It seems to me that kids aren't learning the basics in school anymore....
By lightningd
@lightningd (1039)
United States
January 21, 2008 9:31pm CST
The teachers have to worry so much about teaching the kids to pass the standardized tests to keep their federal funding with the No Child Left Behind, that there's less time to teach them to count money, learn to read, most importantly, learn to spell. It's like the elementary schools have enough on their plates now, and they know that the kids will be using computers and they can use spell check, that spelling isn't such an issue anymore. Kids don't know how to count change back. Those that work in restaurants and stores have computers that tell them how much change to give. I just find it so frustrating, and I feel sorry for the teachers now. They have so many hoops to jump through already, that they can't take the time to get the basics in. Anyone else feel this way?
4 responses
@onesiobhan (1327)
• Canada
2 Feb 08
I agree. In Ontario the provincial government reduced spending on education to the point where they are rationing toilet paper and soap, and don't have enough books to go around. They did it under the guise of "improving" the schools, but so many programs have been cut that kids that need gifted or special needs assistance can barely get it.
@onesiobhan (1327)
• Canada
4 Feb 08
I'm not sure of the details because I don't have any of my own kids in school. I have friends who are parents who talk about increased class sizes, books that are out of date and not enough of them to go around, and programs for kids with special needs have been cut to the bone. One mother I know goes to school with her kids every day because they are autistic, and although they are legally entitled to assistance, the waiting list is so long that they just aren't getting it. I know that the province brought in standardized testing right around the same time that they slashed the education budget.
@lightningd (1039)
• United States
2 Feb 08
I wasn't aware that the Canadian government had done that as well. Are the kids there tested or schools lose yet more government funding? Our no child left behind law is just one more thing added to an already failing school system. What are the policies in Canada?
@highflyingxangel (9225)
• United States
22 Jan 08
I couldn't agree more. My major is an education major and this is one of the topics we talk about a lot. Teachers just teach anymore so the kids can pass the tests which means children really aren't learning anything at all. And, it certainly doesn't help that standardized tests are just biased anyway. Those tests can be biased in several different ways because they are made for middle class, white children that are pretty average learners and do not take into account other learning styles or cultures, etc. It's just a terrible cycle. Our education system needs another huge overhaul or else our society is just going to end up in terrible shape. Kids are being taught how to pass tests and make schools look good, not how to actually do anything productive.
1 person likes this
@lightningd (1039)
• United States
31 Jan 08
There is such a shortage in good teachers now. I know alot of it has to do with the low pay, but also I think the frustration they must face in dealing with all of the hoops they have to go through. Many just get fed up with the whole system. Good for you on wanting to make a difference!!!
@charmed44903 (109)
• United States
22 Jan 08
I agree with you 100% i am going to home school my kids so i know that they are tought want i want them to know. with the way they do school now there is no point to even send teh kids as they can learn the same thing at home on the internet. i would rather my kids learn how i did when i was in school
1 person likes this
@lightningd (1039)
• United States
22 Jan 08
Well, I didn't home school my kids, but that is because I believe they need that social interaction. But I have taught them how to count change back, and I correct their spelling all of the time. It bugs me though that the teachers take the blame, but they've been forced into this new way of the government deciding what and when are children learn.
@Meredith912 (1)
• United States
31 Jan 08
While I agree with you that No Child Left Behind and the federal funding connected to it are having a detrimental effect on the educational environment, I don't agree that this leads to the problem of the schools not teaching the basics. The basics are exactly what is being tested. The students need to be able to read, write and do arithmetic as well as know things about the sciences and history to score well on the mandated tests. The problem is that the standards are all that is being taught. Our schools are losing all of the extensions that make learning interesting and school a place that students look forward to going to each day. Every generation has complained that the up coming generation does not know how to spell. I believe that the lack of spelling skills and punctuation knowledge has more to do with the amount of texting and chatting that the students do rather than what is being taught in schools.
@lightningd (1039)
• United States
31 Jan 08
It is really cause and effect. Teachers have to take away from other subjects to prepare these kids for the tests. As for the texting and chatting that students do, 10 years ago that wasn't an issue because few kids had cell phones, and still, kids can't spell. I think while some things are being focused on, the basics are just being brushed over, and the hope is that the kids will figure it out on their own. It's not happening that way. I remember that my teachers in all subjects would mark off for spelling mistakes. That meant in history and science even home economics. The teachers cared that they were teaching with some form of continuity. If a kid is only getting 20 minutes of spelling or reading, then moving on to sample questions or test prep for these standardized tests, what can we expect?
