorize school house rock math or something
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keltic63
the kilted one
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Joined: 17 May 2002
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Posted: 11/01/02 - 14:16 Post subject:
the interesting comment that the Princ. made was that the Phys. Ed. teacher and myself are the ones that the kids listen to. the students do well in our classes because they are classes that are outcomes-based: you have to be able to DO something in order to make the grade. We have a lot of influence on the kids (plus we're really cool guys) The princ. is counting on us to back up what's being done in the classroom. There is a lot of math connected to music, as well as science and reading skills. students have to apply all those things here! they don't always apply them in the classroom: read about them, do a worksheet (copy off the kid next to them) and move on. I'm nearly giddy with excitement about how these classroom teachers are gonna be sweating this. (as the music teacher, I sometimes feel like I run a dog and pony show. I have no downtime, I'm on from the moment those kids walk into the classroom. it's their turn to do handstands in front of the kids to try to get their attention)
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cherylpf
crazy cat lady
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Joined: 14 May 2002
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Posted: 11/01/02 - 15:08 Post subject:
I don't remember now where you are, but the penalties you mention for schools with continued low scores sounds a lot like the Kentucky Education Reform Act (at least it was called that when I was in school). Very similar penalties and it resulted in a lot of what you are talking about. Fortunately I went to schools that performed well, so we were on the receiving end of additional funding and bnouses.
Here in Texas the schools are judged based on the TAAS test which I'm not sure what it stands for but the big controversy among state educators is teachers "teaching to" the test in order for schools to make the grade.
Anyway, I think this is pretty exciting for you though, having been in music my entire life (and I've taken several of those "dog and pony" courses-haha!) I know what you have to put up with both from the kids and the rest of the faculty. It also says volumes to you that you do communicate effectively to the kids. Its not just your subject, you're not giving yourself credit! I've had great music teachers but some very poor ones as well! Hopefully this will gain you some additional, much deserved respect!
Keep us posted...
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monk25
Member
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Joined: 25 Jun 2002
Posts: 3922
Location: The Beautiful South Shore of L.I. NY
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Posted: 11/01/02 - 15:12 Post subject:
Here in NYC, the teacher is considered sucessful if the kids don't kill one another.
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runswithscissors
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Joined: 15 May 2002
Posts: 8797
Location: In a badger state of mind
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Posted: 11/01/02 - 15:14 Post subject:
Amen to the bad music teachers, Cheryl. I've had plenty in my time. I've also had plenty of great teachers in other subjects, including math. Attitude is everything. At least it seems like they are blaming the right people and not the kids.
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monk25
Member
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Joined: 25 Jun 2002
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Posted: 11/01/02 - 15:18 Post subject:
Not to make excuses for the teachers, but where are the parents in all this? If my kids were doing badly in a class, I would get involved, in a big way, just like my mom did with me (although most of the time it was my lack of initiative that caused the problems.)
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keltic63
the kilted one
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Joined: 17 May 2002
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Location: under the weather
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Posted: 11/01/02 - 15:30 Post subject:
| monk25 wrote: | | Not to make excuses for the teachers, but where are the parents in all this? If my kids were doing badly in a class, I would get involved, in a big way, just like my mom did with me (although most of the time it was my lack of initiative that caused the problems.) |
that is a good question, because the law is written that by the year 2014 100% of the students must meet the standards (including learning disabled kids) No school will be able to meet this goal. There are too many variables: teachers, schools, poverty, parent involvement, funding, etc. Our students are not necessarily doing poorly in class, they just didn't do well on this test. our kids have the math skills, but they lost points on how they arrived at the answers. part of the scoring includes an explanation of the process. you can get points for a wrong answer if you explain the steps, even if you add wrong at the end.
cheryl, our test is called the PSSA, and it does sound simialr to what you are talking about. I'm in PA.
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Lord Vader
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Joined: 20 May 2002
Posts: 152
Location: The Rocky Mountain State
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Posted: 11/01/02 - 15:41 Post subject:
It all boils down to "accountability". Who is accountable for a student getting a low grade? I think everyone is placing too much accountability on the teacher, since he/she is the obvious target. The parents should be accountable too. Maybe the parents should be held accountable too, and should have to pay a fee for their child's low grades (A=$0, B=$10, C=$25, D=$50, F=$100), and donate the funds to some charity; then maybe parents would get more involved. And what about the student? They are already getting the low grade, so I think that is enough accountability for them. Maybe, for every F, the student would have to clean a toilet or something... Or, wait! Shock therapy! There's the ticket! Let's zap everyone that gets an F. They could televise it...that would be cool. Yeah, yeah! Sorry, got carried away there for a sec.
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