So school just started again for me on Tuesday. At the end of the year last year, all the teachers were talking about how crappy it was going to be because the levy didn't pass, but I didn't think it was going to be this bad.
On the first day, none of the teachers had the usual handouts to give us, because they had to get rid of the copy machines because the lease was too expensive and they now outsource all copies to Kinko's. It takes at least 24 hours to get copies now. In my Spanish class, there are 3 more kids than there are desks and we have to buy our own books (32 students). In my AP Biology class there are more kids than there is lab equipment (31 students, 28 is the max limit) and we are 18 books short. My math class is the fullest I've ever had (32 students) because they don't have the money to replace the math teacher that retired last year. This year, we have English teachers teaching French and math teachers teaching Spanish because there is no money to hire more teachers. Is it this bad all over the country? The worst part is that we (the citizens of Spokane) easily have enough money for the levy, you've got 16 year old girls driving brand new BMWs and Mini Coopers in the parking lot.
On top of that:
I go to Mt. Spokane High School, one of the schools that failed to meet standards. And we would have failed even harder if a group of math teachers hadn't lobbied to have the math WASL test results annulled.
Wtf is going on? Things are obviously not working. I know there are plenty of threads on the American education system, but I just thought I'd share my first hand experience.
On the first day, none of the teachers had the usual handouts to give us, because they had to get rid of the copy machines because the lease was too expensive and they now outsource all copies to Kinko's. It takes at least 24 hours to get copies now. In my Spanish class, there are 3 more kids than there are desks and we have to buy our own books (32 students). In my AP Biology class there are more kids than there is lab equipment (31 students, 28 is the max limit) and we are 18 books short. My math class is the fullest I've ever had (32 students) because they don't have the money to replace the math teacher that retired last year. This year, we have English teachers teaching French and math teachers teaching Spanish because there is no money to hire more teachers. Is it this bad all over the country? The worst part is that we (the citizens of Spokane) easily have enough money for the levy, you've got 16 year old girls driving brand new BMWs and Mini Coopers in the parking lot.
On top of that:
http://spokesmanreview.com/breaking/story.asp?ID=16424Most Spokane high schools fail federal standards
As students headed back to class in many high schools Tuesday, educators faced a grim set of statistics.
Fifteen of 18 traditional public high schools in Spokane County failed last year to meet new tougher standards set under the No Child Left Behind act.
That includes every traditional high school in the Spokane school district, and every one in the Spokane Valley.
And the standards are scheduled to be ratcheted up twice more by 2014, unless Congress and the new president decide to change the No Child Left Behind act.
I go to Mt. Spokane High School, one of the schools that failed to meet standards. And we would have failed even harder if a group of math teachers hadn't lobbied to have the math WASL test results annulled.
Wtf is going on? Things are obviously not working. I know there are plenty of threads on the American education system, but I just thought I'd share my first hand experience.