Tuesday, May 30, 2006

As Alice Cooper Sings.......

School's Out song.

I'm spending the day with my husband. I'd almost forgotten just how inattentive and noisy urban teens can be. They mean no harm, they are generally good kids, but they are terrible students. They can't SHUT UP long enough to learn. They have no clue why they can't pass proficiency tests - they're in school every day, aren't they?

Tags = Culture

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

"They can't SHUT UP long enough to learn."

You have such high regard for your students! And such artful teaching methods!

"They have no clue why they can't pass proficiency tests - they're in school every day, aren't they?"

And not passing proficiency tests is their fault? Aren't they in school every day? You think someone would teach them! Oh wait, that's supposed to be...you? Hm, it sounds to me as if someone is not doing a very good job!

I am a volunteer teacher at an "urban" public school, and I love my kids. As a veteran of lily-white private schools most of my life, I have found that "inattentive and noisy" teens are more abundant in privileged schools.

Judging teens by their noise (or lack thereof) are no indicators of, as you said, goodness. BUT "URBAN" KIDS ARE NOT INHERENTLY POOR STUDENTS. Systematic inequality, poverty, and other factors contribute to lack of interest in school. Kids will learn, and become excited by learning, with structure, understanding, and enthusiasm for the subject (some extra funding wouldn’t hurt either!) If the teacher displays passion, students will follow.

Lies of the Left

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