******Do parents, teachers, the media, and the general public have any clue?

Do parents, teachers, the media, and the general public have any clue about the injustice many of our children in public education are facing (especially in NYC)? I would like to see if the following problems appear in long island schools as well so please feel free to add your comments about this.

I am a teacher. And honestly, I put my issues with the system on the backburner each day I walk into my classroom. I get why we, as teachers, are the scapegoats, I get why people view us in NOT the best light, I get why people place a lot of blame on us. I know our jobs are tough and people who do NOT teach really can’t grasp it. This post is not about these issues though. This post is not about “how hard teaching is” or “teaching is a cushy job” or to debate about tenure. This post is about the children!!!

Here is my gripe!
I am a teacher who lives for my children. Honestly, LOVE each and every one of my kids. I’m a special education teacher who teaches difficult, hard to reach, poor, students. I was meant to be a teacher. It is my passion and I am beyond dedicated. But, that being said……….. I DO NOT KNOW IF I CAN CONTINUE! I am working under rules that do not make sense, that I do NOT agree with, and it downright makes me livid and heartbroken at the same time.

Do people realize:
-Students with special needs who are functioning many years below grade level have to take New York State Tests at the end of the year? So, for example a student who cannot subtract has to learn algebra. Or a child who cannot decode the word “cat” has to read and take a test where it is impossible for them to read 95% of the words on a page.

-I have parents who cry to me, worried sick about the future of their child/children. Their child needs to learn how to add, read a subway map, write a sentence and they are being forced to take a test on statistics or writing compare and contrast essay! Are you kidding me?!!!!

-Then, they turn around and give them double time. So kids have to sit quietly and take a test for 3+ hours. Kids who cannot read or understand a word on a page. Kids who feel stupid enough already! Kids who are told each day, "you have a test at the end of the year you have to pass or else summer school or failing the grade." Give me a test in Chinese for 14 hours and it doesn’t matter! I still will NOT pass!

And the best part is my "effectiveness as a teacher" is judged on how they do on this one test! My teacher report card will be published soon. Honestly, release my report! I do not even care. You cannot judge me on how my kids do on a 6th grade test when many of them function on a preschool-first grade level. Judge me on the progress they make throughout the year, on how I motivate kids who usually have 40 abs. come to school more often than not, judge me on the fact that I am communicating with parents every night, judge me when I make a kid "come out of their shell" or make a kid feel like a superstar when other years they feel like a failure! Judge that! My data report isn't so stellar (if I recall correctly) but it's all good. And you know what; the intellectual abilities of my students aren't measured on those tests either so screw it. You want a fair way to judge a teacher? Ask the students. They will judge you pretty damn fairly. Ask the teachers, I can put my own personal opinions aside and say, "you know what I may not love he or she as a person, but they are damn good teacher."

-teachers are not allowed to teach what the kids need because how will they pass the test at the end of the year if you do not teach them algebra? *Umm, even if you teach them algebra they are not going to pass the test because they are lacking BASIC abilities* So, kids sit in classes with empty notebooks and learn NOTHING all year because teachers have to teach to the test. These poor kids ... they want to learn, to do better, to be successful!

-Students who do not come to class, disrupt the learning every day, never do homework, etc BUT pass the test at the end of the year (because they actually have the ability) will get promoted to the next grade. They (more often than not) will not have to go to summer school even if they failed many of their classes because they passed the state tests. But the students who pass all their classes, put their heart and soul into their studies, but struggle immensely and fail the test HAVE to go to summer school!! *What lessons are we teaching our kids?

-The class size cap is bologna! Over the years I have personally witnessed 30 + kids in a class. Not just in my school but friends throughout the city also have 30+ kids in a class. Share your story!

- There is no discipline. Schools are afraid of the parents. We allow a few children to disrupt a whole class every day, every single year! We have hard working students lost in the shuffle. Teachers have no control. Many of us resort to whatever means possible to try and maintain order but there is little we can do about the behavior. What motivation do the good kids have to stay good?

-Lets talk about how I work in a community where gangs, teen pregnancy, and drug use is prevalent! There is NOT one program that comes in and talks about safe sex, say no to drugs, gangs. When I ask other city teachers they share the same experience. The children who need it most, do NOT get it! Because there is no money (or more likely, money spent elsewhere).

- Students are getting passed through school NOT learning basic skills! My colleagues and I complain each day! We cry discussing these kids. Worry about their future. Complain about the system and the rules we are forced to comply with. These are the lives of children!!! We can be doing a better job and I have to say … these standardized tests (and I whole heartedly feel this) are ruining education!




So I am asking for advice, for help! What can we do about this? I am ready to throw in the towel. I feel like I am being forced to comply with things that negatively impact the lives of students and I am having a hard time with it.

*Just to say, my admins are wonderful. They do the best they can but they have to comply as well. The pressure comes from the top down and guess who is on the bottom ... OUR CHILDREN!!!


I can't, I just can't

I am writing this as I am about to leave. Will proof it later. Hope I do not have many typos and that this vent makes sense Thanks for reading, if you got this far!

Message edited 1/15/2011 11:54:49 AM.

Re: ******Do parents, teachers, the media, and the general public have any clue?

Seriously, is this shocking? or do people realize this? Because if it is shocking, then I have hope! I can try and make a difference BUT if it's not, and accepted by the people that matter (parents and concerned citizens) then we can brainstorm. Try and do our part! Give these kids a voice!!

Re: ******Do parents, teachers, the media, and the general public have any clue?

I completely know what you are talking about! Unfortunately, I think administration gets to feeling the same way and it shows...the people in charge of the whole shebang are not child centered...they count on us, as teachers, to do that, but pass down doctrines making it difficult to impossible...I know what you mean, but can't imagine doing something else...

Re: ******Do parents, teachers, the media, and the general public have any clue?

I am not quite sure what you're looking for, but certainly, I don't think people are blind to the faults of the education system.

The system IS flawed. This is not a new issue. There are always kids who slip through the cracks and beauracratic red tape that prevents teachers from really teaching. There are NO perfect systems in any industry. I went to a district people automaticall think is crappy, but I had an amazing experience and loved every minute of it, in spite of the flaws.

Like I said, I don't really know what you qant people to say, but I get what you're saying and I think your issues are valid and I hope you can continue to inspire and teach others

Re: ******Do parents, teachers, the media, and the general public have any clue?

Read this book for more insight:

The Flat World and Education: How America's Commitment to Equity Will Determine Our Future

by Linda Darling Hammond

It will help give you a LOT of insight into how much education is entangled with economics/equity and politics. This part of the reason why I left teaching and am working on my doctorate (to hopefully make some changes from the inside perspective). i feel for lots of teachers though, to have to work in a system that is sometimes working against them.

Re: ******Do parents, teachers, the media, and the general public have any clue?

I know the people making up all of these tests and regulations have no clue........

Just one of many examples:
In my school we are expected to teach kids who can't feed themselves or independetly use the bathroom the material on the 8th grade sciene exam.

I think we have much more important things to worry about, but since they don't have a standardized test for that oh well.

Re: ******Do parents, teachers, the media, and the general public have any clue?

The best advice I can say is that some schools need to look to others who have effective spec. ed programs..programs that teach students life skills instead of regents..give them internships with libraries, schools, businesses instead of learning math..

schools like these do exist, bc i've worked in 2 different ones

as for the preg, drugs, etc.
who knows

Re: ******Do parents, teachers, the media, and the general public have any clue?

It is so much more then just the school system. It is our entire country that is a mess.

I will bet you anything that if the government tied academic progress to welfare benefits, there would be great changes.

It has been my experience that many children are seen as a meal ticket. That they are just another check for the family.

I have been in the system a LONG time and have seen it all! I could write a book about what works and what doesn't work!!!

At our school, we cancel metro cards for kids who have "disappeared" It is amazing how quickly they return!

Re: ******Do parents, teachers, the media, and the general public have any clue?

I do not think many parents understand the workings of a school and what pressures are placed directly upon us teachers to leave no child behind but with so many dumb rules and restrictions.

I wish we could get a reporter to shadow us for 1 week, even 1 day just to expose what stupidity we put up with from administration/board of ed and attitude from parents and students and show all the teacher critics what our jobs really entail

Re: ******Do parents, teachers, the media, and the general public have any clue?

Re: ******Do parents, teachers, the media, and the general public have any clue?

i get your pain and understand you competely.. if this is your passion and this is what you love (and you love your kids) then no i wouldnt give up on it. I would go full force and give it your best and know you did..Honeslty those teacher report cards mean NOTHING... its just an pride thing when u see an actually grade if its poor..if u know u did your best who cares..you have a job and u wont loose it (esp if tenured) administation is bad everywhere.. i have learned you cant save your kids but u can def give support and guide them in the right direction..you get a tougher skin as time goes on....

the thing too is when inculsion came about parents where all crying equality in teaching...mold these special ed kids in to the class and make them blend..well as u see it has back fired to an extent..making these kids take the state tests does set some up for failure .. its almost a lose, lose for some... and keep doing what your doing bc it sounds great

Message edited 1/15/2011 2:01:53 PM.

Re: ******Do parents, teachers, the media, and the general public have any clue?

What you wrote expresses a good part of the reason why I left teaching for a different career. I lacked the passion for it (that you have, the keeps you in it despite everything) & I didn't want to deal any longer with all the BS you described and more.

I don't think most people in the general public have much of a clue about all that goes on. There is a such a "blame the teacher" mentality that is very unfair in light of all you're up against.

Re: ******Do parents, teachers, the media, and the general public have any clue?

Re: ******Do parents, teachers, the media, and the general public have any clue?

Special Ed students can be eligible for alternative assessment -- if they are then they do not need to pass Regents exams. Also Special ed hs students can take the RCTS and still graduate with a diploma. Special Ed students also receive annual reviews and their IEPs can be changed to reflect a more suitable learning environment - i.e. D.75 programs etc.

I hear your frustration! Hang in there and don't worry about your data report esp if your admin is decent. Many of the changes coming about are due to the changes that state needed to make in order to receive the Race to the Top funding

Re: ******Do parents, teachers, the media, and the general public have any clue?

Re: ******Do parents, teachers, the media, and the general public have any clue?

Re: ******Do parents, teachers, the media, and the general public have any clue?

Re: ******Do parents, teachers, the media, and the general public have any clue?

Re: ******Do parents, teachers, the media, and the general public have any clue?

Re: ******Do parents, teachers, the media, and the general public have any clue?

I have students who are MR and have to take the tests. To qualify for alt. assessment is practically impossible. I have tried so many times over the years. So please believe that it happens. I have been in many schools where this is the case. This is a major problem. District75 does have alt assessment but there are thousands of kids who cannot read, write, care for themselves, speak, etc who are FORCED to take the assessment. People would like for you to believe that this doesn't happen and it is a LIE. Which is prob why on paper, alt assessment exists.

Re: ******Do parents, teachers, the media, and the general public have any clue?

Re: ******Do parents, teachers, the media, and the general public have any clue?

And your post is the reason why I will never step foot in a public school as an educator. I grew up in the public schools, but am now an independent school teacher and my children will have an independent school education because I am in complete disagreement with the way the public school system is run.

Re: ******Do parents, teachers, the media, and the general public have any clue?

I feel you!!! I never thought teaching would b this way. It's terrible!!!! I think it is soo unfair that we are getting "judged" based on our students. We can bend over backwards for them but if they dont study or do the work..then what else can we do?? We cant go home with them and force them to do the work. It makes me sick thinking about it. Just want to let u know that ur not alone..a lot of teachers feel the pressure from up above...teaching should NOT be this stressful!

Re: ******Do parents, teachers, the media, and the general public have any clue?

Re: ******Do parents, teachers, the media, and the general public have any clue?