CB> Quotes are taken from a message written by Tom to Charles on 07/11/96...
TC>>I simply believe in Democracy and don't believe the minority should rule
TC>>the majority.
 CB> What?  I had to read that twice...
 CB> And then I bit my tongue - way off topic here.
Oh, come on, Chuck, what about John Dewey?  Democratic education is his
whole philosophy.  This guy believed in equal education & opportunity,
not only for minorities, but for GIRLS in the late 19th & early 20th
century.  You can MAKE it topical if you really try 
TC>>I am sure it does impact districts all across the country.  Unless a
TC>>school district has the funds to go all the way to the surpream court
TC>>they usually settle out of court locally or at the state level at the
TC>>highest.  Oh yes, they definitely can choose to be included in advanced
TC>>classes even when they don't meet prerequisite.  They don't last long
TC>>but they can try.  It is a little tough to jump into an Honors English
TC>>class which move at about three times the pace of regular English and be
TC>>successful.
 CB> We've had no experience with this here.
When I taught high school, most unqualified kids I saw who demanded
honors or advanced placement bailed very quickly.  It wasn't a question
of the pace of the course, but rather, the higher expectations of
quality.  Many times there were fewer assignments, but they were much
more difficult & the grading was harder.
TC>>It has even reached the point now where many extra curricular
activities TC>>are being curtailed since two teachers were sued by a
Black Female TC>>student who was theoretically discriminated against.
Teachers are not TC>>required to be sponsors and are choosing not to.
It all came about when TC>>the student wanted to become a member of the
female version of the key TC>>club.  They are required to have four
teacher recommendations of their TC>>choosing.  Two of the teachers she
of her choice simply filled out the TC>>questionnaire and she was
rejected from the process.  The teachers were TC>>sued and forced to
make a public apology for filling out a form in their TC>>honest opinion
of the student which was suppose to be confidential.  The TC>>result has
been that most clubs now have no prerequisite's either.  That TC>>is
what clubs are remaining as teachers are refusing to sponsor them.
 CB> This is not the case where I teach.
Didn't we have a thread about the possible repercussions of filling out
student recommendations.  As I remember, someone even claimed that
teachers can be sued for declining to complete them (such nonsense.)
TC>>How does your system stack up ?  What are you doing to improve it ?
TC>>Would a national curriculum really improve the system your in ?
 CB> most of the good programs we had.  Testing is being cut back, standards
 CB> are being modified to match the prevailing educational fads (some of the
Our fad in AZ is changing the tests, the type of test & which students
are tested every other year.  The last couple of Arizona Student
Assessment Program forms have contained cultural & linguistic biases
that caused the State Super. to toss out several versions of the test.
 CB> testing will include cooperative projects - how'd you like to have
 CB> your child's final grade in a course somewhat dependent on the
 CB> work of other children?) and things are sliding out of control
 CB> very quickly.  I am very disappointed.
I do NOT like the idea of this at all.  As a student in school, I tended
to work best independantly.  My husband is the same way.  I expect that
any child we have will be the same.  This sounds like *ripe* grounds for
a lawsuit.  (School's atty:  "Yes, your honor, Chris was awarded a
failing grade because (his/her) group turned in an inferior project.
No, sir, Chris' part of the job was of passing quality, but that's not
the point.  The children were expected to work together to achieve an
acceptable product.")
TC>>students and parent are the key to success.  If the curriculum and the
TC>>Teachers we the total answer we would have the best system in the
TC>>world.
 CB> We need to put the onus of education on the student.  If one does not
 CB> master a subject, they do not move on.  One of my greatest frustrations
But then we end up with the 17 year old 7th grader sitting next to the
12 year old 7th grader.  Unfortunately, not all districts have been able
to implement an alternative school or other solutions some urban areas
have been able to use.
 CB> is to fail a child in June and come back in September and find that the
 CB> principal has promoted the child over the wishes of his teachers.
 CB> Happens here every year.  Ugh!
Whoa, Nellie.  That's illegal here in AZ, according to Arizona Revised
Statutes.  Darn, I can't find the book.  It's around here somewhere.
In fact, the responsability for promotion is the teacher's.  If a parent
or a principal doesn't agree with the teacher, the child can't be
promoted.  They can take the case to the school board, if the school
board overturns the teacher's decision over the teacher's objections,
the teacher can't be sued if at age 18, Johnny is ticked cuz Johnny
can't read.  The school board assumes liability.  If the school board
talks the teacher into signing off, then the teacher can be liable when
Johnny decides to sue, all the way up until age 20.
Sucks, don't it?
Leona Payne
... "The `H' stands for horrible, right?" -- Lister's Confidence
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