Help me understand . . .

[algunz]

It's amazing how it seems to be rampant. Of course the expectations are that we, as teachers, modify lessons and activities for them. I am perfectly willing to accomodate when appropriate, but I have so many kids who just fall back on their diagnosis for an easy out. These are 12 and 13 year olds; they know how to manipulate the system. It's rather frustrating, and their parents seem blind to the truth.

[thelastgreatman]

Well yeah, the fact that they get extra consideration--at least in my school if you were ADD or ADHD you got extra time on tests and stuff, one kid I know had it in his conditions that he was permitted five minutes of time to stare out the window per class--is another reason it's kind of a good move for any parent of a student who's not doing so well. Work the bullshit bureaucracy? Why not.

[algunz]

I guess. As a parent, I'm not sure I would be so willing to accomodate my child's need for "extra" help. They don't get extra help in the real world. It seems to be setting their kids up for a life of inadequacy as they try to matriculate with their "lessened" skills.

[thelastgreatman]

Yeah, without all that experience mastering rote memorization and reading as a group, how are they ever going to get a decent job?

[algunz]

School has changed some, LGM. You need to move on from your sad memories and recognize that it is for the most part a very different place.

[thelastgreatman]

Has it, really? Do tell, Gunz, because every kid I've ever talked to gives me pretty much the same report.

[TomAz]

. . . why so many kids are "suffering" from ADHD these days?

Is it genetics or environment? I've been teaching for 10 years and it seems that the numbers almost double each year. I have easily close to 30% of my students with this diagnosis. What is happening?

television and video games. not enough time outside playing stickball or beating up wimps.

[miscorrections]

What kind of kids are you talking to, though? My experience with education, both private and public, was incredibly positive. If you're talking to kids who simply don't like school, or were taught not to value education, then yeah, you're not going to get a favorable opinion. Talk to the ones who actually care and it might be different.

[thelastgreatman]

So you're saying I should stop talking to the kids who don't like school and rather talk to the kids that like school to get an unbiased opinion? Sounds pretty biased.

[TomAz]

Randy is talking to the kids he buys his smack from.

school did kind of suck, except that it was better than anything after it.

[miscorrections]

You could try talking to both. It probably still comes out more on the anti-school side, because so many parents don't really emphasize the value of education, but that's not really school's fault.

[thelastgreatman]

Well, but I was anti-school. That was truth for me. So why would I suddenly agree with the opposition? Didn't you have a test recently that was almost entirely memorization?

[miscorrections]

And haven't I had plenty of classes and labs where I'm not given a set of instructions, but have to think critically about how to solve the problems or run the experiment?

[algunz]

Sadly, I understand that there will always be a population of kids that don't like school. My memories of a public school education was a lot of tedious drill work and memorization as Randy referred to, but know things have changed. There are still a few of those veteran teachers who stick to the old methods, but the newer teachers have been taught far more engaging ways to teach. Our goal is to push the kids to their higher levels of thinking.

[thelastgreatman]

How would I know? You can answer that if you want. How many of them were in a public school, praytell?

[thelastgreatman]

Sadly, I understand that there will always be a population of kids that don't like school. My memories of a public school education was a lot of tedious drill work and memorization as Randy referred to, but know things have changed. There are still a few of those veteran teachers who stick to the old methods, but the newer teachers have been taught far more engaging ways to teach. Our goal is to push the kids to their higher levels of thinking.

Yeah, from what I've seen of No Child Left Behind that certainly seems to be the case. Are you only talking about rich schools or all of them? And how about you give an example of this?

[algunz]

television and video games. not enough time outside playing stickball or beating up wimps.

I agree, it's that damn MTV. No sense of patience, they lack the willingness to just sit and absorb - to let the world just fold out around them. Immediate gratification is all they need/want.

[miscorrections]

How would I know? You can answer that if you want. How many of them were in a public school, praytell?

I was only a private school brat through fourth grade. And I had an outstanding education at my public elementary, junior, and high schools. And university. I found that most the teachers really do care, and that as long as you're willing to meet them halfway you get the opportunity to learn so much.

[algunz]

Yeah, from what I've seen of No Child Left Behind that certainly seems to be the case. Are you only talking about rich schools or all of them? And how about you give an example of this?

What do you mean by an example? Do you want me to post a lesson plan?

[thelastgreatman]

What do you mean by an example? Do you want me to post a lesson plan?

No, I want you to give an example. Try anecdote form. You know--fucking say something, dipshit.

[Cpt. Funkaho]

I like how this thread has turned into a private discussion between Randy and algunz about the state of today's American education.

Won't someone please think of the children?

[algunz]

That's what I'm doing, capt'n. I'm doing it everyday. (except today, I stayed home because I have a horrible cold)

An example of what Randy? An example of how teachers do things that are more interesting than just worksheets and memorization? What's the point with you? No matter what I might say, you'd have some response that tears it apart. I don't have the energy to deal with that today.

[thelastgreatman]

Wow, couldn't even come up with one, eh? Things must have really changed like you said.

[miscorrections]

Just because you had a bad experience doesn't mean the education system as a whole is a failure.

[algunz]

Wow, couldn't even come up with one, eh? Things must have really changed like you said.

Ok, my current lesson involves the kids having to take a photograph around campus and then from memory write a paragraph describing the picture. Their goal is to create imagery using sensory words and figurative language. Next, they will get the photo back to make any adjustments and improve their paragraphs. Last, they will get someone else's paragraph and try, based on the description, to match up the paragraphs to the photographs.

I hope that's a little more interesting than just writing down definitions and doing worksheets.

[thelastgreatman]

Certainly. Nice and time-consuming though, isn't it? Perhaps you could just have them read.

[algunz]

But, that would just bore me too.

[algunz]

. . . why this board is so uninspired.

[boarderwoozel3]

. . . why this board is so uninspired.

uninspired, thats a very Project Runway word

[algunz]

"Make it work."