3 ms·

It's ridiculous to blame the students in this case. If every single student failed, that is either a problem with the teacher, or a problem with the test.

pmorici 9y ago
Problem with the parents.
- benchaney 9y ago
  Every parent in the school? If it were a problem with a handful of students maybe, but if every student fails, there is a more systematic issue at play.
  - pmorici 9y ago
    It's self selecting. Any parent that cares even a little bit will realize the school is crap and get their kid out of that situation asap.
    - benchaney 9y ago
      Maybe if they are can afford to move and switch school districts. Or if they live in a school district where they can choose their school (which also correlates with income). Edit: Also, If a school is so bad that you have to move away from it to avoid being considered a bad parent, that reflects worse on the school more so than the parents.
      - pmorici 9y ago
        I'd encourage you to go learn about Baltimore city schools. The failing schools being discussed in the OP are Middle and High Schools. Baltimore doesn't have school zones at the high school level. Any student that lives in Baltimore could go to any of the high schools. Some are good others are total garbage. Bottom line, you don't have to move, you do have to be proactive though. http://www.baltimorecityschools.org/Domain/9530 http://www.baltimorecityschools.org/Domain/9530
        benchaney 9y ago
        Thats a fair point, but it doesn't change the fact that it is ultimately the school's fault. Besides, it isn't like you can just choose to go wherever you want. There is a lottery process and obviously not everyone gets their first choice.
        pmorici 9y ago
        The lottery process is only for the charter schools. The rest of them have an application process similar to applying to colleges. Baltimore has more than 24 high schools. http://www.baltimorecityschools.org/about/by_the_numbers http://www.baltimorecityschools.org/about/by_the_numbers
lhnz 9y ago
It's not that simple. I wasn't saying you should blame the students: all schools should teach children to take charge of their education and future. This often doesn't happen. In this case, the natural response will be for the school system to put pressure onto the teachers. This will cause them to leave. The children will then be educated by supply teachers, and the school will have to recruit new teachers into a highly disruptive environment. This process already happens without the additional press. Often an excellent teacher can move to a school with more classroom disruption and find that they're unable to get through half of the materials that they prepare. This is frustrating. It's easy to understand why teachers leave schools like this. They remember the schools in which they got kids from low grades to high grades and had the peace in mind to do creative lessons. It's upsetting to be in a situation in which you can't get control of the classroom, are constantly 'ragged on' to work harder, and are held completely responsible for the results of students who make no attempt at all to take part in the lessons you prepare.

pmorici 9y ago

Problem with the parents.

benchaney 9y ago
Every parent in the school? If it were a problem with a handful of students maybe, but if every student fails, there is a more systematic issue at play.
- pmorici 9y ago
  It's self selecting. Any parent that cares even a little bit will realize the school is crap and get their kid out of that situation asap.
  - benchaney 9y ago
    Maybe if they are can afford to move and switch school districts. Or if they live in a school district where they can choose their school (which also correlates with income). Edit: Also, If a school is so bad that you have to move away from it to avoid being considered a bad parent, that reflects worse on the school more so than the parents.
    - pmorici 9y ago
      I'd encourage you to go learn about Baltimore city schools. The failing schools being discussed in the OP are Middle and High Schools. Baltimore doesn't have school zones at the high school level. Any student that lives in Baltimore could go to any of the high schools. Some are good others are total garbage. Bottom line, you don't have to move, you do have to be proactive though. http://www.baltimorecityschools.org/Domain/9530 http://www.baltimorecityschools.org/Domain/9530
      - benchaney 9y ago
        Thats a fair point, but it doesn't change the fact that it is ultimately the school's fault. Besides, it isn't like you can just choose to go wherever you want. There is a lottery process and obviously not everyone gets their first choice.
        pmorici 9y ago
        The lottery process is only for the charter schools. The rest of them have an application process similar to applying to colleges. Baltimore has more than 24 high schools. http://www.baltimorecityschools.org/about/by_the_numbers http://www.baltimorecityschools.org/about/by_the_numbers

lhnz 9y ago

It's not that simple. I wasn't saying you should blame the students: all schools should teach children to take charge of their education and future. This often doesn't happen. In this case, the natural response will be for the school system to put pressure onto the teachers. This will cause them to leave. The children will then be educated by supply teachers, and the school will have to recruit new teachers into a highly disruptive environment. This process already happens without the additional press. Often an excellent teacher can move to a school with more classroom disruption and find that they're unable to get through half of the materials that they prepare. This is frustrating. It's easy to understand why teachers leave schools like this. They remember the schools in which they got kids from low grades to high grades and had the peace in mind to do creative lessons. It's upsetting to be in a situation in which you can't get control of the classroom, are constantly 'ragged on' to work harder, and are held completely responsible for the results of students who make no attempt at all to take part in the lessons you prepare.