I agree totally with what Jeannie has said. How did education
become such a cash cow? Our district waste thousands of dollars
on extra consultants, needless more administrative positions at
the district office complete with benefit packages. These
people should be sent back to the classroom. This whole issue
is totally outrageous and does not benefits our students one
bit. The only ones benefiting are the powers that be with
whatever kickbacks they receive. Every district ought have a
grand jury investigation.

Then we do all this needless yet very expensive assessing. We
assess, assess, and assess. Then when we're done with the
district assessments, it's time for the Star test. The kids
nowadays are taught to the test. Anyone who could successfully
handle discipline could go in those classrooms today. It's so
mechanical that it appears the kids are being taught by human
robots.

The teachers SHOULD NEVER be blamed for what is forced upon
them. At least with the Whole Language movement that Jeannie
mentioned, good teachers could hide their sound materials and
sneak them out to do a decent job. With this current garbage,
it there is no hiding.

I thought at least with a new President, there would be hope to
returning to a little more common sense. However, we still have
NCLB and worse. The idea of tying teacher evaluations to test
scores is the most outrageous idea yet.

I agree with Jeannie. We need a third party. I just wonder how
many out there share my ideas.

> I have been in public education for 38 years . When we were
> doing well and the kids were thriving, it wasn't "good
> enough." We simply taught what was required and had time for
> P.E., Art, and Music. It was well-balanced and our
> achievement tests, a clean basic test, CTBS (Comprehensive
> Test of Basic Skills) proved that. We had time, then, to
> actually teach and even time for a little creativity.
>
>
> BUT...evidently, not enough creativity. SO PRESTO: the
> publishing giants have just the materials to "fix" it. Along
> comes the Whole Language disaster. We tossed the books (I
> didn't; I hid them so I could teach). Our rooms were "print
> rich" and the kids would learn to read "naturally" with all
> the fun and games etc. Math was taught so children
> would "think" but while they were "thinking" their
> computation skills went down the tubes. Thousands of
> taxpayers dollars went down the tubes right with them.
>
> Okay, the Whole Language movement proved to be a disaster
> so the kids really couldn't read and write well. SO PRESTO
> AGAIN: The publishing giants are at it again. They have
> their printing presses rolling and new and "wonderful"
> programs to fix the mess their other products created.
>
> The standards went from fun and games to ridiculously high
> standards that even some affluent districts couldn't
> achieve. The more difficult the standards, the lower the
> test scores. Thus, there would be a greater need to "fix"
> the problem.
>
> So more money went flying out of the taxpayers wallets and
> into the hands of CEO's, lobbyists etc. etc. The political
> football game continues.
>
> I have NOT seen a huge change in kids over the years. And
> some of my highest academic achievers have been ESL kids.
> They may be from lower economic families but those families
> value education.
>
> The real answer answer, in my opinion, is an HONEST third
> party that will clean up the mess AND CORRUPTION in this
> country. With that, California may have a shot at again
> reclaiming the top educational system in the nation!
>
> Just my thoughts and opinions,
> Jeannie

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