Guru? Indeed!

This will all make sense when my TriangleMom2Mom blog is posted on Wednesday.

Wake County Grading Scale

Comments

[Patti]

Oh, please don't EVEN get me started on the grading system. We've been fighting it for years. Colin aces tests but then doesn't turn in a couple of assigments and ends up with a C. Tell me, who knows more, the kid who aces the test or the one who copies homework or has their parents do it? I hope that's what your M2M is about.

[teacher]

Definitely a Democratic point of view! Like doing NOTHING for HW will let those test scores and what teacher would give a 65 when they REALLY turned in nothing for HW at all, I bet you tried different scores until the "65" is what gave you the "average" you "thought" your child should have..and what else do they learn at school...or at home for that matter

[JoAnn]

I do not think missing homework should be given anything other than a zero, but also think that the zero should be weighted so that a couple of zeros do not pull an A average down to a C. Especially if, as you imply, there is no standardized policy on turning homework in late.

Giving a "65" for no homework is giving something for nothing, which, as adults, we do not want people to expect, right?

Then again, many public school teachers (in my years of experience as a public school teacher and parent) give ridiculous homework assignments that are nothing but time-wasters. I mean, if a kid can do 5 math problems correctly, why does s/he need to do 20? Same with the often-ridiculous writing assignments that teach nothing.

And don't even get me started on projects. GRRRR

[bcanup]

What is so unusualk about the grading scale usedby Wake County? It's one used by many schools and universities thoughout our country. It requires a higher level of work to earn an A, B, etc. than the one where 90-100 represents an A. Quite frankly, I'm tired of hearing the Wake parents complain about every decision made by school leaders - from the year-round school concept to grading practices. Makes me want to say "Move" if you can't find something positive to say. Some parents have nothing more productive to do than spend time complaining.

[teacher]

No kidding...complaining and playing golf that is :) The ones that look at the grading issues like Di are the ones who children are probably spoiled rotten and grow into adults with no grasp of reality and self-discipline. They will still be living with mom and dad at age 30 with mom doing all the laundry for them.

[Di]

Hey, I take offense at that. I barely do their laundry now! I didn't feel that my piece was complaining, rather it was the opinion of a free citizen being expressed in a public manner, which I think was one of the important bases on which our country was founded.

We have a participative Democracy with a foundation in free speech. I've made mine. You make yours. And we help to make our decisions in the voting booth. But our elected officials need to know what areas we support and what areas we disagree about.

I have so many positive things to say about Wake County schools, but that wasn't the topic of my blog this week. And you know what? I don't get nearly the response when I write something positive!

Thanks for sharing your viewpoints.

[teacher]

Sorry, you are right. I was inappropriate. We both have our opinions and I should not have stereotyped you by your viewpoint.

[Diana]

I was waiting for a follow up post until I read all these comments. Wow. I don't have kids in school yet, but a (moderately) recent graduate of both high school (2000) and college (2005), I feel that the entire US public school system needs a *serious* overhaul. From paying teachers what they're really worth (more) to year round schooling and much more focused, challenging lesson plans/syllabi. Kids are capable of so much more than we give them credit for and, at least elementary school in the 80s, giving them only a little to work with from Kindergarten up breeds students who don't know how to study, who believe they're not capable of very much, and who don't work hard to achieve any goals at all -- educational or otherwise.

(Stepping off my little non-mom, non-educator, soap box)

[RWH]

Finally after 18 years of dealing with our public school system I will say bye-bye when child #3 graduates!
Things that are true of public high schools in this Country: First of all,they need to devote some time to really teaching kids all about simple math principals applied to daily life things like checking account over draft charges and how mortgages work! I bet some people would not have been so easily fooled if they had had a comprehensive course in this! Second,always the kids with the learning problems and the ones in Ap and advanced cources get the best teachers and the most attention. It was true in my day in the late 60's and it is still true. The kids in the middle routinly fall thru the cracks. Thirdly,not enough "stage time" given to blue collar but well paying careers like plumbing and electricians. Also certificate programs that take a year or so to do and you come out at least earning some kind of living like Vet. Tech,lab tech,etc. are not stressed enough. Plenty of kids who can't see the point at 18 of spending 4 more years in college with no particular goal could learn these skills. AND...its a long life that they will be working in. Who is to say that a person who does one of these cert. programs,gets a job and eventually gets tired of it CAN'T go back to college for a degree when they are say 26,or 27 or 28???
Maybe teachers need to earn a more competitive salary where you are but here in New Jersey add the cost on of a life time of free health and dental insurance for you and at least your spouse and you better believe that salary is competitive. My husband has about $6,000 a year taken out for these benefits for our family. This is a point that I think is always forgotten!
The job security thru the unions even when the teacher is known to be bad to all needs to change too.
I realize it is a difficult job and my hat is off to the good ones but still they need to have a more equal to all other professions type thing going on.
Talk about being on a soap box!