patrick.net

simchaland says

If you have kids in school currently. Your best bet is to actually get involved in the school where your child attends. That way you actually meet the teachers, administrators, and the principal.

Btw, to simchaland's point, one of the most interesting programs is Geoffrey Canada's program in Harlem, which actually requires parents to be involved. I'm sure both sides have their criticisms -- e.g. it's too paternalistic, requires too much intervention, etc. But it really attacks the problems in education from a lot of good angles: getting parents involved, starting from a young age when you can still make a difference -- if you wait until even middle school you've waited too long, being more cost-effective, having parents realize that it's about making sure your kid has better opportunities and that you may not get a direct benefit to your own life, etc.

Bap33 says

What personality type do you feel best endurs and overcomes adversity - conservative or liberal (general terms)?

I know you directed this at Marcus, but I'll take a stab. In general, a liberal is open to change and a conservative resists change. So, I'd say someone who is adaptable and open to change will overcome adversity better than someone who is not.

Bap33 says

Sim, if those fundamentals are based on reason, and by most definitions reasons are based on critical thinking, then wouldn't that make your statement false?

He brings up a good point. When people say 'Fundamentalist' we all think of those crazy religious groups ... but what about the 'reason' fundamentalists who espouse the fundamental principles of reason and critical thinking and the open dissemination and contemplation of ideas?

You know, fundamentalist atheists!

On a side note, don't ever argue with me. I was BORN to be right. Since you lack this innate quality (you are prone to delusion, as your belief in an invisible, all powerful creator who just happens to leave ABSOLUTELY no hard proof of his/her own existence simply to ... get this .... test your faith in his existence .... proves) you cannot help but lose (and fail to realize it). Sorry - just focus on finding what you were born to do and stick to that.

tatupu70 says

In general, a liberal is open to change and a conservative resists change. So, I'd say someone who is adaptable and open to change will overcome adversity better than someone who is not.

I see where you are going with your answer, but I was thinking more along the lines or personality types, and in that regard I think a liberal is a person who has no pre-set boundries for acceptable behavior where a conservative does.

Your point is correct only when things are as they should be. Meaning, a conservative does not want change when the situation is as it should be, but when things are wrong then a conservative wants things changed back to correct. Right now I am very much a conservative and I am very much wanting BIG CHANGES in America. Same for a liberal. If things are as they feel they should be, then they do not want change, that would make them a conservative in your example. So, maybe those two lables are not the best choice for my question. (?)

Should we pick something specific, like behavior or bill paying or character or values to get an idea of what we mean by these lables?

Bap33 says

I see where you are going with your answer, but I was thinking more along the lines or personality types, and in that regard I think a liberal is a person who has no pre-set boundries for acceptable behavior where a conservative does.

Okay, you lost all credibility with this. This prejudges a liberal as doing "unacceptable" things and makes no such judgment on a conservative. This is a ridiculous definition. tatupu70 gave the traditional/classical definition for liberal vs. conservative (change vs. not), and you're basically saying that only conservatives can be "correct," which is silly.

In addition, you're prejudging your personal attitude as "correct," and no one else can possibly be correct, which is not really a way to have a productive discussion.

Moreover, your discussion is a complete waste of time. Why do people need to engage in all of this liberal/conservative nonsense stereotyping all the time anyway. If people had discussions about the topic instead of sniping about stereotypes, we'd have better discussions.

Bap33 says

I am not part of any organized religion. do not be offended for me letting you be wrong in public.

You sound very much like a fundamentalist Christian.

About arrogance, I talk to you like I'm smarter than you. You talk like you are morally superior to me, indirectly because you are morally superior to all liberals.

So I think I'm smarter than you and you think your morally superior to me. Who's arrogant ?

Who's correct ?

As for your views on education, much of it comes from propaganda. Here is a quote that you have read from me before. From link below (but I don't expect you to glean anything from this):

The annual Gallup poll about education shows that Americans are overwhelmingly dissatisfied with the quality of the nation’s schools, but 77 percent of public school parents award their own child’s public school a grade of A or B, the highest level of approval since the question was first asked in 1985.

http://www.nybooks.com/articles/archives/2010/nov/11/myth-charter-schools/

I"m arrogant, but my guess is you won;t read this or consider it.

The truth is we need to improve. But it's also true that everyone has to go to school in this country. In poor neighborhoods, it turns out that a majority don't want to be there, and or, have poor nutrition, many distractions, possibly severely dysfunctional families, etc. So the challenges to teachers are immense. Especially once the children are socially promoted a few times. Can you imagine teaching 9th grade math to a kid who is at the 5th grade level and has totally given up on school, but has to be there ?

I went to great public schools and now teach at a great public school. Every year we have graduates that get in to our countries very best colleges. I'm proud of my school and the work I do, but sometimes I fail and I'm always trying to do better.

Bap33 says

What personality type do you feel best endurs and overcomes adversity - conservative or liberal (general terms)?

For one thing I am politically a liberal in some ways, but actually a conservative, just because of my age. I have always done challenging and stressful work (didn't teach until my forties). And many of my classes present plenty of adversity.

Todays republicans are no longer conservative. The best way to describe them is that they are rich and they represent the rich. Most rich republicans did not become rich by overcoming adversity.

@corn,
huh? Is that really what you read in my post? wow. My writing skills really suck.

@marcus,
1) The CALIFORNIA EDUCATION MONSTER MACHINE is BAD/EVIL/BROKEN in my opinion.
2) I can't find an answer to my question in your response, but the point of what exaxctly is a liberal or conservative type was brought up and that is a pretty good question too.

marcus says

About arrogance, I talk to you like I'm smarter than you. You talk like you are morally superior to me, indirectly because you are morally superior to all liberals.

don't be silly. take the knife from your own throat and place it in my back where you had it earlier.

Bap33 says

@corn,
huh? Is that really what you read in my post? wow. My writing skills really suck.

corntrollio says

in that regard I think a liberal is a person who has no pre-set boundries for acceptable behavior where a conservative does.

Maybe I'm misreading you, but that sounds like a very judgmental answer for liberal vs. conservative.

Bap33 says

Meaning, a conservative does not want change when the situation is as it should be, but when things are wrong then a conservative wants things changed back to correct.

We call that a pragmatist. Has nothing to do with liberal or conservative.

Conservative has been given a different meaning by popular media and by politicians, just like liberal. But this isn't 1969, so we should probably get past that crap and stop using inaccurate labels and instead discuss real issues. Someone who leads with "liberals think..." or "conservatives think..." is probably not going to have anything interesting to say. The whole idea is flawed anyway, since politics are better mapped on two spectra: http://www.politicalcompass.org/

corntrollio says

in that regard I think a liberal is a person who has no pre-set boundries for acceptable behavior where a conservative does.
Maybe I'm misreading you, but that sounds like a very judgmental answer for liberal vs. conservative.

no no no ... pre-set acceptable behavior .. the "acceptable" is not as in legal or moral, but acceptable meaning something closer to "expected" or "pleasing" or "comfortable" or maybe something like "normal" to a person. I see what you were reading, but I was not intending that.

Just so we all have the actual definition of Fundamentalism from Merriam-Webster:

1.: a often capitalized : a movement in 20th century Protestantism emphasizing the literally interpreted Bible as fundamental to Christian life and teaching b : the beliefs of this movement c : adherence to such beliefs

2: a movement or attitude stressing strict and literal adherence to a set of basic principles

All bolds are mine.

As you can see, reason, critical thinking, etc. aren't mentioned at all. Literal interpretations require no reason or critical thinking. And, beliefs aren't facts... That's magical thinking.

I rest my case.

Bap33 says

The CALIFORNIA EDUCATION MONSTER MACHINE is BAD/EVIL/BROKEN in my opinion.

How do you breathe when your head is in that particular location ?

http://toped.svefoundation.org/2011/01/12/now-43rd-in-per-student-spending/

So 42 of the 50 states spend more per student than California.

This is about prop 13. Instead of paying higher real estate taxes in California, we just pay more for Real Estate. That's pretty fucked up.

By the way, one thing I am working on right now is teaching to the State standardized tests better than I ever have before. That will certainly make it appear that I am doing a better job.

marcus says

For one thing I am politically a liberal in some ways, but actually a conservative, just because of my age. I have always done challenging and stressful work (didn't teach until my forties). And many of my classes present plenty of adversity.

Marcus, I am leaving my well paying job in the military at near 40 years old to jump into the education system. I have been a great teacher/mentor in the military and really enjoy it. Any advice for someone at 40 deciding to go into the education system?

I'm still trying wrap my head around the theory of conserativism and liberalism being personality traits.

Bap33 says

don't be silly. take the knife from your own throat and place it in my back where you had it earlier.

I tip my hat to that one.

Truthplease says

Any advice for someone at 40 deciding to go into the education system?

I would suggest that you maybe find a good job, before leaving your current one, for starters. It's a very tough time to be starting in teaching, because there have been a lot of lay offs recently. You are going to be competing with experienced people out there, that is in your job search.

Do you have ideas of age and subject you want to teach ?

Certain ages are much more difficult than others. Grades 7 - 9 are particularly difficult in my opinion.

simchaland says

to a set of basic principles

dude, cmon now .. "basic principles" can't bother you THAT much. Just remove the bold that you added and put it on the "basic principles" part and then you may see sumthin different.

@ellie,
I can't be sure that I even approached that division right. Is it personality trait, or a function of deep thought, or just pre-wired DNA, or an expression of life experience, or all of the above, or were the smart ones all made leftists and the cavemanish ones all made rightists? lol. It would seem that there are many similar personality traits and philosophy shared by those that populate each "side", and only the middle-road types cross over. Heck, depending on the subject matter, many folks change sides. I dunno.

@marcus,
my personal opinion should not result in a personal attack from Lord Teacher AllMighty. People that attack personally when faced with a differing opinion should be ashamed, in my opinion. That shows a lack of intellect, that results in a lack of ideas, that results in frustration, that results in fear, that results in hate, that results in anger, that results in childlike name calling instead of mature retort. People should discuss issues with respect, and I guess the saying is true ... "those that can - do (ellie, sim, many others), and those that can't - teach (you)."

Truthplease says

Any advice for someone at 40 deciding to go into the education system?

If you re thinking of high school, it is true as Bap mentioned that a degree in the subject you are teaching is often required. This does not nearly guarantee proficiency as a teacher, and there aren't any teachers that think this alone is sufficient to guarantee their proficiency(contrary to one of Baps many silly assertions above). But it's a reasonable place to start, that is requiring proof that the person knows the subject, even beyond the level that they will be teaching.

Bap33 says

People that attack personally when faced with a differing opinion should be ashamed

Bap33 says

That shows a lack of intellect

Bap33 says

those that can - do (ellie, sim, many others), and those that can't - teach (you)."

Practicing what you preach I see. You could have at least waited until another post to avoid being such a hypocrite.

Oops,. I did it again. Sorry if I hurt your feelings.

When you express "opinions" like the following you might want to expect a reaction (as if you didn't).

Bap33 says

I disagree. The education system is absurd and is only a goldenchild of the left becasue it gave them direct access to the youth to force upon them their leftist anti-God/American/Freedom queer way of thinking.

You have made it clear that people like me, and my beliefs are responsible for for the decline of of our culture. And you said in so many words that 95% of Califonia teachers are incompetent. Later you sort of took it back, before saying that really it might be more than 95%.

(I don't really think the term "passive aggressive" applies. This is aggressive. I'm not going to apologize for finding you to be narrow minded, and racist ("invaders"), and in your own not so subtle way, an asshole.)

Why is my being upfront about that any more personal than my quotes from you here ?

These are not statements that lead to adult conversation. I retract and apologize for nothing I have said.

Truthplease says

Any advice for someone at 40 deciding to go into the education system?

Do you really want to join the morally corrupt and bankrupt system? All you'll be is a sacrificial lamb for when the union goons try to harass the society for more kickbacks by laying off all the new teachers.

That train is never late. These crony corrupt goons just keep on skimming millions of taxpayer dollars. And when its time to pay the bill because the system is going bankrupt they just lay off the new teachers. It's really a pathetic system.

EMan says

These crony corrupt goons just keep on skimming millions of taxpayer dollars

This is made up bs that Chris has never detailed. I am a teacher and I honestly honestly have no idea even what he is saying. Are there high level union guys that are siphoning off big money ? OR is it our awesome huge salaries that are ripping off the tax payer?

AM talk radio propaganda. Chris doesn't even know what he means. Just An angry cliche that sounds like it might mean something ? wtf ?

EMan says

All you'll be is a sacrificial lamb for when the union goons try to harass the society for more kickbacks by laying off all the new teachers.

Translation: If we teachers (some of whom, you know have families and mortgages etc), if we teachers don't insist that our paycuts are increased enough to prevent layoffs, then it is we who are actually laying off those new teachers ? Wow.

I believe that Chris is a liar about the big money he makes and taxes he pays. Because anyone who was truly making a decent living would not rail against teachers in this way.

You can verbally defend your union all you want. Robert Rizo defended his establishment too. It will all catch up eventually.

Few month ago it was the city of Bell, today its the city of Montebello, sooner or later you guys will be under the hammer too. Carma has a way of catching up with fraudsters.

The Bell emloyees were NOT in unions. Nor were they teachers.

HousingWatcher says

The Bell emloyees were NOT in unions. Nor were they teachers.

top government officials who had not enough public oversight.

marcus says

OR is it our awesome huge salaries that are ripping off the tax payer?

It's the awesone teacher pensions, health benefits, and small class sizes that are ripping off the taxpayers. Tha salary's really not so much.

Small class sizes? Really? I guess you have not been reading the statistics lately.

marcus says

I would suggest that you maybe find a good job, before leaving your current one, for starters. It's a very tough time to be starting in teaching, because there have been a lot of lay offs recently. You are going to be competing with experienced people out there, that is in your job search.

Yep, understand Marcus and thanks for the advice. Luckily, I have supported my wife while she has finished her School Psychology degree and finalizes licensing. So, this happens quickly or slowly depending on when she can find employment. We understand that education is usually the first cut in a fiscally constrained environment. Getting her practicum and internship proved exceedingly difficult this last year due to massive budget cuts in education.

We have been very frugal with our money, so we can make it quite a while without a paycheck. I am looking at job satisfaction and want to join another profession. I see teachers as professionals in their area of expertise. I have some concern if teachers are truly treated like professionals anymore. I am using the word professional in the truest sense. It would bother me if I started this profession and was not treated as a professional in a field of study. If that is true, then we really know where the problem lies in the education system.

I was looking at teaching H.S. Math or Science. My BA is in Liberal Arts with a Certificate in Math and a Certificate in Natural Sciences. My 18 year profession is Environmental Sciences and these Praxis II tests are easy areas for me; Biology and General Science, Earth and Space Science, Environmental Education, and General Science. I would have to refresh on Calculus for the Mathematics test. Praxis 1 does not look difficult.

I also have military training in fundamental instructional techniques, curriculum development, tests and measures, and leadership (obvious).

marcus says

(I don't really think the term "passive aggressive" applies. This is aggressive. I'm not going to apologize for finding you to be narrow minded, and racist ("invaders"), and in your own not so subtle way, an asshole.)

lmao .. you are tooo much my angry little friend. Rise above the fear and anger, you can do it! One question though, exactly what race do you connect to "invader"? I only ask because I am far from a racists, or sexist, or anythingist ... keeping track of those things is more of a liberal minded thing, in my opinion.

And since you refuse to not call names; I know you are, but what am I?

Truthplease says

I also have military training in fundamental instructional techniques, curriculum development, tests and measures, and leadership (obvious).

just wanted to re-produce the word "fundamental" so as to show how basic ideals sure can be a good thing. (just funning w/Sim here - no offense)

@truth,
I too am looking at teaching, but in my case it's at a vocational center. I think I'll do better with older teens and young adults, mainly due to my limited vocabulary when curse words are removed, and lack of patients for undisciplined children raised by idiots. The center is funded by tax dollars and puts low-income/welfare people to the front of the line. The teaching/trainer position pays $0 per month, but I want to help folks that are in a bad spot and are willing to help themselves. A few evenings a week aint that big of a deal to give up, in my opinion.

Some of you on here bashing teachers and our education. What are your solutions? You have to consider that teaching is more of a monopoly market. Some of you are expressing your opinions to teacher's salaries and benifits as if your opinion was the market. Should we privatize teaching? That would be great for teachers! Let's apply free market principles to education, then teachers would earn 150K salaries.

If not, then why are you bashing teachers pay and compensation as if it was your own? Sounds very socialist to me.

Why the attack on teachers? How about we play a game. You tell me what your profession is, and I will give you my opinion that you are overpaid and underperforming. Or better yet, I buy your product, you tell me how much you make, and then I will use my sole opinion to determine the market instead of the market itself.

Only a socialist would claim someone else’s pay as their own when another has freely exchanged their labor for pay.

The government mandates education. Plain and simple. You want to get rid of the union, Fine! Let's apply free market principles to education. Education is now privatized, poof! How about I start an education company called Edu-Mart, then I tap into highly educated pools of people overseas, I bring them in to teach your kids at a fraction of the cost. Or better yet, Edu-Mart will just ship your kids to china and educate them there. That would be great for this country!

Don't want to do that, okay then, I am big government now. You find a school to educate your kids and you pay for it. However, every year Uncle Sam is going to test your kids. If your kid doesn't pass, I will fine you a hefty penalty. I don't care if you can't afford to pay the tuition for these well performing privately run schools, too bad! Sucks to be poor.

Wouldn't that be a nice free market education system that just neglects the lower class and further locks is in a social caste system.

Edit: This is more of a rant open rant as I was thinking, but will keep it posted to see if there are any better ideas.

vouchers

In order to get a teaching job in today's environment, you have to be certified in math or science, certified in special education, AND bilingual. And have a masters. There are simply no teaching jobs so districts can have high standards.

Sweden has vouchers but schools can't charge more than the voucher.

This is important, since without that hard limit vouchers just become a price support and the cost will be jacked up to what the parents can afford + the voucher.

Also, the more difficult students cost the most money to educate. Vouchers become a way to cherry-pick all the good students and dump the rest god-knows-where.

Public schools are a foundational element of a meritocratic all-in-it-together society. The intermixing of social classes is critical.

Private schools are centrifugal, divisive, and a terrible long-run mistake. But that's where we're going, because making long-run mistakes is something this nation is becoming really good at.

Troy says

Public schools are a foundational element of a meritocratic all-in-it-together society. The intermixing of social classes is critical.

Agree completely.

if that's the case -- how do you feel about the reduced use of english in California? I mean, if public schooling is soooooooo great, where do you place American culture and lingo?? Where do you place church and family -- both are mainstays of an all-in-it-together society too aint they? The fabric of any sociey is commonality .... conservatively speaking. And speaking of that, when you suggest that all members of a society are responsible to behave in a manner that is best for the society, that means you are suggesting we toss out all deviant behavior .. as deviant behavior flies in the face of all-in-it-together meritocracticness. Right?

One other question, who sayd "intermixing of social classes in critical"? Who looks at students with regard to social class and why in the world would that make any difference as to how they learn or what it costs to teach them? I do not agree with having any policey that acknowledges social class. Who is in charge of assigning the class to each person?

Reduced use of English, it is an absolute disservice to only teach one language in school. You are also setting kids up for failure if you don't teach English.

Church is not in public education. Family yes.

The fabric of American society is not commonality. American Society is diversity.

Yes, deviant behavior as in crimes or disobedience, do not punish disabilities.

Who looks at students in regard to social class? Ever heard of the reduced lunch program. You need to recognize there are social class differences. Some kids need a bus, some kids get dropped off at school in their parent's Lexus.

What it costs to teach them? I would believe poor kids are harder to teach because of social issues. Do you realize there are kids out there that only get a decent meal when they go to school? Yeah, let's keep ignoring the poor. Don't worry little Johnny, I know your tummy hurts because your broke, but keep coloring in the lines and try not to pass out.

Bap, it sounds like you have an axe to grind in your community or your past about one individual that was paid well to do very little. I guess you will be the first one who steps up and volunteers to put the Latino kids on a train back to Mexico, cuts school lunch programs, and reduces our school system to a have and have not program.

zzyzzx says

It's the awesone teacher pensions, health benefits, and small class sizes that are ripping off the taxpayers. Tha salary's really not so much.

Pension contributions are taken out of my salary. If you looked up my salary, the amount you would see is before subtraction of my pension contribution. The state also contributes. It's just like social security (and in place of social security (FICA). The difference being that the money goes in to an actual fund. And the payout is a little better than social security. But it's not a fair comparison, beause you can get full social security for many less years paying in, and social security pays disability and other benefits that are different from a simple formula based pension.

I started late, so won't do that well with it anyway.

MY average class size was about 45 this past year.

As I said earlier, California is 43rd in spending per student.

EMan says

Carma has a way of catching up with fraudsters.

I'm assuming you were referring to karma ?

Okay, but truth occasionally prevails as well. Combine ignorant thinking with lazy thinking and you get Eman, a person who never backs up his wacky assertions.

Cool, it's magic. He say's it's true, without even really the detail for anyone to comprehend what he's saying (he hasn't even thought it through that far), and poof, abracadabra it is magically true ! And by magic not only is it true, but people will magically now understand the details of what he was saying too.

Bap33 says

how do you feel about the reduced use of english in California?

as long as the 3rd generation speaks English natively, I don't give a shit.

I was an immigrant to Japan so I know how much nicer it is for immigrants to speak their own language in their adopted country.

Coming back here was always something of a relief to be able to function above the level of a retard in daily society. And my Japanese wasn't that bad.

that means you are suggesting we toss out all deviant behavior .. as deviant behavior flies in the face of all-in-it-together meritocracticness. Right?

No, the true problem here is all the judgmental, holier-than-thou pricks deciding they can tell other people how to live their lives.

If it doesn't harm you, laissez faire.

marcus says

Eman, a person who never backs up his wacky assertions.

Robert Rizo is in jail by now and so is the entire city council of the city of Bell for stealing public funds for personal use.

City of Montobello is under investigation from FBI because they misappropriated HUD funds.

Thats just how you government officials in big places work, they steal from the poor to provide themselves a lavish lifestyle.

EMan says

Thats just how you government officials in big places work, they steal from the poor to provide themselves a lavish lifestyle.

I know the story, can you give me the detailed breakdown of what that has to do with teachers and their union? Where's the fraud ? Where's the corruption. Can you find it. I know you're real sure it's there, BUT CAN YOU FIND EVEN A HINT OF IT?

Keep in mind, even the highest officials in the union are paid on the teachers pay scale which is public knowledge. It tops out at about 72K, but and goes a little higher slowly, but you can only get there with a huge amount of additional classes, that are not paid for by the employer.

Troy says

as long as the 3rd generation speaks English natively, I don't give a shit

Really, anyone who is here and going to school here before the age of 9 or so, is 98% guaranteed to make English their first language and to speak it with zero accent. But their parents, extended family or neighbors might still use Spanish a lot, in which case they have the pleasure of being totally bilingual, which I personally am envious of.

I know of educated latino parents who intentionally bring their children up speaking English and Spanish (even way before school) because they wish their kids to be bilingual like they are. How can you not respect that?

We are used to being so isolated. I doubt any European can even imagine such a ridiculous conversation.

English is securely in place as our primary language.