Education - Then and Now - A Long Comparison and Rant

When I was in the transition between Junior and Senior High schools, I first noticed the deterioration of the public school system. For me, this was the mid 1980's. As I recollect from my memories, I feel that I struggled somewhat with my studies, maintaining a seemingly normal C+ to B- average in most classes. Some classes seemed harder than others (as is for most students) but it all seemed normal. Then suddenly in HS I was easily passing classes that I should have had to work harder at, if everything followed the regular pattern I had previously been through since Kindergarten.

The difference? My early school years were in Indiana and my HS years were in Arizona. This is not about how one state is better than another, just my viewpoint.

One good example: Algebra and early Geometry were courses I struggled with in Jr High. In HS, I "breezed" through them, as they were separate courses, on the same Jr High level I had already been through. Obviously this is due to the AZ school system being set back than Indiana's due to ESL (English Second Language) and other barriers to the teaching process (I opine that is it because of the damn illegal immigrant situation).My kids, attending schools here in AZ, don't see the difference in learning levels as much as it appears normal to them. But as a parent I see other problems in the education system.

Let me narrow it down a bit more. I see a problem with individual teachers, not as persons, but as instructors, and their styles of instruction.

Now I am sure pretty much everyone reading this is going to think back to their school/college days and think of that one instructor that they "hated", or never liked their style of teaching. Though many of you still passed the course, even if it may have been barely. Somehow, despite it all, you persevered.

Anyways, times have moved forward since my days of school (and I am sure yours as well). It seems my older kids have actually been assigned homework that can only be completed by Internet access - be it to access some "school online website" or to locate needed information since the public library is closed after 6pm, and they are not given time at school for the school library (if they even have one). I know we have moved into a more technological computer age, but when is it needed, nay, REQUIRED, to have a computer, let alone Internet access, for our children to do homework? Textbooks are no longer given out (budgetary restraints) so "online textbooks" that have to used for homework. WTF?!? I could see needing a computer to "type" up a report. But Internet a requirement (which is never mentioned at any school registration as a needed  item for schoolwork). How is a school to provide computer access, let alone Internet access, for those who families cannot afford it? How can they require this, and not provide it, yet it needs to be done? I don't understand.

We don't live in Snobsville, but we don't live in Shantytown either. My family lives in a "nice" neighborhood. We have decent neighbors. Schools, shopping, parks, freeway access - all close and convenient. Shootings? Every once in a great while. Police helicopters overhead at night? Sometimes, but usually more in the lower income area off in another direction. My kids attend public schools that do have a large Latino presence. In elem. school, the lunches are automatically free as the income for most students families are low enough it is cheaper to just provide the whole school - though bringing your lunch is an option. Yes, ESL is a big factor in our schools. I have seen students bring their parents to open houses, and have to do all the translation for them (constantly).

Through it all, my kids are learning well. So far, the three older ones have been in "Project Potential" - an accelerated class for regular school studies. I am sure the last one will too when he gets in school. Though I gripe about the school requiring it, we have computer and Internet access for the kids to be able to finish their homework. Even if we have to help them search for exactly what the instructor has asked for (even when it is not even having to do with the homework, but it is required. IE. Geometric angles for a starting algebra class?)

Sigh. I gripe. I bitch. I whine. I try to understand, and I do bits and pieces. Still there is much I don't and that helps infuriate me more at times. But we do the best we can to provide the needed info and availability to get that to our children.

So maybe I should get to the specific thing that just pisses me off tonight. It is a prime example of my comment about instructors and their style of instruction. Maybe re-reading this (or rather proof-reading this) will make me see a better answer to the problem. I don't know.

My oldest son is in Junior High, which started about 3 weeks ago. You already understand the make-up of income and race in our area. How it affects the school system budget, public interaction, and I am sure the teaching of anything to students.

I need to back up one year, to when he was in 6th. He was in the accelerated class, instructed by a a woman from Jamaica. In the beginning of the year, I realized there were going to be issues, because her verbal and written instructions many times never matched each other, and would leave my son very upset as to how to complete assignments. Literally upset to the point of tears, late at night, because he was tired and wanted to go to bed, but needed to have it done for the next day. Her speech made listening a burden due to her accent, her way of calling every male student "Boy", and other problems presented themselves. The Wife and I thought several times (and sometimes actually listed examples to bring to) that we should meet with the principal and teacher about these things. In the end, we decided not to meet. At the 6th grade level, we thought maybe it best that our son learn that people are going to call you derogatory things because you are white and they aren't (no, not being a Nazi). That he is going to have to learn to inquire for more information if he isn't clear on things. Through out the school year, no matter the assignment, he still finished up Valedictorian of his class. No small feat. That was 6th grade. He learned things and had them sort of ingrained, I hope.

Junior High. His only class that is "advanced" is his Language Arts. I guess we would know it better as Reading, because so far it is more about reading and comprehension than a re-study of punctuation, etc that most call an English class. Either way, moving on. At the Open House about a week or so ago, this instructor mentioned they had been assigned a Book Project that was going to be taking place on top of other assignments through some time of the school year. Personally, no idea how long, but say at least several weeks. It entails reading a book (obviously) and from there do other things... something like a pamphlet, a report, some other stuff... etc.

First is the book.

The book needs to be selected and read. A very obvious thing. Let's talk about selection, after all, it can't just be ANY book. There are criteria that have to be met. There are criteria that are required NOT to be in the selection. Here are the basics:
      1. Must be Non-Fiction, or Historical Fiction - Non-Fiction leaves a large area open. but saying "OR Historical Fiction", does that not sound oxy-moronic? Can't be fictitious, unless it is historically so? I don't understand.
      2. Cannot be an Autobiography, or a Biography - Nope! Would have been too easy to get just the facts.
      3. Must be in the student's Lexile range. At the open house, parents were told that this score would be provided to the student in days to come, and that there was a website to find a book in the range would be given later on.

- For those that don't know, the Lexile range is a numerical range of reading level, based upon a person's comprehension of material they are reading. I would think usually this would go hand-in-hand with if a 12 year old is reading young adult books and understanding it, he is going to have a higher score and range than a student that can barely read a 3rd grade book. You can read more about it at Lexile.com.

So, the son comes home tonight, he has to finish up some Social Studies homework, using the ONLINE textbook (which the provided the website for at the open house). I ask if that is all, and find out about this book thing. He has to have the TITLE of the book he will be doing his project on by tomorrow class time. He was just given the Lexile score today. No other info was given - like where to look up the list of books, etc.

I'm pissed. I happen to Google Lexile, find the main site. You can plug in a score, and it will bring up "a list" of books by category for you. I enter the info, and have the selection of around 20 or so things. Historical Fiction is not one of them. History and Social Studies is listed. I look in there....OMG. He is supposed to pick something from here? Then the questions start from me : where is the site info? Where is the info about this project? Did the teacher provide ANY info? etc etc

No website was given. No additional info as to what Historical Fiction pertains to ("Little Men"?). Does Non-Fiction include other things like Science and Technology, such as the title "Non-Fiction" seems to indicate, though, saying Historical Fiction, non autobiography/biography seems to say you want something more in the line of history.

Why the FUCK can't the DAMN teacher be a little more precise? Why can't she provide a specific book list? Why is ANY INFORMATION that would be more helpful NOT anywhere where a student could get to it tonight, the day before he is supposed to have a selection done?

We called the teacher's school telephone recorder thingy. Her message mentions the basic info (Non Fic, or Hist Fic - not Auto/bio) and that's it. There is no forum or website through the school to see possible other information on the project. I asked why he didn't get more info, he said he didn't know he needed more, though he doesn't understand what he is supposed to pick or from what list, the same as us.

I am pissed. I start to write an email to the instructor, and going to enclose a cc to the principal, and maybe the school superintendent. I proof-read it. Change this, edit that phrase, take out that cuss word.

Still I have not sent it. After writing all this out, I have begun to think a little on it. Last year, we explained to our son, he was going to have to get used to people in the world that do not, maybe even cannot, give you every bit of info needed, or treat you the way you should, etc. He is going to have to learn how to deal with it.

Maybe, this is one of those things. If he doesn't understand, maybe he needs to go back and ask questions until he does understand. If it hurts his grades, maybe he will learn to ask questions in a better time frame.

Though, given no other info except his Lexile score, just today, and then expected to know what to do with it, on his own time, with no other indication.... should he have asked? Why didn't any other student? Do they understand what needs to be done and is it just my son?

I don't know.

Edit: I just got done giving my son the best solution I could.  Just go into class tomorrow with no title selected, get more info, and take whatever deduction of points or whatever for being  day late, but better informed. She ain't going to fail a weeks-long project for one day in the selection of a title. I don't know if he is going to do that, or he and his mother (not Wife now, we argued about this) will try and pick something out. Either way, not my problem. He will have to learn how to do this on his own somehow.

PeacE

Should I start a Countdown??

It's 2:40am. I guess I have awakened due to all the excitement I feel inside. That, or the incredible urge I had to relieve my bladder. No, before you ask, I am not going irregularly in the night. I am always up at least once, since I drink so much fluid during the day.

But if it were possibly any day but Monday, some excitement might be about, too. We are down to just a week left until Labor Day Monday - or as more commonly known this year as Ralphd00d's Official and Last Birthday of His Formulative and Wisdom Gathering Years for Maturation, more commonly understood as, Last of the Third Decade Dynasty, or even 'round here, just noted in RM's little day journal as "Ralph - 39". Yes, that last big celebration to be taken advantage of for 365 days, before the the next decade begins in the Story of My Life.

Well, there I gone and done it. That's the most excited I have been ever for a birthday I think. Yeaaaaahhhh, I did.

No huge celebratory plans - after all it ain't what most consider a milestone marker year. Saturday and Sunday are pretty clear and open. Monday plans are to head over to Sis' for Family get together and eat/swim/whatever for the day. Her hubby and I usually put our bdays together (his is exact week after mine - though I am the younger one - just to not confuse you). I know my boys have been looking forward to the pool and cooling off as it has been pretty sticky around here for the monsoon season. Waiting to hear from the daughter if she will make it home from college for the weekend, or if she has other plans.

Welp, I think that is about all I got for right now. Anyone else doing anything exciting?

PeacE

Closing up the Weekend

Sunday morning here, and I was up since 3:30am. Seems that one good night of sleep I got, was al I was gonna get.

Went out and got a new computer the other night. The Wife is happy now she can play her games (meaning they can load up) on Facebook. Kids are happy, cuz I made another WoW account so they can play at the same time as me.

Family is going to church. I am gonna rest up and do nothing. Labor Day weekend is in a week.

PeacE

Maybe Back to Normal

I slept. I mean, I slept alot. About 10:30 yesterday morning, I felt tired, so I laid down, and ended up sleeping straight through to 5:30pm. I was like, 'Oh great. Now I won't sleep tonight.' I was still feeling crappy (literally) but by 9:30, I was back in bed and passed out. I slept through the whole night - a feat I have not done for the past several weeks. This morning I awoke feeling good, passing air, and not so 'blah'. Had a bathroom break about 7:30, but it wasn't anything much. So I think I am finally over that bout of poisoning. Tomorrow is Friday, and I will head to the pub to partake of some alcohol - we all know it will kill any germs left.

Today is Thursday though, and now that I am feeling better, I should get out and take care of more things that need to be done. I need to put some fluid in the radiator of my car - the light came on saying low fluid the other day. Then I need to run it up to go through emissions. Thankfully that place is only a 1/2 mile up the road. Then back home to do the online registration. The dame price for emission testing is almost as much as the price for 2 years registration. And my car is only a 1995...

Watched "Shutter Island" last night. I was not impressed. Twenty minutes into the movie, I had most of the movie pegged out. I will be watching "The Lovely Bones" next. Waiting for 8/31 and the "Sons of Anarchy" season 2 to be released. Great show!

Weekend is coming up... what will you be doing?

PeacE

Day Three - I Swear It's Like the Energizer Bunny!!

I can't believe this shit... or lack of, in a way, I guess. Last night I started feeling better... hadn't had to rush to the bathroom in a few hours; no cramping in the stomach. Ate some Jack in the Box for dinner. Hit the sack about 9:30'ish and slept good til about 4:30am. That's when it got me. I guess in my sleep I was thinking of passing some gas, and it awoke me when it wasn't gas. In my Herculean effort (picture Eddie Murphy from that movie going "Hercules! Hercules!") to roll to the edge of the bed and arise without leaving mess from my shorts on the bed .... That effort catapulted me directly into the full pull of Earth's gravitational pull, and I damn near broke my nose as I landed, seemingly face-first, on the floor. From there it was a quick Shake of the head to clear the cobwebs, feel the stuff moving down the leg, and quick sprint to the rest room.

Yeah, it ain't gone yet. This little bugger is hanging on tenaciously. Overall I do feel a bit better, so surely I am on the backside of this, and no reason to go to the doctor. Even the lunch meat and egg recalls I hear about, describe the basic symptoms one might experience, and I am past all them. Plus, when I had them, they weren't as bad as they make them sound out to be. But if we could just end this short relationship, I would be happy. Tired of drinking like 2 quarts of water a day to be sure I don't dehydrate....

In other news - well, I don't really have any. The oldest son had his Jr. High open house last night. Because I wasn't feeling up to rushing around the campus, I stayed home with the two younger boys, and the Wife went instead.

I am falling in love with Hulu.com!! If you haven't heard of them, they show some of the recent episodes of TV programs that have been on. Not all of them, as it is only ones they have contracted to do, but man! I don't have to sit and wait for a specific night and time to catch a show! And the commercials they do show, are short and usually only 1 per break - sometimes 2 short ones. The episodes can sit there in my queue until I watch them, or in some occasions, Hulu will remove them from being shown. Usually after 5-6 weeks. So I been watching a couple favorites, and even checking out some other new ones, even if it is season 2, cuz if I like it, then I can go back and watch the first season on dvd usually.

Okay, I am out of here. It's Hump Day, and I need to hump it back to the bathroom again already.

PeacE

Day Two - It's Still Here

Day Two - 1:30am : Dear Journal, I am still fighting my bout of food poisoning. I am up again pissing out my tender ass. Tender, you ask? It's been wiped like 90 million times over the last 24 hours. It's getting to the point it hurts to sit, or shit for that matter. Sigh.

Yeah, if I had a journal, that's what it would probably read. Today was spent mostly in bed, napping. The waking part spent on the toilet. I thought so much fluid could accumulate in the body, even though I know we are like 75% water. Just not used to seeing so much coming out at once I guess. Was able to get down a small lunch. Dinner was 1 piece of chicken and a small serving of mashed potatoes - and then stomach cramps started again, and I just wanted to throw it all up, though I didn't.

I don't know what else to do but let it run the course, and if not better in another day or two, go to the ER. In the meantime, I am miserable.

PeacE

It's Come Around Again

Short post today. Only because I fear the amount of time in which I have to come up with non-witty remarks and boring details of my life. I know, you say to yourself that that does not normally stop me. But today it does.

I have a new close friend for the day. It is called a toilet. Seems I ain't some bad lunch meat at the end of the week, and those nasty bacteria finally caught up. The Wife was complaining about my nauseous gas emissions last night (which was nothing new). I was in bed about 10, up again at a little past 1am, cramps in the stomach and the urge to make greetings with my new friend. We have been inseparable since. Well, maybe for a lucky 20-30 min at a time. Now at 10am, I am feeling a bit better - less cramps, but still making that trip just the same. Hoping this clears up by later today. It was only 1-2 pieces of lunch meat for goodness sake!

Daughter starts college classes today. She made Honor Choir through tryouts over the weekend.

I got to do some running, will take me like 45 min to do. Wondering how well I trust my body? Wondering IF I should trust myself, and should I dress just in case?

Decisions ... decisions....

PeacE