Public Education - is this a joke?

I'll avoid the political aspects of this, but I really think public education in the US is going to hell, fast. I'm a teacher in a high school and next week 10th graders have to take a state mandated standardized english test. OK, that's normal, but the test is scheduled for 3 days and they aren't testing on weds. because.....wait for it...


IT'S THE MOTHER F*&CKING EQUINOX!!


Since when is the flipping spring equinox considered any type of holiday? Seriously, between the 2000 different religious groups all demanding their own recognition and the generally accepted parental attitude that "everybody is a winner" it's no wonder the rest of the world kicks our ass in education. Don't even get me started on the males in class who are 17 and still momma's boys. OK, rant over.

 

Never heard of this.

 

I don't know why we don't do like Japan does for their kids, 6 days a week, 10 hours a day.

 

thats weird. Down with standardized testing!

 

We couldnt afford to pay teachers enough to be at school for 10 hours a day!

 

You are probably right. *Insert snark comment at the government*

 

Parents here wouldn't go for it. Seriously, the parents are the kids own worst enemy.

 

Nah, everyone could just be like Dallas ISD and extend the workday without extra compensation.

 

It is amazing what the teacher's union can work into their contract.

 

^ this is why Johnie got all "D's" and still passed.

 

No joke, a few months ago I had to sit down with some parent's because they were concerned I didn't "like" little Johnie. Seriously, lil' Johnnie was a senior. I would have rather had a bucket of blood poured on me at prom than have my parents tell my teachers I was sad because they didn't like me.

 

Standardized tests are terrible. Also the entire school system. But I think it's a lack of nurturing actual problem solving and critical thinking. Schools just make kids learn to spit back info, then forget it once they move to the next chapter (I guess math might be a little different)
Don't worry op, some kids are just going to be stuck as kids. Parents won't let them become adults.
At least you don't have me in your class, for all of my standardized tests, I'd write an essay spread out over all the answers about how standardized testing is not good and how funding depends on it is even worse.
I also have an issue with tenured teachers. Same lesson plan for 20 years. Same notes. Same movies. Is that even work?

 

The parents I work with seem to get more annoyed because of all the half days and BS holidays because they have to figure out what they are going to do with their kids those days. They end up taking a lot of vacation time because their school district has half days once a week.

 

Nothing wrong with being a momma's boy.

 

My high school was seriously a.joke. i had a 4.0 thru hs bc allyou had to do was watch 300 all day everyday in every class its no wonder i failed at college bc my hs didnt teach me shit or get me ready. 5th oldest hs in the country and it seems like the teachers are as old as the damn school

 

things are really going downhill nowadays. Everything's about being politically correct and doing as little work as possible.
Pretty sure our failing system is as much to do with the infrastructure of it all as it is with the kids itself.

I'm considering switching my major to secondary education/chemistry with my chem degree too.....

 

what the f***, you must have been out of school for a while... This sounds freakin horrible. How about improving the quality and effectiveness of current classes....

 

I learned mostly on my own and honestly I would just give kids basic books and skills to learn before they left school

 

Can't find the pop corn icon. thingy.

 

B i n g o
B i n g o
B i n g o

aaaaaaand Bingo was his name-o