Waiting for Superman: Part 3

During Waiting for Superman today, they talked a lot about the lottery system they have in place for charter schools. All the children they have focused on up until this point are trying to get into some kind of charter school, so by law, there has to be a lottery to see who gets in. I didn't know that and I know in theory this is the best possible way they can choose who is accepted, but it just seems wrong that some children who could really use a better education than what they are currently getting could get turned away just because his or her name isn't called.

I have to admit I'm waiting on pins and needles not knowing who was accepted yet. All of these children and their families are just trying to give them the best possible opportunity for a future, but it is all determined through chance.

One moment during today's viewing that really hit me was when the one mother said her daughter was unable to attend the graduation ceremony for elementary school, because the mother owed some tuition. I feel like this is just so harsh! This poor woman is trying everything she possibly can to get her daughter a great education, and she cannot be a part of ceremony that praises all her work just because her mother is having financial issues. What is the school thinking? Can't they just hold her report card? Or not give her a certificate? Is it really necessary for her to be excluded from something she rightfully earned? I have been through some financial trouble with my parents before. I have gone through times when I can't get something I asked for just because we didn't have the money. The look on my mother and father's faces when they say I can't have something because of lack of money is absolutely devestating. I couldn't even imagine the look on the little girl's mom's face when she told her she was unable to walk at her ceremony that she worked so hard for, because of money.

This seems like another example of adults doing things for the good of the adults, rather than the good of the student. I know you can't expect every student to just go through school if their parents didn't pay. But can't there be a little leniency? One parent was unable to pay for her daughter a month, so therefor she is excluded. This just doesn't seem fair to me.

Okay, tomorrow should be when I find out which students are accepted with the lottery and which didn't get in. Until then!

Waiting for Superman: Part 2

In today's section of Waiting for Superman, I was actually really interested in teacher's unions. I feel like I've heard about teacher's unions ever since I was real little, but I never know much. I hear from some people that they are absolutely amazing while I also hear they are the worst thing anyone ever created. No one ever told me specifics so I generally ignored the topic. When I saw it on Waiting for Superman, I think I am generally split with my opinion.

Teacher's union, they say in the video, are put in place to save the teachers' tenure. However, when a school board tries to rid itself of truly bad teachers who aren't helping students, they are unable to because of teachers unions. I find this incredibly frustrating! There are some incredible teachers out there. I have had about a handful of amazing teachers who made things interesting, could relate to students and their problems, and actually taught well. I believe these teachers should be rewarded for all the work they do to make their classrooms so awesome.

On the other hand, I have also seen some bad teachers. I see how their lack of interest or failure to relate to the students effects their classes. If a teacher isn't positively impacting their classroom, I feel they should be evaluated and possibly removed.

In the video the woman who was the superintendent in Washington DC, I think her name was Rhea, was trying to do just that. She wanted to revamp the entire educational process! She wanted to get rid of bad teachers, get better ones, extend the school day. All of which was vetoed by the teacher's unions. She is trying to give the students of DC a better chance at a good education, but the adults can't seem to move past their own selfish ideas. It doesn't seem logical how a teacher would not want the best possible education for their students.

I'm sorry if that was a little rant-like, but I just get very frustrated when it seems like adults are the ones in the way of a child getting a good education versus a child getting a poor or mediocre one. Until next time!

Waiting for Superman

Ok, due to some technical issues Ms. Bell and I were having, I was only able to see between 20 and 25 minutes of the movie. I didn't really know what to expect from this movie because I had never heard of it, but from what I've watched, it just made me sad. Maybe sad isn't the right word. I think disappointed is better. I'm not disappointed in the students necessarily, more like in the government. There was one part in the documentary where they showed past political speeches by presidents and they all say the same thing, I'm going to fix education! And that's it. Nothing drastic ever comes out of it. It's all talk. George W. Bush promised that there would be 100% proficiency in reading and math. That poll said some states had as little as 12% proficiency. It’s disappointing that our government is thought to be one of the models of excellence and yet we cannot even fix our own educational system.

            Now, when it comes to the students I was actually quite amazed by some of them. One of the little girls, I think her name was Daisy, is in elementary school and she has already decided what she wants to with her life and has already sent a letter to a college she wants to attend once she graduates. This is just inspiring really. Both of her parents dropped out of high school because they couldn’t afford NOT to work, but Daisy is so excited by the thought of learning. You can’t really say that about a lot of kids these days (not that I’m so old and wise but it’s just what I see).

            Another boy, I think his name was Anthony, has gone through so much and yet he too is excited to learn. He never knew his mother, his father died from drugs and now he’s being raised by his grandmother. I was amazed that someone that has been through so much at such a young age, can still be motivated or driven enough to continue his education. A lot of people would fall apart.

            So far I find this movie amazing. It really does make me wonder about the education a lot of America’s youth is receiving. It blew my mind at simply how bad it is in a lot of the country

first post

Dr. Mueller,
Well here's the first post in the Contemporary World Issues and Expository Writing blog!
~Lauren