Wednesday, September 19, 2007

Our schools consist of two major types of schools- public and private. While a very small percentage are home schooled, the majority fit into the two main divisions. Our schools are a combination of economic status, as well as racial and ethnic background. These factors, over the years, have become deeply influential in the success of the school. Although the schools receive funding from different branches of the government, the largest amount of funding comes from the local and state institutions. In short, the higher the property taxes are, the more funding will be received. The government has prescribed the curriculum guidelines that determine whether you have completed the standard educational level.


The students are a direct correlation to the diversity present in our country. While most public schools are generally white, that is not true across the board for specific districts toward urban areas. In more urban areas, the statistics seem to be reversed. For example, in Chicago, Houston and Los Angeles its 91% students of color. On the the other hand, 57% are generally white. While this may or may not affect the educational goals, it is pertinent in the overall evaluation of our schools because it directly relates to income.


Unlike our incredible diversity of our student body, our teachers force is homogeneous. Teachers in our country are a whopping 90% white, and dividing that further into 79% female. This directly effects the influence on our student and the presentation of cultural diversity in education. Nonetheless, in schools with higher poverty levels, there is a 20% turnover rate, which altogether are the main reasons for teacher shortages. Thirty-three percent of these teachers will leave within their first three years of teaching. In turn, in the higher poverty schools the teachers are newer and inexperienced. To repair this issue, salaries have become a persuasive form of gearing teachers toward these schools.

Tuesday, September 18, 2007

No Child Left Behind... But What About The Teachers

The statistics of the schools are shocking to me, I've never seen them all so clearly before. The percentage of Latino and African American students in some areas like Hawaii, California, and Louisiana totally took me by surprise. What shocked me the most though was the low 17% of students going to public schools in this North East area. I guess growing up here I didn't hear too much about private schools and assumed that most of the area used public schools. When I look back there were two private schools within 10 minutes from my house. Its interesting the things you notice when your young and the things you recall when you are older.

The No Child Left Behind Act actually makes me angry. I do not think that federal testing is going to help anyone. Everyone is different and a test that has the exact same questions for everyone is just going to show who was taught just for the test and who wasn't. If this kind of testing is necessary than I believe it should be an individual evaluation by the teacher who has spent a year with them and knows the child. That is how no child will be left behind.

My biggest problem with this Act is the teacher specifications. They are sending teachers out to get more schooling, which would be fine if they could afford it. They are also sending letters home telling parents of students that the teacher is not highly qualified. This can really destroy a teachers career. Just because a teacher does not have the same amount of degrees as the next does not mean they are not a good teacher. Degrees don't come with compassion and understanding, they come with cold facts. Being a good teacher has a lot to do with the skills to relay the information in a way the students understand. Lets not forget about all those teachers who have worked so hard and changed our lives that are now being called under qualified.

Nervous

Energetic was my first thought when I met Dr. Goldstein. She immediately caught my attention and clearly described the course to me. I had no idea coming into this class what it was going to entail and I was a little nervous. I am actually more nervous now that the class has begun and I know what I will be doing.
I am not very computer savvy and this blogging is very different for me. I have never been comfortable sharing my opinions and feelings so openly without knowing the exact audience it will receive. I am used to face to face conversation, I believe computers have really ruined that. I enjoy bouncing my thoughts off someone and having their reaction to my work. This just feels so detached to me.
I am also nervous about the field work. I have been looking forward to working in the schools ever since I started this major but now that it's here I'm a wreck. I don't know how to relate to kids, I clam up when I'm not ready, and I don't want to make a fool of myself. I know when the time comes I will be fine, but right now, I'm just a little nervous.