tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10132773.post114766194359533453..comments2024-03-08T00:17:09.224-08:00Comments on The Daily Grind: 60 MinutesMr. McNamarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03062641578010808106noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10132773.post-1147708578587441622006-05-15T08:56:00.000-07:002006-05-15T08:56:00.000-07:00I don't think this is about BLAMING students or pa...I don't think this is about BLAMING students or parents, or failing to empathize with them.<BR/><BR/>Where I see failure is in refusing to acknowledge a significant part of the equation. Let's see if we can't get past e=m, why don't we?Amerlochttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17001434250939119091noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10132773.post-1147669436047261912006-05-14T22:03:00.000-07:002006-05-14T22:03:00.000-07:00And while some believe it is strictly the fault of...<I>And while some believe it is strictly the fault of the teacher, others recognize the impact that the students themselves, and their parents, have on the process.</I><BR/><BR/>You've mischaracterized the issue.<BR/><BR/>I am well aware of the <A HREF="http://d-edreckoning.blogspot.com/2006/05/universal-preschool-follies.html" REL="nofollow">impact</A> that low-SES children have on their education process. I am also aware that this is mostly a low IQ issue, rather than a motivation or bad parenting issue, as you suggest. Furthermore, these kids will always be more difficult to educate than middle class kids.<BR/><BR/>If it makes you sleep better at night blaming the kids or their parents for this difficulty they're causing you, then by all means don't let me stop you. Though I am also within my right to question your empathy for these kids and your fitness as a teacher of such kids.<BR/><BR/>Blaming these parents and the students themselves isn't going to solve your problems. Most of these parents don't have the ability to do what you want them to do anyway.<BR/><BR/>These kids can learn and they can be motivated to learn. With effective instruction. One example of effective instruction is the scripted program you don't seem to like. There may be others that work as well. It is the school's responsibility to use one of these effective instructional programs. When an effective program is used, about 95% of students will reach grade level. There won't be motivational or engagement issues you see when less effective instruction is used. This is part of the reason why these programs are more successful.<BR/><BR/>So when students in this 95% fail to learn, the school is responsible for their academic failure because they did not effectively teach. To do otherwise is to doom too many kids to the academic failure we presently see.KDeRosahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06853211164976890091noreply@blogger.com