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[QUOTE=Trades;4495952]And for the 50th time. What is your solution? We get what you think the problem is, honestly we do, but what is the solution?!?[/QUOTE]
For starters:
1) Federal Mandates: NCLB, Common Core, Race To The Top, all have corporate greed agendas that do not bode well for children.
2) Mayoral Control: Mayor Bloomberg fought so hard to get it and now has the power to do really whatever he wants. No one looking over him. The DOE in NYC has the highest salaries of over $100,000 of all city workers. Most of these salaries come from political promise type jobs outside the classroom and small schools withing already existing school buildings that now have to account for twice, sometimes three times the amount of administrators. No one looking over the billionaire businessman who poses as a mayor for now. Not a good mix.
3) Standardized Tests: The result of NCLB was to test, test and test the kids more. Its so unbelievably over the top that anyone who witnesses this could never believe that it makes sense without some hidden agenda. The amount of standardized tests reached 20 this school year. That's almost 1 every 2 weeks (includes practice and post exams). A standardized test day is awful for every kid and teacher and in the end has proved nothing except that it costs so much more money that could be spent on useful things for schools. Somehow we have forgotten that they are children and should be inspired by their experiences to learn. One standardized test at the the end of the year seems reasonable. Finland, who the rest of the world deems as the greatest country for education, DOES NOT give any standardize tests until the student is 16 years old and not every student takes one. Funny how Americans wants to be the best at everything yet wont follow the model of the best country.
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