TEACHERS>>>>> lets write a letter to Obama....He needs to know

[greenbriar]

In our building

we have for every grade level:

One science and one Social Studies teacher for every grade level. Math and Language Arts however have 3 each per grade level. My student load is 158 students for 41 minutes a day same with Science. Language Arts and Math get 82 minutes a day with 40 or less students daily.

Additionally we are looking at cuts due to budget issues and it is likely to be in the science or social studies areas. That would mean that we would teach multiple grade levels and an increase in student load daily while LA and Math would continue to have their 40 students a day


SOMETHING has to GIVE

6th grade
Once Science 145 students daily class size up to 30
One Social Studies 145 students daily class size up to 30
Three Math 40 students daily class size no bigger than 15
Three Language ARts 40 students daily class size no bigger than 15


7th grade
Once Science 158 students daily Class size up to 30
One Social Studies 158 students daily class size up to 30
Three Math 40 or less students daily Class size no bigger than 15
Three Language Arts 40 or less students daily class size no bigger than 15

8th Grade
Once Science 179 students daily class size up to 30
One Social Studies 179 students daily class size up to 30
Three Math 45 students daily class size no more than 15
Three Language Arts 45 students daily class size no more than 15

[Goblinmonger]

1. Our high school is completely the opposite

the departments with the largest class size are English and Social Studies. Math and Science have much smaller classes. It sucks grading 110 research papers.

[greenbriar]

2. tell me about it...I just got done grading 158 papers

using the 6 trait rubric


so that is 158 papers X 6

uggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggg

[greenbriar]

4. we do research in Social studies and science too

and we follow the same standards they are expected to follow in LA

[Dinger]

3. K & R So I Can Comment Later (nt)

[Dinger]

5. Expanding Charter schools Will Help. Right?

Like he said the other night.

[greenbriar]

6. that pissed me off

its the one thing I don't agree with

and why I was an Edwards supporter in the beginning.


I think OBAMA is right for the times, but I dislike his stance on education

[Egnever]

7. just curious what is it you dislike?

[greenbriar]

8. charters

more testing

basing teacher ratings on student performance.... does not hold merit


I want him to get rid of NCLB

[FrenchieCat]

9. What don't you like about Charter schools? Please elaborate.

Same goes for this "More testing" that you are refering to....

As far as teacher ratings on student performance, what should teachers be rated on if not that?.....as long as it is all kept in perspective as to where the school is, who the students are, etc....

In otherwords, if you are going to be against something, and want others to participate, shouldn't you be more specific as to your dislikes? From what I have read of what you posted, you sound very vague.

[Dinger]

11. One Reason I Don't Like Charter Schools

They do no have the same accountability as public schools. I know someone who teachers at a charter school in the Bronx. If their students don't cut it academically, they can be booted out. There are many more charters that have the same option. They can pick and choose their students. Consequently, it appears to the public schools do not perform as well as charter schools. These are schools who get money from the government; they are publicly funded. I am not sure what President Obama's intentions are as far as public schools. He wasn't clear on that in his speech. I heard what his intentions are for charter schools are, but didn't hear anything about how public schools will be impacted. Yes, charter schools are "public," but not as public as public schools.
There are public, private, and "semi-private' schools that need help. They are not working. In my opinion, we need to look at an equal-opportunity solution for all schools. and having a secretary of education who has a rather single-focused viewpoint is not the best answer in my opinion.

[Egnever]

10. is he calling for more testing?

I hadn't heard that. I agree our kids are already tested to death they don't need more. It takes too much time away from actual teaching.

There has to be some measure of teacher ratings though. We can not allow failed teachers to remain where they are. He seems to be more than willing to add support for teachers found to be failing before just dismissing them though and I like that approach.

I am certainly not going to disagree with you about NCLB.

As far as charters go what is it about his plans for them you don't like? From what I understand he is doing away with vouchers at least in DC I don't know about anywhere else. I think it is important though to test out new teaching ideas and charters I think are one way of doing it.

[Born_A_Truman]

12. Greenbriar, my husband agrees 100%

"more testing

basing teacher ratings on student performance.... does not hold merit


I want him to get rid of NCLB"

He teaches HS mathematics. Some parts of the tests given cover subjects that haven't been covered yet as they come later in the semester, so he's had to skip around so that students at least have the opportunity to learn the material. That borders on "teaching to the test" which is a big complaint--yet how is it fair to the students (or teacher and school rating on NCLB) if they are tested on material that they haven't been taught yet?

He also says that his students know that the testing won't affect their grades so they really don't take it serious. Yet, it is used to judge the teacher---basing teacher ratings on student performance on tests that don't reflect in their grades, therefore no real incentive for many to even try.

He does give President Obama high marks for his attempt to get parents more involved in their children's education. He is getting more and more discouraged about teaching. This year the district office has actually taken over telling teachers when and what they teach and his department chair has resigned since he no longer has any say in his department.