No child left behind? Really? No, not really.....

[granfire]

okies, this is more of a parental whine than anything.

Got back froma parent/teacher thingy this afternoon.

The kid is failing miserably in about 3 of his four subjects.

Ok, you might say, I should have spawned a smarter kid.
Normally I would agree, but: The kid is smart as all get.
Just lazy. I am guessing chronically underwhelmed.
The thing is, when put to the test, he knows his stuff. he.just.won't.work.

Now I am utterly frustrated. The regular teacher certainly does not have the time to prod his lazy butt through every little assignment and problem. He has a classroom full of other kids who need him as well.

What I am so incredibly frustrated with, there is no help for the smart kid who has his head stuck up his crotch.

A couple of years ago the gifted program for the high school was scrapped, due to money problems. I am not sure about the middle school. The elementary school still has it's program, thankfully.

On the other hand, we have over 15 teacher/ teacher's aids for special ed and the autism program. That is almost as many as for the whole rest of the student body.

<disclaimer: I know I come across as a whining witch! No need to comment on that>

But in all seriousness, is it not counter productive for the school system to cater excessively to the lower end of the spectrum?
I mean, those kids, while they can be a productive member of the society, they are not likely to be the next doctor, teacher, researcher.....

Aren't we shooting ourselves in the foot here?

I know the school system functions very differently from where I am from. But it seemed to work so much better in terms of the inner workings of the school.

From what I understand, we hardly produce college material anymore in our high schools (while neglecting the need for base trades, ironically) and even the quality of the college graduate has taken a significant dive as well.

Can we counter act that in any shape or form at this stage of the game?


I am probably cutting the kid too much slack, as I made it through school with minimal effort....barely scraped by, but hardly ever cracked a book open to do actual 'studying'.
But I am thinking I failed on a higher level than the kid does now....

(I am always amazed at how naive the kids are these days, hardly know the most basic of things, and all while having a smart phone and 3 and 4g at their fingertips at all times....Encyclopedia Britannica going to an all electronic format will not help these kids!)


I am going to drown my sorrows now....:waah::waah::waah:

 

[harlan]

Sounds very familiar. As they say, in hindsight, I wish I knew then what I know now.

First off, don't know how old your son is, but if it's not highschool, have him thoroughly tested to rule out any kind of learning disability. Pay for it yourself if you have to. I was dicked around for years by the school system until it was too late. Then pull him out of the public school and if you can, take a loan out to get him into the best private school you can afford. I firmly believe that the school systems have been underfunded for too long, and over-regulated and over-run by agendas, that unless you are wealthy (and can afford all the extras), or fall into a subgroup that is funded, an intelligent child without self-direction is doomed.

 

[granfire]

I am pretty sure he has no disabilities, beyond having his head stuck up his crotch.

That is what makes it so massively infuriating.

I think I have been blessed in regards to the teachers. Considering some of the kind I had back in the day....

But really, we have a huge disconnect there.

I am at a huge loss.
I am hoping I am getting through to him, he is a good kid, he really is.

 

[harlan]

Of course he is. But I've come to the personal opinion that as parents from another generation, we are fighting a losing battle against white noise, and numbers. White noise in that everywhere the youth of today are bombarded by cultural and technological dissonance We are training them for shorter attention spans, and discouraging complex, time-consuming/mind-training use of the brain. Add to that the numbers: mass education. I've met outstanding teachers that made a difference, and caring teachers that work at it, but after one semester...the child moves on. If a light isn't lit, or some kind of ambition instilled, or even just fear of punishment, you'll be pushing and dragging him all the way through graduation.

 

[Makalakumu]

The Teenage Liberation Handbook.

http://www.amazon.com/The-Teenage-Liberation-Handbook-Education/dp/0962959170

Please check out this book. Every kid I know who fits your child's description could benefit from this. I wish we lived in a society where we had schools that tailored themselves to student's needs, but we don't. So, here is your next best option.

Unschooling.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unschooling

 

[Bill Mattocks]

I'm sorry to hear of it, must be very frustrating.

 

[pgsmith]

Sorry to hear of your problems, but it's actually pretty common. It has been my experience in working with teenagers for many years that today's society fails to teach children how to make responsible choices. I can't tell you how many times I had the following conversation ... ME: "Well it's your choice." KID: "No it isn't, I wasn't given a choice!" ME: "You have a choice in everything. The consequences of your choices change, but nobody can make you do anything. You simply choose to avoid those consequences." KID: "Huh?"

You as a parent have much more of an influence over your child than the school so, if moving to a better school district is not an option, you can overcome their shortcomings. I used to recommend Jim Fay's Love and Logic system to all of my Scout's parents. I am a firm believer in his methods, and they allowed me to guide two very bright ADHD boys into handling their own lives. In my opinion, it is definitely worth your time and effort to look into it.
http://www.loveandlogic.com/

 

[Carol]

I'm no expert at this stuff but what you are describing with The Kid is a lot like what one of my colleagues has been describing with her teenage son, about the same age. I don't know all the details, but she had him do a series of tests that were able to identify a learning disability and once identified she was able to make a lot of headway in working with the school. Now his grades are better and he has his mind on college.

I don't really know what is up with The Kid but I wish you all the best in working it out.

 

[FabianosKarate]

Unfortunately your point with the special education teachers and para pros works like this. All of those staff members are paid by federal title 1 money essentially costing the district 0 dollars. Regular teachers...not the case


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[granfire]

Unfortunately your point with the special education teachers and para pros works like this. All of those staff members are paid by federal title 1 money essentially costing the district 0 dollars. Regular teachers...not the case


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

Not exactly the point where the money is from.
And heaven knows I don't begrudge the kids the attention they are getting.

but something is amiss here.

 

[shesulsa]

I have a son like yours. Fortunately, he has grown into being rather reasonable and is now making strides at doing his work and turning it in. Now if we can get him to appreciate the process and purpose of schooling, he can open up his own world of learning.

Seems there are many children like this - I don't think the education system is designed very well as it pertains to educating kids today. I think we need a newer approach more closely aligned with how we learn and grow these days.

BTW - special needs kids require SOOOOO much more attention than you can imagine. The hope is that with specialists they can grow to learn and lead somewhat productive lives. Not a perfect system by any means, but better than nothing.

 

[granfire]

I have a son like yours. Fortunately, he has grown into being rather reasonable and is now making strides at doing his work and turning it in. Now if we can get him to appreciate the process and purpose of schooling, he can open up his own world of learning.

Seems there are many children like this - I don't think the education system is designed very well as it pertains to educating kids today. I think we need a newer approach more closely aligned with how we learn and grow these days.

We need to look elsewhere for inspiration, but things are not bound to change any time soon.
(Although I am massively surprised, we have what it's called AMSTAI in the elementary and middle school here, a program aimed at the kids to make math and science more fun and hands on. My husband was most impressed when a 6th grader explained electric current to him, more eloquent than the people in his shop who are doing it for a living)

BTW - special needs kids require SOOOOO much more attention than you can imagine. The hope is that with specialists they can grow to learn and lead somewhat productive lives. Not a perfect system by any means, but better than nothing.

I understand fully.
But I see where the integration of all kids under one roof are working against the over all academic standard.
The school has to cater to so many different problems which seem to me could be addressed better if it wasn't an all inclusive deal.

It's more of a problem for society than the individual child I suppose.
Like I said, the funding for the gifted kids has been scrapped. In the attempt to safe the feelings of the kids, telling them they are that special little snowflake, we have done them a disservice. What is more so a problem, we as society will have to suffer from that.