My Kids Math is Driving Me Crazy

Is there anyone else out there who finds it a bit draining to come home from work and check your child’s homework? The math that they give 5^th graders today is so far ahead of the math I did in 5^th grade that it seems like she is already in High School! Last night my daughter was reviewing some problems with area and perimeter of complex forms. The first problem almost killed me. So, my question is why? Why are we, as a nation, torturing our children with ever increasingly difficult math in the name of higher standards?

I do not believe it helps our youth to be forced to attempt complex math, in elementary or even middle school, because for most of them their minds have not developed enough to deal with abstract notions of math. There is a reason why in the past we were not asked to solve mixed fractions until the end of 5^th grade, the normal development of the brain. Yet, our children are being forced to attempt problems their minds may not have developed enough to fully understand.

I can not tell you a single time I have needed or used Algebra in the 32 years since High School. I have used some Geometry when I worked in construction in my teens and twenties. I have a Masters Degree. I have worked in construction, sales, restaurants, and in education. Yet, I can’t remember a time I have used or needed Algebra.

I attended a school in England for a year when I was 20. The people I met from other countries had a different experience in education.  In none of the countries that we are apparently competing against do they try to make all their students take Algebra. Actually, by the time kids are in middle school they are being guided toward education that might help them in trades or whatever they show an aptitude for. In a way I guess that system makes teenagers think about what they are going to do as a profession simply by training them for one.

How does that related to my child (and thus me and you) being tortured by higher math? In most other countries only students with an aptitude for math take higher math unlike here where we force all students to take Algebra. That might explain the higher scores other countries score in comparison to the USA! I am an educator in a Middle School. Nothing produces failure, low self-esteem and drop outs like the unnecessary and ill-conceived plan to force our youth to take Algebra in Middle School. Nothing. 

Our educational system should help not hinder our children.

Thus saith me.

Sense?

I stopped expecting my district to make sense years ago. We are  what we are.

A few months ago we were told that a K-6 Charter School was going to be placed on our Middle School campus. Just imagine the kindergartners playing in the field with the 8th graders. There is a reason why normal elementary schools have the kindergartners in their own little gated area away from the general population! They'll get mowed down, stepped on, and probably lost! I mean the idea isn't even stupid. The concerns of parking, drop off and pick up of students, recess space, eating areas and library use all make the proposal a bit questionable to say the least. Political? 

Apparently, someone on a higher pay scale than me decided it might not be the ideal place for a charter school. I actually don't even care what the reason not to place a K-6 charter on my campus was because I doubt if it would make much sense to me anyhow.

What I Hate About the Teachers Cafeteria

Well, the food, that’s a given.

I hate the children’s meals with unsweetened ice tea. The pizza, the lasagna, the chicken nuggets…is it any wonder why students buy Flaming Hots to eat.

But, that’s not what I really dislike about the teacher’s cafeteria. It’s the whine, without the cheese. I appreciate a good rant every now-and-then, but, everyday it’s the same sad song. You see, if all you do is complain, whine and snivel about how bad your class is then that’s all you ever notice.

Did you ever notice that some teacher’s year-in and year-out have bad classes? “Oh, this class is awful! These kids don’t want to do anything! They are so disrespectful and their parents are no help at all!” Maybe it’s not the kids?

Successful people overcome obstacles rather than allow themselves to be controlled or limited by them. Negative people only see problems because it gives them an excuse for their lack of success.

I salute the teachers I know he consider every student failure a failure of their own and strive to help every student become successful. 

TGIF!!!!!!!!!!

Thank God it’s Friday because:

·        It’s not Thursday (a la Ground Hog’s Day) (4/16/10)

·        Only 9 more left (including today) and tomorrow I get to watch my son race his pinewood derby car with the big boys ;) (4/16/10)

·        Only 8 more left and I’m tired of apparently being the Dean of Bonehead U. (4/30/10)

OK, Enough Already, Now Retire

About seven or eight years ago I began a master’s degree program in educational leadership. After a few classes I was accepted into a federal leadership grant for urban school administration. Very nice, I only had to pay for books and few classes to earn my master’s along with my administrative credential. All throughout the program I kept hearing how in five to seven years over 30% or so of the administrators for our district were going to retire.

Ok, times up. Where are all these retirees? Retire already and get out of the way!

So, memo to possible retirees: Retire already! Next year there will be pay cuts and more work. Isn’t it time for you to be relaxing, golfing, traveling, telling stories about back in the day?

A Day Off….Campus

Off-campus training can be nice sometimes. Yesterday was almost one of those days. The speaker was great, my colleagues were good, and it was at a local school so I didn’t have very far to drive. But, with all the cut backs we had to have the meeting at a local school auditorium and buy our own lunch. They did have coffee, well, the teacher’s cafeteria version of a coffee-like substance. The seats were hard, cold metal.

Now, I guess I am like Bilbo Baguns, reaching middle age and beginning to be stout. So, being subjected to sitting in a cold, hard metal chair is more of a torture experience than anything else. I just might agree to anything after a couple of hours in one of those devises.

One thing the speaker said that I thought was timely was that we as teachers often forget that our attitude often dictates the mood of the class. She is from the south and in their state they don’t have a union and a surplus of teachers. Her point was that in light of the current economic state we should all be thankful that we have jobs. She’s right. Even in my state and district where we have a union, there are bills being passed that will make it easier to cleanse schools/districts of underperforming teachers.

By-the-way, the training was on discipline. Good stuff.

I am blessed to work at a pretty good school. Most of the staff plays well with others and tries to get along and help each other. I do thank my God, for a job.

I Got You Babe

I would like to give a "blogout" to my lovely wife!
Thanks for being such a great wife and putting up with me for the last 14 years.
Thanks for being a spectacular mother to our children.

Here's to love that lasts a life time and in the words of Sonny Bono, it's always good to know, "I got you babe."

PTVoice