School teachers and administrators

newton My daughter while in the 11th grade was able to take courses in college that will be going towards her associates degree,1/2 year after she finishes high school she will have her associates. I do know my daughter is advanced but this just goes to show that a junior in high school is more than capable of going to college it is not about age but it is about maturity. My daughter also goes to a high school that is set up like a college campus holding 5 thousand students. They are directed and expected to behave as growing adults and not "kids". Many parents in todays world "baby" their children and therefore her is the immaturity that arises from it. Parents scared for their children to be challenged in the real world. Parents that go whining that the study time is too long for the kids. We as parents can not have the cake and eat it to either you are for your children maturing and learning or just keep them home attached to the apron strings.

Newtondak, that is true. How many millions of grant dollars are spent on high school level classes in college? Shouldn't that money be billed to the high school that certified the student was ready to graduate?

Age and maturity are not the only things involved in preparing a student for college. While many schools offer college preparatory classes and structure their curriculum to prepare their students for college, there are many schools tho either don't or are unable to because of funding problems. Many colleges put too much emphasis on a high grade point average when accepting students and not enough attention to what classes the student actually took. It's easy to get a 4.0 if you take all easy classes - but it doesn't prepare you for college.

Yes, there are a lot of kids taking college level classes their senior year, and I think that is awesome! However, that doesn't address my point at all. My point is that a diploma is meaningless if it doesn't represent the achievement, and if a significant number of graduates haven't achieved what the diploma represents, it's a lie.

If I was talking about specialized classes, then you would be right Annie. If I was talking about advanced classes, I'd agree with you also. I also agree that some remedial classes offered in college is a good thing... like for people returning to school who graduated 10 or more years before. But what I'm talking about is 18 and 19 year olds in math classes where they are learning elementary school level math. I was in a remedial math class because algebra wasn't required at my high school. But some of the kids in the math lab were taking "add, subtract, multiply and divide whole numbers and fractions". Their diploma was a lie... and to a lesser extent, so was mine.

I just assumed algebra was required at all schools these days. In my grandkids school they get it beginning in eighth grade. Unfortunately, although I was quite the math whiz in school, I can't help them because they do it totally different these days. I get the correct answer in fewer steps but it's not accepted because I don't "do it right"...lol! What's up with that? That may explain kids not learning it because their way of teaching it now SUCKS! Annie

Do you go to a public school or a private one? Public colleges seem to be stricter on their grades because they don't have a problem getting students to enroll. Private schools, at least ones that are not ivy league, have a tough time because of costs so in order to keep students enrolled they are liberal in their grading.

Not at my college. My teachers seem to enjoy giving out c's and d's! lol

I would much rather see students required to take a summer class or two after their senior year than see so many 18 year olds in college, but not ready.

No, I can't say we were more diligent just because there wasn't all this technology. It doesn't take any technology at all to prefer the parking lot to the classroom. :~D

Ah, ok, that's a good point.

This is evident in our country(Philippines). Students rely on the internet too much, they don't even know how to make a research using the library. That's what I meant when I said diligence.

That's the thing, the high school diploma is supposed to mean that the person achieved something. But it doesn't mean a thing... unless you don't have one.

The slogan no child left behind does not give them a free pass. It is meant that we all come together to help them overcome their challenges. It means if more one on one is needed then that is what we do. If it means one of the A students helping him then that is what it shall be. It does not mean I dont care if you pass or not you will graduate. If this is the way it is not being done in your school then you have the responsibilities of standing up against it.

That is what no child left behind was intended to do. But it look a wrong turn somewhere! Now it is pretty much just keeping good students down, focusing on students that don't want to learn, and passing students to keep stats up. One of the big problems with no child left behind is it assumes that every child wants to learn. They don't! The children that want to learn and just need help do get it. But most kids aren't stupid just unmotivated.

True. I have taught illiterate adults as a volunteer literacy tutor. Every one of the students I taught were high school graduates.

If you're talking about people with mental disabilities, I have to ask, do you really think that school isn't for them?? Because that is ridiculous! I work with people with mental disabilities and the fact that they are able to obtain a high school diploma after working very hard for it, might I add, gives them a real sense of accomplishment and I don't think it's something that we should take away from them.

True, schools today seem to care more about spewing propaganda than educating students. Then when we call for more education they tell us that they don't have the time or the resources.

So, what you are saying is, many high schools would rather pass the responsibility of teaching students on to the colleges than accept any for themselves?