S.Lythberg
Mastermind
+429|6734|Chicago, IL

JohnG@lt wrote:

S.Lythberg wrote:

JohnG@lt wrote:


And we here on Long Island have the highest school taxes and teachers salaries in America. The quality of teachers is still very suspect. Throwing money at the problem will not solve it.
There's a lot of bureaucratic bullshit involved too, it drives the good teachers out of the profession and rewards the bad ones, wages need to go up, and some sort of oversight needs to be implemented to stop the favoritism at the local levels
Oversight is just more bureaucracy. Raising wages isn't the issue, they are already well compensated. Seriously, abolish the union, pay scales and tenure and you'll have teachers that are motivated because their jobs are on the line. Their jobs are currently guaranteed. Why would anyone put forth max effort if their job is 100% secure? I wouldn't. I'd fuck off constantly.
But what about the great teachers? I had some tenured teachers who were excellent, and no longer had the need to adhere to the fairly ridiculous educational plans the districts set out.  I've also heard stories of tenured teachers who were terrible.




The biggest problem in the educational system is the lack of accountability by the parents, they suck, horribly.  Teachers are there to teach, not parent.

Kids would come to my high school stoned, drunk, or just plain violent, and the teachers were expected to deal with it and still manage a classroom.
Jay
Bork! Bork! Bork!
+2,006|5645|London, England
I mean hell, I experienced both public and private schools growing up. The teachers at the private school made half as much in pay but were far superior as teachers. Sure, they had better students too, but they were not only more knowledgeable, but happier as well. Oh, and they didn't have guaranteed contracts.
"Ah, you miserable creatures! You who think that you are so great! You who judge humanity to be so small! You who wish to reform everything! Why don't you reform yourselves? That task would be sufficient enough."
-Frederick Bastiat
Jay
Bork! Bork! Bork!
+2,006|5645|London, England

S.Lythberg wrote:

But what about the great teachers? I had some tenured teachers who were excellent, and no longer had the need to adhere to the fairly ridiculous educational plans the districts set out.  I've also heard stories of tenured teachers who were terrible.




The biggest problem in the educational system is the lack of accountability by the parents, they suck, horribly.  Teachers are there to teach, not parent.

Kids would come to my high school stoned, drunk, or just plain violent, and the teachers were expected to deal with it and still manage a classroom.
This is definitely something I agree wholeheartedly with you about. Even people who are well off are guilty of this crap too. When I was waiting tables a few years back there was this one family that came in pretty regularly. They had three kids and each one of them would carry around his own DVD player. The parents would tell the kids to shut up and watch the DVD player when they weren't eating. As soon as they left the restaurant the kids would pile into a minivan and watch more DVD's. Tell me that isn't child abuse.

People talk about the prevalence of autism and other childhood disfunctions and blame it on chemicals, hormones, everything under the sun without pointing the finger at themselves and the Baby Mozart their kid has been plopped in front of since birth. Kids need to get outside, get hurt, get dirty, make friends. Plopping them isolated in front of a TV does nothing but give them psychological problems.

Last edited by JohnG@lt (2009-10-10 18:24:31)

"Ah, you miserable creatures! You who think that you are so great! You who judge humanity to be so small! You who wish to reform everything! Why don't you reform yourselves? That task would be sufficient enough."
-Frederick Bastiat
S.Lythberg
Mastermind
+429|6734|Chicago, IL

JohnG@lt wrote:

I mean hell, I experienced both public and private schools growing up. The teachers at the private school made half as much in pay but were far superior as teachers. Sure, they had better students too, but they were not only more knowledgeable, but happier as well. Oh, and they didn't have guaranteed contracts.
Private school means students who want to learn, it makes a world of difference.  Nobody would teach in the inner city unless they were desperate and unqualified, and that's exactly what the inner city gets, teachers who ask who their students are "goin' for" in the election.
Jay
Bork! Bork! Bork!
+2,006|5645|London, England

S.Lythberg wrote:

JohnG@lt wrote:

I mean hell, I experienced both public and private schools growing up. The teachers at the private school made half as much in pay but were far superior as teachers. Sure, they had better students too, but they were not only more knowledgeable, but happier as well. Oh, and they didn't have guaranteed contracts.
Private school means students who want to learn, it makes a world of difference.  Nobody would teach in the inner city unless they were desperate and unqualified, and that's exactly what the inner city gets, teachers who ask who their students are "goin' for" in the election.
Not at all. There are quite a few charter schools in NYC that were built especially for high risk kids in crap neighborhoods. Those charter schools are non-union, attract the very best teachers and have a graduation rate about 3x that of the normal public schools.

Edit, oh, and it costs about 1/3 of the money per year per student compared to the normal public schools as well. Funny that.

Last edited by JohnG@lt (2009-10-10 18:26:59)

"Ah, you miserable creatures! You who think that you are so great! You who judge humanity to be so small! You who wish to reform everything! Why don't you reform yourselves? That task would be sufficient enough."
-Frederick Bastiat
S.Lythberg
Mastermind
+429|6734|Chicago, IL

JohnG@lt wrote:

S.Lythberg wrote:

JohnG@lt wrote:

I mean hell, I experienced both public and private schools growing up. The teachers at the private school made half as much in pay but were far superior as teachers. Sure, they had better students too, but they were not only more knowledgeable, but happier as well. Oh, and they didn't have guaranteed contracts.
Private school means students who want to learn, it makes a world of difference.  Nobody would teach in the inner city unless they were desperate and unqualified, and that's exactly what the inner city gets, teachers who ask who their students are "goin' for" in the election.
Not at all. There are quite a few charter schools in NYC that were built especially for high risk kids in crap neighborhoods. Those charter schools are non-union, attract the very best teachers and have a graduation rate about 3x that of the normal public schools.
It's a charter school, they still get to decide who they take, and only concerned parents apply to them.  I know kids who grew up in the ghetto and turned out fine, hell, there was a double shooting walking distance from my house last month, and I know kids who grew up in million dollar houses and went straight to jail, it's all about the parenting.
Jay
Bork! Bork! Bork!
+2,006|5645|London, England

S.Lythberg wrote:

It's a charter school, they still get to decide who they take, and only concerned parents apply to them.  I know kids who grew up in the ghetto and turned out fine, hell, there was a double shooting walking distance from my house last month, and I know kids who grew up in million dollar houses and went straight to jail, it's all about the parenting.
Then if we agree that it comes down to parenting, how does throwing more money at teachers solve any problems? It doesn't.
"Ah, you miserable creatures! You who think that you are so great! You who judge humanity to be so small! You who wish to reform everything! Why don't you reform yourselves? That task would be sufficient enough."
-Frederick Bastiat
Diesel_dyk
Object in mirror will feel larger than it appears
+178|6281|Truthistan

JohnG@lt wrote:

I mean hell, I experienced both public and private schools growing up. The teachers at the private school made half as much in pay but were far superior as teachers. Sure, they had better students too, but they were not only more knowledgeable, but happier as well. Oh, and they didn't have guaranteed contracts.
But Like S.Lythberg stated, the support by the parents is key.. If the parents care enough to send their kid to private school, then they probably care enough to look after the kid, make sure they are loved and well nourished and encouraged.

Public school, you get a mix of parents some care, some don't, some are crack heads, and some teachers deserve combat pay.


Market incentives work to attract good people, but it often takes something more to keep these people... things like having good kids to teach.
Pug
UR father's brother's nephew's former roommate
+652|6829|Texas - Bigger than France
politics should never be part of any curiculuum.  I'm pretty sure if the teacher looked, it'll be in the employee handbook.
S.Lythberg
Mastermind
+429|6734|Chicago, IL

JohnG@lt wrote:

S.Lythberg wrote:

It's a charter school, they still get to decide who they take, and only concerned parents apply to them.  I know kids who grew up in the ghetto and turned out fine, hell, there was a double shooting walking distance from my house last month, and I know kids who grew up in million dollar houses and went straight to jail, it's all about the parenting.
Then if we agree that it comes down to parenting, how does throwing more money at teachers solve any problems? It doesn't.
The entire system needs an overhaul, better wages, less favoritism, better built schools (how about one design for the whole nation, to minimize the disparity) and more parental accountability.
Jay
Bork! Bork! Bork!
+2,006|5645|London, England

Diesel_dyk wrote:

JohnG@lt wrote:

I mean hell, I experienced both public and private schools growing up. The teachers at the private school made half as much in pay but were far superior as teachers. Sure, they had better students too, but they were not only more knowledgeable, but happier as well. Oh, and they didn't have guaranteed contracts.
But Like S.Lythberg stated, the support by the parents is key.. If the parents care enough to send their kid to private school, then they probably care enough to look after the kid, make sure they are loved and well nourished and encouraged.

Public school, you get a mix of parents some care, some don't, some are crack heads, and some teachers deserve combat pay.


Market incentives work to attract good people, but it often takes something more to keep these people... things like having good kids to teach.
Ok, then what's the solution then? As I've said repeatedly in this thread, teachers in this area make six figures for salary. There isn't any noticeable increase in the quality of teachers attracted. Hell, you're as likely to get an old 80 year old bag teaching math as anything.

The only solution to fixing our schools would be to neuter potential bad parents. I don't think we want to go there, now do we?
"Ah, you miserable creatures! You who think that you are so great! You who judge humanity to be so small! You who wish to reform everything! Why don't you reform yourselves? That task would be sufficient enough."
-Frederick Bastiat
Jay
Bork! Bork! Bork!
+2,006|5645|London, England

S.Lythberg wrote:

JohnG@lt wrote:

S.Lythberg wrote:

It's a charter school, they still get to decide who they take, and only concerned parents apply to them.  I know kids who grew up in the ghetto and turned out fine, hell, there was a double shooting walking distance from my house last month, and I know kids who grew up in million dollar houses and went straight to jail, it's all about the parenting.
Then if we agree that it comes down to parenting, how does throwing more money at teachers solve any problems? It doesn't.
The entire system needs an overhaul, better wages, less favoritism, better built schools (how about one design for the whole nation, to minimize the disparity) and more parental accountability.
Why are you stuck on the better wages thing?
"Ah, you miserable creatures! You who think that you are so great! You who judge humanity to be so small! You who wish to reform everything! Why don't you reform yourselves? That task would be sufficient enough."
-Frederick Bastiat
S.Lythberg
Mastermind
+429|6734|Chicago, IL

JohnG@lt wrote:

S.Lythberg wrote:

JohnG@lt wrote:


Then if we agree that it comes down to parenting, how does throwing more money at teachers solve any problems? It doesn't.
The entire system needs an overhaul, better wages, less favoritism, better built schools (how about one design for the whole nation, to minimize the disparity) and more parental accountability.
Why are you stuck on the better wages thing?
Because nobody with a degree in chemistry will teach chemistry for $30,000 when local companies will pay $60,000 right out of college.
Pug
UR father's brother's nephew's former roommate
+652|6829|Texas - Bigger than France

S.Lythberg wrote:

Because nobody with a degree in chemistry will teach chemistry for $30,000 when local companies will pay $60,000 right out of college.
Teaching is tough (I know I couldn't do it)...

...but you get three months off.

$30k is a little low, the do get some benefits which would make $30k = $35k.
Jay
Bork! Bork! Bork!
+2,006|5645|London, England

S.Lythberg wrote:

JohnG@lt wrote:

S.Lythberg wrote:

The entire system needs an overhaul, better wages, less favoritism, better built schools (how about one design for the whole nation, to minimize the disparity) and more parental accountability.
Why are you stuck on the better wages thing?
Because nobody with a degree in chemistry will teach chemistry for $30,000 when local companies will pay $60,000 right out of college.
But I've already stated that not all teachers are compensated so poorly. Doesn't improve the quality of people going into teaching. Very few people want to take care of other peoples kids or babysit. I'd personally rather do research than be a babysitter.

Last edited by JohnG@lt (2009-10-10 18:43:15)

"Ah, you miserable creatures! You who think that you are so great! You who judge humanity to be so small! You who wish to reform everything! Why don't you reform yourselves? That task would be sufficient enough."
-Frederick Bastiat
S.Lythberg
Mastermind
+429|6734|Chicago, IL

JohnG@lt wrote:

S.Lythberg wrote:

JohnG@lt wrote:

Why are you stuck on the better wages thing?
Because nobody with a degree in chemistry will teach chemistry for $30,000 when local companies will pay $60,000 right out of college.
But I've already stated that not all teachers are compensated so poorly. Doesn't improve the quality of people going into teaching.
Screen them better, make the teaching degree curriculum more difficult (Kind of a joke now, they don't even know basic math).  The unqualified idiots are there because of favoritism, they knew somebody, and that's how they got the job, qualified or not.
Jay
Bork! Bork! Bork!
+2,006|5645|London, England

S.Lythberg wrote:

Screen them better, make the teaching degree curriculum more difficult (Kind of a joke now, they don't even know basic math).  The unqualified idiots are there because of favoritism, they knew somebody, and that's how they got the job, qualified or not.
There is a dearth of teachers in math and science across the nation. There are a million and one people that want to be history, gym or english teachers. Difficult to screen out the bad teachers when they're hurting so badly for people in the profession in many areas.

Hell, most of my hard math and science teachers in college have been eastern European. My Calc professor was a one armed Russian.
"Ah, you miserable creatures! You who think that you are so great! You who judge humanity to be so small! You who wish to reform everything! Why don't you reform yourselves? That task would be sufficient enough."
-Frederick Bastiat
S.Lythberg
Mastermind
+429|6734|Chicago, IL

JohnG@lt wrote:

S.Lythberg wrote:

Screen them better, make the teaching degree curriculum more difficult (Kind of a joke now, they don't even know basic math).  The unqualified idiots are there because of favoritism, they knew somebody, and that's how they got the job, qualified or not.
There is a dearth of teachers in math and science across the nation. There are a million and one people that want to be history, gym or english teachers. Difficult to screen out the bad teachers when they're hurting so badly for people in the profession in many areas.

Hell, most of my hard math and science teachers in college have been eastern European. My Calc professor was a one armed Russian.
Mine had two arms, and a stereotypical Russian hat. 

You and I are both well qualified to teach high school level math, but neither of us would do it for the money they pay, too much bullshit to put up with.

If we keep the wages the same, as you're arguing, then the level off bull crap teachers are expected to put up with must come way down before anyone qualified will enter the field.
Pug
UR father's brother's nephew's former roommate
+652|6829|Texas - Bigger than France
Weird...

I had an American history class when I was in Toronto, taught by a guy who's parents were Russians working in Cuba...and defected to Canada.

He sent me to talk with the principal for arguing with him about Pearl Harbor.
Jay
Bork! Bork! Bork!
+2,006|5645|London, England

S.Lythberg wrote:

JohnG@lt wrote:

S.Lythberg wrote:

Screen them better, make the teaching degree curriculum more difficult (Kind of a joke now, they don't even know basic math).  The unqualified idiots are there because of favoritism, they knew somebody, and that's how they got the job, qualified or not.
There is a dearth of teachers in math and science across the nation. There are a million and one people that want to be history, gym or english teachers. Difficult to screen out the bad teachers when they're hurting so badly for people in the profession in many areas.

Hell, most of my hard math and science teachers in college have been eastern European. My Calc professor was a one armed Russian.
Mine had two arms, and a stereotypical Russian hat. 

You and I are both well qualified to teach high school level math, but neither of us would do it for the money they pay, too much bullshit to put up with.

If we keep the wages the same, as you're arguing, then the level off bull crap teachers are expected to put up with must come way down before anyone qualified will enter the field.
The amount of money that I would have to be paid to teach snot nosed kids math would not be stomached by any school district in America. I will give my future kids all the time in the world but I can't be assed to teach other peoples kids what should be taught at home. My grandmother had me doing multiplication, division and taught me how to read before I ever set foot in Kindergarten. Most parents expect their kids to learn everything they need to know between the bells and then want a toy to play with as soon as school is out. That's not parenting.

I would be fired within a week of my first teaching gig for getting in a fist fight with some piece of shit parent.
"Ah, you miserable creatures! You who think that you are so great! You who judge humanity to be so small! You who wish to reform everything! Why don't you reform yourselves? That task would be sufficient enough."
-Frederick Bastiat
Diesel_dyk
Object in mirror will feel larger than it appears
+178|6281|Truthistan

JohnG@lt wrote:

Diesel_dyk wrote:

JohnG@lt wrote:

I mean hell, I experienced both public and private schools growing up. The teachers at the private school made half as much in pay but were far superior as teachers. Sure, they had better students too, but they were not only more knowledgeable, but happier as well. Oh, and they didn't have guaranteed contracts.
But Like S.Lythberg stated, the support by the parents is key.. If the parents care enough to send their kid to private school, then they probably care enough to look after the kid, make sure they are loved and well nourished and encouraged.

Public school, you get a mix of parents some care, some don't, some are crack heads, and some teachers deserve combat pay.


Market incentives work to attract good people, but it often takes something more to keep these people... things like having good kids to teach.
Ok, then what's the solution then? As I've said repeatedly in this thread, teachers in this area make six figures for salary. There isn't any noticeable increase in the quality of teachers attracted. Hell, you're as likely to get an old 80 year old bag teaching math as anything.

The only solution to fixing our schools would be to neuter potential bad parents. I don't think we want to go there, now do we?
LOL or may be not... I had an old bag for teacher, and she stunk (literally and figuratively) too teaching math in high school. her thing was to yell at people not to write anything down as she was writing it because she had to explain it first. then she would say "see its like this and that" and then promptly erase it before you could write it down. There are some really bad teachers out there.

Here's who I see it
1. good wages attract talent and trap bad teachers who can't mke good wages elsewhere
2. pensions should be portable because there is nothing wrose that having a bad teachers hanging around waiting to retire

you need good wages to attract people when they are deciding what to take in university. If it pays shit wage or a wage comparable to a garbage man then why bother, go into nursing or business or something where you have a chance to pay back your student loans.

Anyway, you need to be able to fire bad teachers.
I get what you are saying about unions being an impediment, but I can see that if you got rid of unions what it would do is politicize teachers wages to a greater extend and it would become open season on all teachers, good and bad. The solution would be worse than the problem.

There are so many problems with the school these days, their are too big, over crowded, run like prisons. I mean they have their own police forces like WTF. Schools are one place where using economies of scale ensures the production of a bad product.


So my solution... why bother fixing it, be one of the parents who cares about their kid, make sure your kid gets to go to the best school you can find and/or afford. If other parents don't give shit about their kid, then why should you care about their kid, every one has to find their own path in life, you should just concentrate on making it easier or you kid.

Some kids just are not academically inclined or their damages in utero or whatever and like they say the world needs ditch diggers too. its cruel but true.
Jay
Bork! Bork! Bork!
+2,006|5645|London, England

Diesel_dyk wrote:

JohnG@lt wrote:

Diesel_dyk wrote:


But Like S.Lythberg stated, the support by the parents is key.. If the parents care enough to send their kid to private school, then they probably care enough to look after the kid, make sure they are loved and well nourished and encouraged.

Public school, you get a mix of parents some care, some don't, some are crack heads, and some teachers deserve combat pay.


Market incentives work to attract good people, but it often takes something more to keep these people... things like having good kids to teach.
Ok, then what's the solution then? As I've said repeatedly in this thread, teachers in this area make six figures for salary. There isn't any noticeable increase in the quality of teachers attracted. Hell, you're as likely to get an old 80 year old bag teaching math as anything.

The only solution to fixing our schools would be to neuter potential bad parents. I don't think we want to go there, now do we?
LOL or may be not... I had an old bag for teacher, and she stunk (literally and figuratively) too teaching math in high school. her thing was to yell at people not to write anything down as she was writing it because she had to explain it first. then she would say "see its like this and that" and then promptly erase it before you could write it down. There are some really bad teachers out there.

Here's who I see it
1. good wages attract talent and trap bad teachers who can't mke good wages elsewhere
2. pensions should be portable because there is nothing wrose that having a bad teachers hanging around waiting to retire

you need good wages to attract people when they are deciding what to take in university. If it pays shit wage or a wage comparable to a garbage man then why bother, go into nursing or business or something where you have a chance to pay back your student loans.

Anyway, you need to be able to fire bad teachers.
I get what you are saying about unions being an impediment, but I can see that if you got rid of unions what it would do is politicize teachers wages to a greater extend and it would become open season on all teachers, good and bad. The solution would be worse than the problem.

There are so many problems with the school these days, their are too big, over crowded, run like prisons. I mean they have their own police forces like WTF. Schools are one place where using economies of scale ensures the production of a bad product.


So my solution... why bother fixing it, be one of the parents who cares about their kid, make sure your kid gets to go to the best school you can find and/or afford. If other parents don't give shit about their kid, then why should you care about their kid, every one has to find their own path in life, you should just concentrate on making it easier or you kid.

Some kids just are not academically inclined or their damages in utero or whatever and like they say the world needs ditch diggers too. its cruel but true.
The truth shall always reign +1
"Ah, you miserable creatures! You who think that you are so great! You who judge humanity to be so small! You who wish to reform everything! Why don't you reform yourselves? That task would be sufficient enough."
-Frederick Bastiat
Spark
liquid fluoride thorium reactor
+874|6962|Canberra, AUS
Teacher retention is the key IMO. The best teachers I've ever had were those who wre on the job 10, 20, 30 years and genuinely wanted to teach.

The less good teachers were generally the more inexperienced ones who were either too forceful, too loose, or both at once (which is always a bucket of fun )
The paradox is only a conflict between reality and your feeling what reality ought to be.
~ Richard Feynman
Jay
Bork! Bork! Bork!
+2,006|5645|London, England

Spark wrote:

Teacher retention is the key IMO. The best teachers I've ever had were those who wre on the job 10, 20, 30 years and genuinely wanted to teach.

The less good teachers were generally the more inexperienced ones who were either too forceful, too loose, or both at once (which is always a bucket of fun )
It's just like any job, some people are good and some people suck. Difference is that Jimmy fucking off in the cubicle down the aisle will only be noticed by a handful of people. That bad teacher will have a negative impact on hundreds of students. There really isn't a whole lot that can be done, especially when said bad teacher has tenure. Jimmy will more than likely end up fired, that teacher will go on to pollute young minds and leave a bad taste in peoples mouths for decades.
"Ah, you miserable creatures! You who think that you are so great! You who judge humanity to be so small! You who wish to reform everything! Why don't you reform yourselves? That task would be sufficient enough."
-Frederick Bastiat
Dilbert_X
The X stands for
+1,817|6393|eXtreme to the maX
I don't think people go into teaching for the money TBH.
I think its something people should be encouraged to do after retirement from another career or during a career break.

And ill-discipline should not be tolerated in school.
Fuck Israel

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