Grade inflation

Katherine Kersten put out an interesting article you can view here at the Star Tribune. It is a very interesting view on the idea of grade inflation and the corresponding effect on schools and society. While I hesitate to blindly support Kersten I find her point to be true and a major issue in public schools. I'll supplement with a story from my first year of teaching.

I had a student (sixth grade) who hadn't turned in any work during the second semester and had below average test scores. This student earned a C- on their report card for a second semester grade. The day after report cards came out, I received a call from both the parent and my principal to come down and "consider" changing that grade. I ended up giving the student a C+ instead of the C- he earned. And I regret doing it every time I think about it. How does America fix grade inflation?

Session failure

I am disheartened by the results the Minnesota government got this session. It truly confirms to me that the political system is broken. Below is a list of bills and ideas proposed followed by the actual outcome:

Education proposed:
- Somewhere between a 2-3.5 percent increase for the next two years. I believe the one most quoted was 3% in 2007 and 2% 2008.
- All day Kindergarten.
- More emphasis on the Early Childhood education services.
Education actual:
- 2% increase for 2007, 1% for 2008. No all day K. Early Childhood doesn't receive promised allotment.
Grade: F. Way to fund the future.

Health care proposed:
- All children in Minnesota would have universal health care if needed.
Health care actual:
- As heard on the radio about 58 thousand people would be getting more heath care benefits.
Grade: D. There was progress.

Taxes proposed:
- Anywhere between a 5-10 cent per gallon gas tax hike
- Creating a fourth tier to the tax bracket that would additionally tax anyone who makes over 155,o00 as an individual and 242,ooo as a family.
Taxes actual:
No tax increases due to governor veto.
Grade: F. Screw Pawlenty for borrowing against the future then not bothering to fund it.

Nature and arts amendment proposed:
- adding 3/8 of a cent tax that would go towards natural causes as well as arts funding in Minnesota. Passing this bill would have allowed Minnesota to vote on an amendment to put this into law. Similar to the transportation amendment in 2006.
Nature and arts amendment actual:
- Didn't get to it. Not enough time.
Grade: F. I wouldn't have voted for it, but it would have been nice to see something get done.

What troubles me more is the nature of the session. Senate and House pass a bill. Governor vetoes it. Sides ignore branches of government and decide to just hammer it out in a small room without the entire government. They never come to an adequate agreement. Senate and House pass down watered down bills in the final hour and adjourn. Governor still has the power to line item veto or to just veto an entire bill.

Where is the balance of power and why did we (as Minnesotans) vote Pawlenty back in?

Apathy and children

I have a big problem with apathetic children. I try to remember back to my childhood for signs of apathy and laziness. It might be because I choose not to remember, or it might be because I was a decent kid, but I can never remember the level of apathy that I currently see in the schools. Countless times every week a student forgets something at home and when I confront them about it the excuse is "my bus was late" or "I got up really early this morning and forgot". It is never their fault. No student has come to me this year saying "I'm sorry, I forgot." Then the same student proceeds to sulk in my class as if it was my fault they forgot their stuff.

Maybe the problem isn't the children...

Maybe it's the parents. In defense of parents I do have many parents who come to school and drop off forgotten supplies. I have had plenty great conversations and interactions with successful parents. A good deal of parents that I talk with are really great parents. In conversation with a colleague this morning I asked him/her about apathetic children. S/he said s/he would like to round up a select group of parents simply look them in the eye and tell them "you should be embarrassed." Upon asking further upon this, it was stated that most parents essentially feel guilt for being "bad" parents. This guilt turns into hostility when a teacher confronts them. Now this makes sense. Of course this is only one view, but the logic s/he used was frankly compelling.

So what is the solution? Be tough on the kids? More confrontation with parents? I have no idea. The overlying concern I have is the concern for both society and the work force. What happens when the apathetic child with the enabling parent grows up and becomes your doctor or your neighbor?

Many people won't believe it, but...

I'm not sure many people will believe this, but the guy who never communicates via computer has set up a blog. Perhaps this action is more of a comment on the current educational system in the United States rather than an actual long term trend since I'm at conferences and I have seen a total of zero parents in the past three hours. I'm sure I'll have more to say on that later in future blogs. If you make it to my site and know who I am add me to your lists. I'll try to make the blog informative on the views I normally abstain from when in a larger group of friends. Hopefully everyone will learn more about the real me. More than likely I'll learn more about the real me than I ever anticipated.

Enjoy!