tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20429083.post6722846192020642001..comments2024-03-19T05:26:04.770-04:00Comments on A Year of Reading: No Dentist Left BehindMary Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09078793537148794310noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20429083.post-48846286173110557822007-03-23T11:11:00.000-04:002007-03-23T11:11:00.000-04:00I'm not really ready to start counting down to the...I'm not really ready to start counting down to the end of my career, but this nonsense, this unrelenting, soul-deadening NONSENSE has made me start thinking about not being a teacher any more.<BR/><BR/>That said, it is also scary what state legislatures are doing to teacher retirement funds and insurance coverage after retirement. I might not be able to afford to EVER retire!Mary Leehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09078793537148794310noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20429083.post-85526209073295633292007-03-23T09:43:00.000-04:002007-03-23T09:43:00.000-04:00That was a great description. Yes, it is ridiculo...That was a great description. Yes, it is ridiculous to rate the teachers by student progress, but that seems to be the norm. I had a great friend who told me about this. This causes teacher burnout, and the best teachers, who are needed at the schools with the most challenging students, all want to work at the schools where they can get their bonus. This is what happens in NC. You only get your teacher bonus if the whole school passes. Yikes! That is why I decided NOT to become a media specialist.Lindseyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06240634669040463676noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20429083.post-59820200018333635572007-03-23T00:46:00.000-04:002007-03-23T00:46:00.000-04:00AAARGH! This makes me so frustrated.This piece is...AAARGH! This makes me so frustrated.<BR/><BR/>This piece is brilliant. But, would a politician get it? I don't think so. (Well, maybe John Edwards. He's the only one talking about the elephant in the room--there are poor people in this country and NCLB isn't going to help their kids or their schools.) <BR/><BR/>The dentist analogy is perfect. In my mom's final year of teaching (2005-2006), all but 3 of her children spoke another language as their primary language. The number of these home languages? 12. The three native speakers of English? Two of them lived in foster homes. How in the world is mom supposed to bring them up to 3rd grade level? She has to show them the word for "girl" and "boy" on the bathroom doors. Needless to say, her school is a "failing school" under NCLB, despite the fact many dedicated, wonderful, intelligent teachers work there.<BR/><BR/>What happened to the idea that school was to bring these 20 kids speaking 12 different languages to proficiency in English and citizenship by the time they're 18? Mom used to teach about her favorite artists, countries, and cultures in her classroom. But at the end she couldn't. It was all about the test.<BR/><BR/>Why (again, I give Edwards the exception here) can't politicians admit that poverty, addiction, and dysfunction at home are the problem and direct their funds that-a-way. Kids need to feel safe, clean, and not hungry in order to learn. Teachers can't fix that, although they try beyond all expectations.Kellyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15169707337312707247noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20429083.post-54491082687876042042007-03-22T17:10:00.000-04:002007-03-22T17:10:00.000-04:00I wish I could take credit for it! I added a note...I wish I could take credit for it! I added a note at the end of the post -- teachers HAVE seen this. It's the doctors and lawyers and POLITICIANS who need to read it and realize how crazy NCLB is!!!!!!!!!!Mary Leehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09078793537148794310noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20429083.post-38890289646514670852007-03-22T13:47:00.000-04:002007-03-22T13:47:00.000-04:00That was brilliant. Absolutely brilliant. You need...That was brilliant. Absolutely brilliant. You need to submit that to...I don't know, some important professional journal or such. I wish every parent, teacher, and administrator could see it.MotherReaderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11274509991340797264noreply@blogger.com