Science classes are only for who?

[futurebeachbum]

Interesting take on education in this article from the East Bay area of Berkeley.

Berkeley High School is considering a controversial proposal to eliminate science labs and the five science teachers who teach them to free up more resources to help struggling students.
...
Paul Gibson, an alternate parent representative on the School Governance Council, said that information presented at council meetings suggests that the science labs were largely classes for white students.​

 

[Alicia Leonard]

Interesting take on education in this article from the East Bay area of Berkeley.

Berkeley High School is considering a controversial proposal to eliminate science labs and the five science teachers who teach them to free up more resources to help struggling students.
...
Paul Gibson, an alternate parent representative on the School Governance Council, said that information presented at council meetings suggests that the science labs were largely classes for white students.​

I would think that it means science labs are mainly for students that can already read. If they don't have the basics, these classes would be beyond the students.

 

[Jdarg]

I have already seen this in Kentucky- elementary kids struggling with reading were pulled from science and social studies for intensive reading class, and I have heard of doing this in other schools.

It is too bad that struggling kids are still struggling when they get to high school- even if they were allowed to take the science classes, they would still be "missing" them.

 

[scooterbug44]

The most appalling thing about this is that there are kids in HIGH SCHOOL who can't read!

Anyone care to address how our current education system is failing these kids (or the teachers struggling to teach them)?

IMO in many cases it is because the inmates are running the asylum - backed up by lawyers and parents more interested in assigning blame than in their kids getting an education................and then things are further distorted by people politicizing classrooms and adding religion into the mix.

 

[Andy A]

The most appalling thing about this is that there are kids in HIGH SCHOOL who can't read!

Anyone care to address how our current education system is failing these kids (or the teachers struggling to teach them)?

IMO in many cases it is because the inmates are running the asylum - backed up by lawyers and parents more interested in assigning blame than in their kids getting an education................and then things are further distorted by people politicizing classrooms and adding religion into the mix.

It would appear you are right on all counts. So sad.

 

[Alicia Leonard]

I am so very thankful that my parents, esp., my dad taught me to read(basics) before I ever got to school. He gave me a head start that many kids don't get. Instead of just toys, books were a great part of my early childhood. That and the fact that teachers were respected and allowed to teach helped me.

I worked as an adult reading tutor in my teens at the local college. Many of the older students(senior citizens) had to get jobs instead of being allowed to go to school and this was the reason for their inability to read. The students today, I fear are as Scootie describes.

 

[LuciferSam]

The most appalling thing about this is that there are kids in HIGH SCHOOL who can't read!

Anyone care to address how our current education system is failing these kids (or the teachers struggling to teach them)?

IMO in many cases it is because the inmates are running the asylum - backed up by lawyers and parents more interested in assigning blame than in their kids getting an education................and then things are further distorted by people politicizing classrooms and adding religion into the mix.

For me and a lot of others, reading seemed like something as fundamental as learning to speak. It was something our parents did with great frequency, so we assumed that we would, could, must learn how to read. It seemed very natural, something you sort of pick up. School helped to guide us and explain the mechanics, but I always felt having a strong motivation was as important as the instruction received in school. For this reason I blame the parents for not providing that motivation.

 

[scooterbug44]

I don't know who taught me how to read (relative, parent, teacher, babysitter) - what I do know is that I knew how to read before I started elementary school and that education was always a priority.

Based on what I hear from parents, kids, and teachers about schools these days I do not think education is such a big priority anymore - and that is one GIANT problem that needs to be solved and addressed ASAP!

 

[Andy A]

One other thing...motivation. When I was growing up, by the time I was a Sophmore in high school I knew what I wanted my career to be and so did about 80% of all my friends.
I no longer have kids in school but my grandkids seem to be clueless about what they want to do with their lives. Even my 18 year old granddaughter who is in college. It doesn't seem to be just reading. From what little I see of our youth it is a general malaise about what I want to do with my life. It seems to be an "oh well, it will take care of itself" attitude rather than an aggressive "this is what I want" attitude.

 

[scooterbug44]

I didn't know what I wanted to do when I was 18. There were some areas of study I was interested in, but no definite plan (aside from getting good grades, hard work, and graduating college).

I think part of it is that it is rare these days for someone to pursue a field of study/career and have that job for life. Kids change their major an average of 3 times and have 5-7 jobs.

Another (big) part IMO is that kids are so coddled they don't have the self-motivation or decision making skills many older people do.

One of the things I hear from a friend whose son teaches at the public school is that the kids say don't have to learn/prepare for a job because they can just get a check from the government. :angry: