Why are children isn't learning

[preciousdove]

The English Language Learner classes in Edison High School in Minneapolis have triple the maximum number of students suggested by the curriculum. They have one computer for every three students, one book for every two students and students had to stand the first 7 days of school because there weren't enough places to sit. The beginning class teacher had been moved from a Jr High and was not instructed nor licensed in the curriculum. These are kids who have been here only a year or so and they need all they help they can get so they end up in our society not our prisons. The ELL coordinator was let go after school started and the three ELL teachers were told they could take over her responsibilities.

There is one counselor for the whole school. He and one other person were supposed to do the computerized class assignments. Half way through the input the computer crashed, the back up failed and they had to start all over. Half of the students had nowhere to go the first three days. Students who had passed their tests over the summer had to wait to be advanced and those who were held back were automatically advanced by the computer program. There is nobody to do hall security.

There was only dark colored paper for the one copier that was working and it had no staples until a donation was made.

On another note due to drastically falling research dollars since 911 at the University of Minnesota School of Agricultural Engineering most of the labs are slated to be closed remodeled into office space.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

1. Sending Education dollars to defense contractors is eating the seed corn.

[Turn CO Blue]

2. One resource that helps kids learn

and that doesn't cost any extra money - is other kids. In Montessori, each child goes to school on a three-year cycle.

The first year of the cycle they just learn

the second year they split learning and teaching the younger children,

the third year they spend entirely teaching the younger children (which is, as the crux of the issue, ironically when they really learn and absorb the most about the material!) Very cliche', but if you want to become an expert in something -- teach it.

I'm not discounting the need for better resources, equipment, etc. at all but until we as a society learn to invest in the future leadership and citizenry of this country (when oh when), it seems we'll have to get more creative.

[newyawker99]

4. Hi Turn CO Blue!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[Turn CO Blue]

5. Thank you - I'm on DU quite often ...

I can't seem to "get over it" (meaning the election) as everybody keeps telling me to do.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

3. The other day I talked to a woman who had just retired from

teaching in a Minneapolis suburb.

Because of cutbacks, all the record keeping for all three high schools in the district is done by one person, including sending names of juniors and seniors to military recruiters, as required by law. Even if parents object, the person in charge is so busy with database maintainence, data entry, and other tasks, that there's little or no time to remove students from the military list.

Furthermore, she said that the No Child Left Behind act was expensive to administer, disrupted the operations of the school, and required even more bureaucratic work on the part of the school, but no funds were provided for administration. I asked if a district could simply opt out of receiving federal funds, and she said yes, but that federal funds mostly subsidize special education, which is the most expensive classroom function.

Experienced teachers are quitting in droves. I knew a school principal in suburban Portland, and she said that all the teachers in her school who had put in their required number of years were taking early retirement, partly because of the stress and partly because the Oregon legislature was making undesirable changes to the public employees' retirement system, and they wanted to get in under the old system.

Stressed teachers and support staff, bureaucratic busywork--no wonder our children isn't learning.