What I want to know

[ohioliberal]

is where were their teachers in elementary and middle school when students start their education. Do these teachers get any blame and why were these students being sent from grade to grade. Why does the high school teachers have to take this abuse. Also where were their parents. This is totally ridiculous.

[Catshrink]

1. The question is where were the parents.

[proud2BlibKansan]

4. +1

[FBaggins]

5. I think that you're missing one of the arguments FOR public education.

In order for this to be a country where someone can get off a boat and work cleaning floors... then have a son who grows up to work in a shop... who has a son who grows up to be a master carpenter... who has a daughter who grows up to be an engineer... who has a daughter who grows up to be the CEO of a major company...


...in order for this to be THAT country, we have to have an educational system that gives every kid a chance - even when the parents are comparative "duds". Yes... education is primarily the parents' responsibility (nobody on this board thinks so more than I do), but so is feeding their kids. Yet we provide free hot lunches when the parents can't.

[femmocrat]

2. I don't know if it is a district or state policy, but our students are not retained more than twice.

They can repeat a grade one time. Otherwise we would have 30-year olds in the eighth grade! They are promoted but given plenty of remedial help to catch up. Whether they take advantage or not, is up to the student.

Of course their elementary and middle school teachers get the blame. Everyone always blames the teachers.

[Reader Rabbit]

3. In the school districts where I've worked, retention is not an option.

A student can fail every single class, but he will still be moved on to the next grade. Then they get to high school and wonder why that doesn't work anymore.

Every once in a while, parents agreed to a teacher recommendation to retain a student, but it was rare.