America's School Systems

Yet, another fucking national debate on schools in America.

And they still have it wrong...here's the jackass quote from the article:

"So, where do we start? With the basics [always back to some fucking basic, PE]. As President Obama has emphasized, the single most important factor determining whether students succeed in school is not the color of their skin or their ZIP code or even their parent's income--it is the quality of their teacher."

[by the way, if you don't think money fucking matters--you're dead wrong]

Here, what's the difference between these two questions:

Do teachers make a difference in childrens' lives?
Can a teacher make a difference in a child's life?

The answer to the first question is, no, and that is as it should be.
The answer to the second is, yes, it's possible.

Of course, we have to go back to actual question and take it more at face value. Let's read that one section again: "...whether students succeed in school..." [my emphasis].

Not succeed in life, but in school. Are those mutually exclusive? I think so. One isn't necessarily predicated on the other.

And of course the article goes on bring up, yet again, that immeasurable of immeasurables in the current public education system: performance. How do you measure a teacher's performance? Isn't it measured by the % of kids in their classes who pass the state mandated standardized tests? After all, why else have mandated standardized tests.

In the work force, most employees leave because of a boss not the company because their boss, basically, sucks at managing them. Now, there are a lot of shitty bosses and while that may determine whether you stay at the company or not, the boss won't determine if you are successful at what you do (politics aside and not using "moving up the ladder" as a measure of success).

All this being said, it doesn't mean that quality teachers aren't needed nor that our educational system needs changes. There are many things that can be done (not in the scope of this post--but go to your local bookstore and head to the Education section and you'll find all kinds of books by authors with all kinds of ideas on how to change it..we certainly are not short of ideas).

Now, I'm going to throw out an idea that I have not really fleshed out yet but I think we really need to re-think the purpose of our public education system. What exactly are we trying to achieve? A better work force? Better citizens? Again, are these mutually exclusive?

It's a great topic of conversation not lacking opinions, but seriously lacking an constructive movement. And the latest "national debate" will be like the others--a bunch of bullshit will be spewed and nothing constructive will be done--oh, I'm sure something will be done but I guarantee it won't be constructive.

Giving A Rat's Ass

My son's teachers' feedback is this:

While somehow he manages to pull good grades out of his ass, he does not do the work or put in the effort.

Now, this is an old problem...and I won't go into the long discussion on the various things his mother has attempted or thinks. But I know, I know exaclty what the problem is...and it's hereditary...he gets it honest, directly down from me and my father (not sure about his father etc...nor am I sure about my mother's side)--but I do know me and my father.

Basically, when we are not interested in something, we just don't give a rat's ass about it.

Neither stick nor carrot will change the behavior, nor adjusting his medication or changing it. I believe he suffers from:
The Jonah Syndrome (Maslow's)--go down to section VII

I believe this trait is hereditary, just as other personality traits can be (including, to give an example, the dislike of organized religion--got that one too--look it up if you don't believe me--you can find a reference to it in Judith Rich Harris' second book No Two Alike.)

But the question does remain and haunts my thoughts--how, how to get him not to suffer like I did growing up and continue to battle? How? Yes, how?

And so, that got me wondering about the Strengths Movement--I need to read the book, but perhaps this might help him. I don't know if I think it's a catch all for all kids but for some, there is value, plus I certainly don't see a down side. I will need to do some investigating.

It's Been Such A Long Time....

I do miss Brad Delp....but it's been a very, very long time since I even looked at this site let alone posted anything...not that it matters as I'm the only one reading it. Yet, it does represent an external "gathering" of an inner dialogue.

I'm pretty sure I now know why my writing has gone by the wayside...

I drink not from mere joy in wine nor to scoff at faith--no, only to forget myself for a moment, that only do I want of intoxication, that alone.
Omar Khayyam

Basically, I just got tired of thinking, even though it's not like you can just "shut it off", it doesn't work that way, but you can "muffle" it; hence no writing.

But then I started talking to this woman, a very intelligent woman and shit, she's got me thinking again. Went back to Becker's and Harris' books and well...here I am...posting for the first time in nearly a year....