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Who Else's School System Is Flawed?
- Thread starter zflauaus
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Two words: Classical civilisation!
The single most useless subject in the world, taught as a GCSE. Meanwhile we have plumbers and mechanics charging extortionate amounts because everyone is learning waste-of-time subjects instead of the stuff needed in life...
Our economy is we know it would collapse if people actually knew how to shop.
Large amounts of money are spent trying to convince people that they need things they only want and that they must buy things they can't afford.
TheDude I want to know your opinion on CAPT testing. You're a HS teacher right
I've done the test packets in all the subjects (they are previous tests). Its ridiculously easy as long as you don't think too hard because the wording can be very vague or incorrectly stated.
For example there was an article about pollution in Natural Parks from factories. One of the questions was like "What supports the spread of pollution"
a. Factories
b. Weather Patterns
c. Something Else
d. Someting Else
The correct answer was A. That makes no sense because factories do not spread of pollution, they create it. Weather patterns spread the pollution from the factories.
In the same story question set, there was a map and asked what it would be used for. The answers were like to show how far you could see, how surrounding highways contributed to the pollution, to show what directions were which way in the area, etc. #1 & 2 is what i put. The thing is that the map had no scale so many of the correct answers were irrelevant. The state people that come up with the questions need to double check their questions and diagrams.
I've done the test packets in all the subjects (they are previous tests). Its ridiculously easy as long as you don't think too hard because the wording can be very vague or incorrectly stated.
For example there was an article about pollution in Natural Parks from factories. One of the questions was like "What supports the spread of pollution"
a. Factories
b. Weather Patterns
c. Something Else
d. Someting Else
The correct answer was A. That makes no sense because factories do not spread of pollution, they create it. Weather patterns spread the pollution from the factories.
In the same story question set, there was a map and asked what it would be used for. The answers were like to show how far you could see, how surrounding highways contributed to the pollution, to show what directions were which way in the area, etc. #1 & 2 is what i put. The thing is that the map had no scale so many of the correct answers were irrelevant. The state people that come up with the questions need to double check their questions and diagrams.
One of the problems is that the teachers aren't even qualified to teach their subjects. All of our school's tech teachers are just normal teachers filling a class period besides 2 (incidentally my 2 favorite teachers) and one of the 2 is part retarded(not literally). He is my video production teacher. He calls every computer a "machine", refers to video editing as "Final Cutting" when they use iMovie on Mini's (I bring my MB w/ FCP), He asks me for help with every student question, didn't lock the tilt locks of the tripod on $13,000+ studio camera so it almost fell on the floor before i caught it, and is still a nice guy. He also lets people "forget" to return the cameras we can check out and doesn't do anything...so the stupid stoner kids take them for 3 weeks and make videos of them kicking their friends in the balls repeatedly...add a couple of corny effects and turn it in.
The only other teacher I liek is the graphic design teacher. Hes done more to help me than any other teacher and I'm not even in his class yet. He just knows that taht is one of my creer interests for the future.I'm taking that next year.
My algebra teacher argued with me about whether i'm adopted or not...I am and it kind of offended me. She told me that zI was lieing and threatened me with punishment if i didnt tell her how tall my aprents are (idk im adopted) Then she proceeded to tell me that I don't know what adopted means.
Last year my History teacher admitted to getting high at school "in the '80's...when it was ok" WTF
The only other teacher I liek is the graphic design teacher. Hes done more to help me than any other teacher and I'm not even in his class yet. He just knows that taht is one of my creer interests for the future.I'm taking that next year.
My algebra teacher argued with me about whether i'm adopted or not...I am and it kind of offended me. She told me that zI was lieing and threatened me with punishment if i didnt tell her how tall my aprents are (idk im adopted) Then she proceeded to tell me that I don't know what adopted means.
Last year my History teacher admitted to getting high at school "in the '80's...when it was ok" WTF
According to my old graphic design teacher Macs don't read GIF files. He also said all these other ridiculous things. He just made us do photoshop tutorials the entire time and never really said anything.
The electronics teacher is definitely an LSD user or is just totally burnt out. He says he saw into hell in his basement after his headboard caught on fire and a voice came out and talked to him. I don't know if thats before or after his plastic rosary beads turned to gold. He also told us how we can make pure alchohol and how to grow shrooms.
Another technology teacher is definitely on drugs too. Its interesting when you walk into his class and he's laying on a table and tells us to just go to the media center. He also says things like "A compass allows you to give you, what direction, where you are going". Also, somehow he is able to afford a 2007 Corvette and a 2006 Mini Cooper S and a 2003 Pathfinder LE.
My opinion on CAPT?
CAPT is ridiculous. The only thing more ridiculous than CAPT is that a student now must pass CAPT to graduate. With the kids I work with -- who have serious problems with reading comprhension -- it's almost a death knell. We did practice CAPT today and the kids just have so much anxiety about the test (low skill level + previous bad experiences with tests + standardized test as authority figure for kids who like to flip off authority = bad vibes and lots of kids with heads down).
I hate that CAPT means I have to teach kids how to write a five paragraph essay instead of teaching them how to write for reality. I hate that CAPT puts so much emphasis on literal comprehension and so little emphasis on interpretation. My kids can interpret and defend, but bubble sheets about the main idea don't leave much room for explanation. They don't see "main ideas" in traditional ways -- but the test could care less about thinking.
I hate that it sets kids up to fail, and I hate that my kids believe that they're being set up to fail.
Yeah. CAPT. I hate it.
I agree that the school systems are terribly flawed, overly strict, and filled with lazy teachers.
I think the solution is to allow all of you complainers to simply stay at home and, if you choose to, maybe learn some stuff off the internet. Or just game. Whatever.
Those who see some benefit to school - and, really, you shouldn't, because it teaches useless stuff like math - could keep going and, I don't know, try to make it through the day without listening to iPods or texting. That'd be harsh.
I think this is a great plan, because, what with the move to close the borders to illegal aliens, we need others to be migrant workers and muck farmers, and God knows you don't need stupid math to be a muck farmer. Plus, clearly, Americans are too educated already.
I think the solution is to allow all of you complainers to simply stay at home and, if you choose to, maybe learn some stuff off the internet. Or just game. Whatever.
Those who see some benefit to school - and, really, you shouldn't, because it teaches useless stuff like math - could keep going and, I don't know, try to make it through the day without listening to iPods or texting. That'd be harsh.
I think this is a great plan, because, what with the move to close the borders to illegal aliens, we need others to be migrant workers and muck farmers, and God knows you don't need stupid math to be a muck farmer. Plus, clearly, Americans are too educated already.
And that's why the 1% of the richest people own something like 80 percent of land in the US. Recently with all of this tech buzz with HDTV, MP3 players, etc. people have become more confused with purchasing. Maybe that's why pverty has gone up in the US since 2000?
I know...I walked into class a minute late...because I was teaching my English teacher how to turn on her laptop (literally..it had been on for 2 and a half years) and she looks at me all funny and says"you're tall" (I'm 6'5 and 15 years old) then just stares at me. so i sit down i my seat and say "thanks?" Now I've been in her class every day since august. she then says "how tall are your parents?" I say " i don't know" She says "How can you not know? Tell me now!" And i say "I don't knwo because I'm adopted" (It's really not a big deal. I have no problem w/ being adopted. i was adopted at 8 weeks. i love my parents) she proceeds to tell em "Your not adopted! Tell me how tall you are or go in the hall" I should have just left. I say no Dobry I'm adopted! And she says "you don't even know what that means!" by then all the other kids in the class are yelling t her to shut up. So I think "**** it ..I'm nto gonna pay attention today" and listen to the new episode of TWiT.
That class is stupid. We are oing the same sin, cos, and tan, thing as the guy who posted above me. I don't care how far tim is from the eiffel tower by looking at his shadows. I'm either goign into video production or graphic deisgn. I mean what profession needs triangulation besides ****ing sailors.
Part of our grade is also based on us singing stupid songs such as "y=mx+b in the tune of YMCA by teh Village People" and "x=the oppostite of b plus or minus the square root of b squared minus 4 ac all over 2 a" to the tune of pop goes the weasel...and other delightful tunes
I've been tested at an iq of 154 and just got the highest national score on a pre-A.C.T test but have a D in taht class. We are either singign stupid ass songs or taking quizzes. we don't get taught.
That class is stupid. We are oing the same sin, cos, and tan, thing as the guy who posted above me. I don't care how far tim is from the eiffel tower by looking at his shadows. I'm either goign into video production or graphic deisgn. I mean what profession needs triangulation besides ****ing sailors.
Part of our grade is also based on us singing stupid songs such as "y=mx+b in the tune of YMCA by teh Village People" and "x=the oppostite of b plus or minus the square root of b squared minus 4 ac all over 2 a" to the tune of pop goes the weasel...and other delightful tunes
I've been tested at an iq of 154 and just got the highest national score on a pre-A.C.T test but have a D in taht class. We are either singign stupid ass songs or taking quizzes. we don't get taught.
Relearn it?? Honey, when you go to college to get your degree in __(fill in blank here)__ they expect you to know at least a little about your field. Yeah, my Economics classes seemed like review for the first day, but after that the classes got intense. The first day really only felt like review because I did high-level Economics competitions down at the Federal Reserve.
Let's say you go into electrical engineering. They aren't going to hold your hand and explain the basics of circuits to you (something you should've learned in HS physics).
Going into business? They aren't going to baby you through things like simple interest.
Smart consumerism? I don't think that exists in this country anymore. The savings rate is NEGATIVE. Source: Bureau of Economic Analysis. As a country, we like to spend. Consumer spending makes up about 60% of the US GDP. The GDP for 2005 was $12,455,825 million for the USA. If we go with the ~60% of GDP being consumer spending, we get $7,473,495 million USD. That's more than the entire GDP of Japan. A WHOLE COUNTRY. IMF report (Geewhiz, that's a long URL)
But, it seems I've gone off on a tangent about consumer spending and GDP.
What grade are you in? I know that my senior year, a teacher came around and explained credit and the like to us. Heck, the subject could even be lumped into Economics. Read the fine print, shop around, use common sense. 16% APR is better than 29% APR on a credit card.
If you feel like you're learning something that you deem useless, ask your teacher why you're learning it. Ask what applications it has in the real world. You may get the unfortunate answer of "it's on the standardized test" or a great explanation of why trigonometry is needed in life.
let the complainers complain....they shouldnt have to stay at home as you say..let them go to school and complain.... its called freedom..and here in america we supposedly have it and if people wanna bitc* about it then i think its the saem thin as you telling them not too...(my 2 cents)
What HS do you teach at.
At my school they put soooooo much pressure on us to do well. I mean they are not allowing teachers to give any homework next week, they will feed us in the morning before we take the test, and they send home all these letters teliing our parents to make us get a lot of sleep. We've had extensive practice.
None of the teacher like the CAPT either. I think its stupid too that you have to pass it to graduate. Why would they want you to not graduate. Additionally Jody Rell wants to institute a Senior exit exam. I mean if students are doing the best they can, why can't they graduate. Isn't enough to pass the classes you are taking. It almost seems like they don't want people to gradate.
I think forcing the 5 paragraph essay upon people in 4th grade is fine. But really, aren't we supposed to outgrow that stupid format. Why do the standardized tests require it???
It seems that your students come from a poor educational background and it bad that they are being intimidated by this and threatened they will not graduate. They are doing the best they can. At the same time, in a town such as mine where all the students generally come from educated parents and have had a pretty good education their entire lives find this test a complete waste of time. Out of ~180 students last year, 3 failed. 2 years ago I believe my school was #1 in the state with CAPT scores. Our school is putting a lot of pressure on us though. They expect everyone to meet "goal" or "advanced".
I really hate the part where you read the story and answer the 4 questions. They are so vague that its like you don't exactly know that point you should be working to.
My english teacher told me that the they switched grading company this year because the past 3 years the grading company screwed everything up.
EDIT: I would also like to say that last year the CT state 9th grade science curriculum was redesigned by an english teacher. The class used to be "earth science" where you learned about astronomy, tectonic plates, resources, populations, weather, geology, etc. Last year they changed the curriculum and its called "Science and Society". We spent a tiny bit of time on astronomy, a little bit of time on the earth's interior, a little bit of time on biomes, and a little bit on population pyramids. The rest of the year was focused on oil and conserving our resources.
This year what's in the CAPT practice packet. Questions about different cycles (water, nitrogen, etc). Luckily I know all of that from bio this year and I remember it from 7th grade(I'm in AP so we did the cycles, but academic and honors have not). It also has some basic geology questions. WTF
And I would also like to state that the state is pressuring everyone to become environmentalists. Every practice article that I have read has had to do with how we're killing the environment. Ugh
Yeah, I've seen it, but it just proves how they're teaching useless stuff in school. I mean, none of it has anything to do with buying stuff, which is what matters, right?
It's unfortunate that the stupid school system refuses to tailor an education to each individual student's career goals - and, of course, those goals never change after high school. It's sad that they make you learn stuff just to learn it and to broaden your understanding of things in general. I think it'd be best to be taught like they teach circus ponies or police dogs. Learn the few things you need to know and don't mess with that other crap, right?
And, BTW, sarcasm aside, I realize that teachers and administrators often have dumb rules and unfair policies. Guess what? That's life. Even if you're lucky enough to own your own business, the government will screw with you. It'd be great if life were fair. It's not. Work to change what you can. Deal with the rest. it's a lesson best learned early.
It's amazing how much a simple thread can take off in 24 hours.
Business people, depending on what it is, sit in front of a desk, maybe talk to people outside the company if they are customers and the like, and may have to deal with 10 clients. Not as headache-inducing as the stress that comes from students and especially those that act up.
On the news, dealing with firefighters, all you see is how they have saved a pet, or somebody from a burning building. Those are heroic actions, to risk your life for saving another's, but honestly, that's all you see. You see nothing about firefighters getting into legal trouble. Maybe they don't get into legal trouble, but they hide it very well if they do.
Teachers do a LOT more work than you think. Maybe not yours, but you do not have to stereotype every single teacher in the school system. They have to plan practically everything out a semester ahead.
Teaching is totally different than any kind of business out there. In the business world, they don't have to deal with 5-18 year old kids that have to be taught. Business people don't necessarily have 120-200 different students each day come into there class, turn in sometimes three assignments.
Business people, depending on what it is, sit in front of a desk, maybe talk to people outside the company if they are customers and the like, and may have to deal with 10 clients. Not as headache-inducing as the stress that comes from students and especially those that act up.
Most of the time, after the two-three months of vacation, students do forget some of the stuff they learned. But usually, it comes back to them, or the teachers might have a week of review to jar the memories and get them back in the swing of things. Extending the school day to 200-235+ days and going to 5:00 would just put more stress on the student's minds and they wouldn't have the time to do what they need to do socially. Let us not forget that being social is part of being healthy and staying stable. If you have a student that is not socially stable because of the lack of time, then you will have a problem.
I completely agree with you. While some may have thought I was dissing the teachers at my school, I love them, well, most of them at least. It's the administration that is ruining my school and other schools by corruption.
Teachers are disrespected in this society because, I honestly it is the media. The main things you see on the news that deals with teachers are them going on strike, having sex with children, and harming children. Those few incidents make some people stereotype teachers all around the nation. It's those few people that ruin it for everybody.
On the news, dealing with firefighters, all you see is how they have saved a pet, or somebody from a burning building. Those are heroic actions, to risk your life for saving another's, but honestly, that's all you see. You see nothing about firefighters getting into legal trouble. Maybe they don't get into legal trouble, but they hide it very well if they do.
It takes a lot of guts to do that. Students don't see great they have it that they have teachers that are actually willing to take cruelty and humiliation to help benefit others, those that mainly want to learn. Trust me, your dad has my respect. To get up every week teach kids, and put up with the stuff some people give teachers, it's very difficult. That's were I couldn't be a classroom teacher. I honestly would see those kids disrupting class everyday and would want to give them so much punishment, but they have patience, which is something most kids don't have.
Good point. If that's the only thing they're teaching you, then your school is very narrowly focused.
yeah dude....i got a d on my act figuritvley speaking....i um...think school is okay.. i dont know...we all just want to live our lives..and as for your teacher making you guys sing....music is an art...and cannot be censored in that mannor or butchered or raped in such a way that it includes math..sounds to me like your teacher needs to go to the "Dog House" ..i donno im jsut ranting...
anyhow...thats cool..sweet...hope you do okay in that class..If you get a D no big deal....one D wont be too bad
Eek!
I apologize on behalf of my "peers" with such narrow minded views. Sure, I too have terrible, lazy teachers, but nonetheless, they have passed their tests and come to school each day, often being **** on by detestable, rotten jerks of kids who have no respect for anything remotely intellectual.
Poor teaching will exist everywhere, but hey, most of the time, if you deal with 'em for that one year, it's over. In the same sense though, school is just like the real world - you have to work and deal with people you can't stand. Get use to it, it won't end the minute you walk across the stage at your graduation!
I apologize on behalf of my "peers" with such narrow minded views. Sure, I too have terrible, lazy teachers, but nonetheless, they have passed their tests and come to school each day, often being **** on by detestable, rotten jerks of kids who have no respect for anything remotely intellectual.
Poor teaching will exist everywhere, but hey, most of the time, if you deal with 'em for that one year, it's over. In the same sense though, school is just like the real world - you have to work and deal with people you can't stand. Get use to it, it won't end the minute you walk across the stage at your graduation!
Yeah..................I agree................... But........... Seriously man why............. like............ ...use all those............ periods.....?yeah dude....i got a d on my act figuritvley speaking....i um...think school is okay.. i dont know...we all just want to live our lives..and as for your teacher making you guys sing....music is an art...and cannot be censored in that mannor or butchered or raped in such a way that it includes math..sounds to me like your teacher needs to go to the "Dog House" ..i donno im jsut ranting...
I really only have one story from Yr9 back in 2005
Backstory
So the story goes like this, all year I'd been getting As in SOSE with my partner (90% of the stuff we did was partner work). Sometime near the end of the year my partner and I required some info on the computers we'd collected earlier but couldn't print, so our teacher allowed us to use a computer in the library. We had to wait most of the lesson however because other people were using them for their work and it was a double so it wouldn't kill us if we didn't get the info early. Once we get one of the computers (with only a couple of minutes left in the lesson) we login and open up the document.
Problem
Suddenly I notice my partner's not clicking print like he should and before I can ask why he tells me something has bogged the system. We look down at the tray and see the VNC client has been activated and one of the technicians is watching us. Now we're both pissed off. My partner then opens Word Pad and types something along the lines of F*** OFF! and the problem still persists, so he stops the VNC process. Yay! The computer is free! But after printing our stuff our teacher comes up to us with the younger technician asking what we turned off. My partner owns up that it was him but he only did it to get the info printed. Sadly, because he doesn't have the best of track records and because our teacher, though very nice, isn't very technical, he gets detention for a week or two (I can't remember the exact number).
Backstory
So the story goes like this, all year I'd been getting As in SOSE with my partner (90% of the stuff we did was partner work). Sometime near the end of the year my partner and I required some info on the computers we'd collected earlier but couldn't print, so our teacher allowed us to use a computer in the library. We had to wait most of the lesson however because other people were using them for their work and it was a double so it wouldn't kill us if we didn't get the info early. Once we get one of the computers (with only a couple of minutes left in the lesson) we login and open up the document.
Problem
Suddenly I notice my partner's not clicking print like he should and before I can ask why he tells me something has bogged the system. We look down at the tray and see the VNC client has been activated and one of the technicians is watching us. Now we're both pissed off. My partner then opens Word Pad and types something along the lines of F*** OFF! and the problem still persists, so he stops the VNC process. Yay! The computer is free! But after printing our stuff our teacher comes up to us with the younger technician asking what we turned off. My partner owns up that it was him but he only did it to get the info printed. Sadly, because he doesn't have the best of track records and because our teacher, though very nice, isn't very technical, he gets detention for a week or two (I can't remember the exact number).
Well you know you started and did loss you entire case when you pretty much complain about everything you teachers do. I would believe one maybe 2 teachers in a year being crap but having almost all you teachers be that way leads me to believe it is the student not the teacher who whining. You will never be happy. Have fun in college because if you think it is bad now wait until you get there because it gets worse. You will truly deal with teachers who do not give a flip about the classes they teach and you will understand what it like to deal with them there.
As for turning stuff in and getting points taking off what you think is stupid. Well GET USE TO IT because it gets worse in college; Teachers make the rules on how things are graded and they want things turn in a certain why. Turn it in that way. I dealt with teachers who want the header on every page filled out a certain why, folded and turn in a certain why with name and information on the correct side and all engineering paper. Miss any of that automatic point loss and don't even thing about turn it in on note book paper because it goes straight into the garbage and you will never get it back. I have lost points because forgot to write down a formal I never used in the problem or forgot to write it down in letter form. The using an X for multiplication yeah there is a reason you do not use it and when you start playing with variables more often and have formals that are 4-5 different things you start understanding. Hell in one of my class the list of variables for the equation is 5 pages long to cover everything I use though out the semester (I have 2 of those code books and I getting a 3rd next semester)
Really you have no clue what teacher go though. You seem to think they are all lazy which can not be farther from the truth. my mom is a teacher. I have several friends who parent are teachers and I have a few friends who went into teaching for a career. I have very high respect for teachers and I do know quite a bit about the extra work. Teachers do suffer burn out after a while because it is hard dealing with students like you who all they do is complain and think they suck. Teacher truly want you to do well and it pains them to see students struggle.
Oh do not get my started on 504 and how badly that system is abused.
it is not abused by the students but by schools. They over use it put way to many disabilities under the 504 system instead of really dealing with them. I was put under the 504 form when I move from one school district to the one I graduated from. 504 gave me adaptations for the class room but did next to nothing to help me with my disability and teaching me how to cope with it. I honestly thing 504 is a godawful system that had good intentions but now schools abuse to get out of really dealing with the students disability and put way way to many students just under that.
As for what I was under 504 for was because I am dyslexia my first school district I was with was great and had me pulled out of the class room ever day for 45 mins or so to have work with a specialist in dealing with it and learning adapted to it. Next one did next to nothing to help me with it and hell did not even get a system (which was required by law in the state of Texas) until the state was coming in for a 10 year review or something (what ever the max time was between the inspection since for the most part the school district is one of the best in the state) It was rather sad that it took them that long to get a program in place to deal with dyslexic students. Also I am and many of the teachers in the school district and a few parents are honestly surprise the school district has never been sued for a lot of things it does break the rules on.
Well I really think its right for you to be able to make those assumptions because I'm willing to bet you've never had him as a teacher. And if you did have him as a teacher, you would no that he never told you what you wanted. And I am not even complaining about that. I am talking the laziness in the school system and I think it is getting worse every year.