FB: Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[wildcat11]

After 18 years teaching in public secondary schools I'll add these thoughts:

1) There are lots of good teachers out there...just not enough of them.

2) ADD is a load of crap, except for the drug companies, for whom it is a load of cash - I have had two legit ADD students, the other hundred who were diagnosed just needed to suck it up and pay attention.

3) Good teachers should never be afraid to put kids in their place, although the ruler isn't necessary.  I do feel bad for you youngins who had too many teachers that believed building your self esteem was the most important part of their job.  I have many students who believe they should receive full credit for having a pulse.  They honestly get a look of pure disbelief on their face when I explain to them that subpar work = partial credit, as well as the amazing fact that correct answers are superior to incorrect answers.

4) What's a six figure income?

+1 Scandi.  Mrs. 11 is in her 7th year teaching HS and I'm still blown away by number of kids that have IEP's (Individulized Education Plans) because of "ADD".  Mrs. 11 puts in so much extra work to make sure she takes care of these kids.  She never complains about it but like Chris Rock once said: "Whatever happened to just being dumb?"

[Knightstalker]

After 18 years teaching in public secondary schools I'll add these thoughts:

1) There are lots of good teachers out there...just not enough of them.

2) ADD is a load of crap, except for the drug companies, for whom it is a load of cash - I have had two legit ADD students, the other hundred who were diagnosed just needed to suck it up and pay attention.

3) Good teachers should never be afraid to put kids in their place, although the ruler isn't necessary.  I do feel bad for you youngins who had too many teachers that believed building your self esteem was the most important part of their job.  I have many students who believe they should receive full credit for having a pulse.  They honestly get a look of pure disbelief on their face when I explain to them that subpar work = partial credit, as well as the amazing fact that correct answers are superior to incorrect answers.

4) What's a six figure income?

+1 Scandi.  Mrs. 11 is in her 7th year teaching HS and I'm still blown away by number of kids that have IEP's (Individulized Learning Plans) because of "ADD".  Mrs. 11 puts in so much extra work to make sure she takes care of these kids.  She never complains about it but like Chris Rock once said: "Whatever happened to just being dumb?"

Mrs. KS taught first grade and had the "Inclusion" class.  This is the class in NJ where all the so-called "special ed" students go and are included with the "normal" students.  Most got classified for inclusion because the other teachers couldn't be bothered dealing with difficult students.  A few had emotional problems, a couple were being beaten at home but could be reached with a little extra effort.  My wife and the inclusion teacher she worked with had most of these kids testing at or above grade level by the end of the year.  The joys of teaching in the inner city.

There are a lot of good teachers out there but there are a lot of lazy, complacent teachers out there too.  I knew too many people while in college who were becoming teachers mainly because they got to take summers off.

As far as ADD and ADHD, we used to call it being hyper.  The solution when I was a kid?  Have the entire class race from the classroom door that opened into the school yard to the tree down in the corner and back.  Then everyone was ready to sit still again.  They also made sure we got a good hour of recess every day after lunch, either outside if it wasn't raining or in the gym if it was.  Kids in my wifes school got no recess, Kindergarteners and 1st graders are loaded with homework/busy work.  We never had homework for K-2 when I was a kid, not until 3rd or sometimes 4th grade.  But elementary schools were a lot better 40 years ago than they are now.

[downtown48]

She never complains about it but like Chris Rock once said: "Whatever happened to just being dumb?"

Excellence in public education is no longer admired nor rewarded. Educators and parents who demand excellence are considered racist and divisive. High achievement is not sought, only higher standardized test scores. What's now considered excellence is mediocrity and the lowest common denominator, where everyone is "Student of the Month" and no one's precious little psyche is hurt by the knowledge that there are smarter people in the world.

OxyBob

+1!

[Browneagle64]

Isn't that sad K.S., "when most kids get classified for inclusion because the other teachers couldn't be bothered dealing with difficult students." All it takes is to modify their lesson, find a way to use that energy; such as having them work on a mini-science lab on their own (and with your help), and then be able to have them understand what you expect from them. 

[coco]

Schools and administrators are in a no-win situation today. You're not supposed to label kids so as not to hurt their little feelers, but you have to label them to put them into programs to get them the help they need.

You're not supposed to teach to the tests, but you have to, because if they don't score high enough on the tests, your school will get punished. The whole system has gotten so messed up.

This whole deal about everyone being a winner on all the sports teams so as not to hurt anyone's self esteem is BS in my opinion, too. Kids need to learn how to deal with defeat. It's gonna happen in life.

[snoop dawg]

ECS.......Six is good however, seven is better!

[EastCoastStag]

Amazing - this entire board agrees that our (public) education system is a joke!

Who would have ever thought that we could all agree on something.

I am marking this day for history.

[snoop dawg]

Wait a second.....there are alot of public high schools with good academic records.

Sorry, couldn't resist.

[EastCoastStag]

General, overall statement.
Should have said that overall, we all agree that the education system in general needs a revamp and that we seem to have lost our focus as to the purpose of education (learning vs. self-esteem).

And, with a little thought as well, seems we could apply this to college. There seem to be an awful lot of 3.0's and higher out there in the higher education realm. What happened to a C being average, whereas now a B is the new "average"?


Now, back to football!
Wonder if any CLU people have any idea as to how excited Mr. D.J. is about his trip to southwestern VA?? Might actually uncover the BBQ and cook up a quality breakfast of steak, brawts & eggs for this one.

[snoop dawg]

OB....you spent "a lot" of time on "a lot" of nothing.

I hope you won "a lot" of money in the lotto.<sarcasm not intended>  By the way, my cousin works for the IRS and does "a lot" of audits on lotto winners and ex- attorneys.

[scandihoovian]

Amazing - this entire board agrees that our (public) education system is a joke!

That's a huge generalization, ECS - and is sure not what I meant to say...

I know this sounds terribly like something from the Hallmark Channel, but I chose to be a public school teacher because I truly believed it gave me a daily opportunity to make a positive impact on my community.  18 years later I feel the same way (most days  )  Many public schools have improved dramatically over the past 3-4 decades.  My kids go to the same elementary school I attended.  It was a good school in the 1970's, but it's an even better school now.  I am confident this trend is not restricted to my community, although I know there are communities in which public schools languish.  If I knew how to effectively solve all of their problems I'd run for State Superintendent, and use my bully pulpit to demand that all SCIAC schools put an emphasis on improving their teacher preparation programs - as well as schedule non-conference football opponents of only the highest quality.

I agree with Coco's comments regarding the hypocrisy of the current system in terms of testing and labeling.  I also agree with Bob in the sense that test scores have taken the place of actual achievement.  We have lost faith in our ability to "know it when we see it."

Finally, I do worry about programs (educational, athletic, artistic, etc.) that are more concerned with kids' feelings than challenging them to learn and grow through a variety of experiences, including the opportunity to actually fail.  IMHO the greatest real self esteem builder is failing, figuring out where you went wrong, and working hard to fix it so you succeed the next time.

[stealth]

Inspiriational discussion by all for those that really care about the subject matter in a football environment. We are a test based educational system that no longer rewards hard study to acheive true education. Only results of tests that foster the financial machine that runs our system are the benchmarks.  The basic three R's that were once foundations are no longer needed to succeed. Just how to pass a test.
Snoop Dawg knows this even with 11 years in high school. 
Now back to football.
Stagg Bowl:
MU is a heavy favorite, some say 18, over WW this weekend in what is truly a measure of a national champion. (BCS take notice) I say not so fast. I think WW has a shot at winning out right not just covering the spread. Look at the last 2 meetings for indicators. Yes MU is a machine but Beaver and the entire WW team has something to prove.  Your beloved DJ is riding a pretty significant momentum wave right now.

Going on record right now that it will come down to special teams. Long feild goal, blocked punt or something like that.
I'll be parked in front of the 42" HD plasma down here in FLA. Don't you really wish for a SCIAC to one day represent. 2029 or something in that range.

[EastCoastStag]

There is actually a spread for this game? Wow, what's the line?
I know UWW has everything to prove and nothing to lose. However, I would be thrilled if they kept it w/in 10. I still think that despite the familiarity, experience, etc., that it all comes down to the fact that MUC is just a little more rested than UWW right now.

[EastCoastStag]

I think the SCIAC can make it... it will just take a very special team. The Oxy teams were special and Redlands has a good tradition. But, IMHO, for a SCIAC team to make it all the way, we will have to have a series of years with 2-3 strong teams and out-of-conference schedules of Top 50 teams. I have yet to figure out why we don't have a contract with the NWC, like what the UAA & NCAC just signed. Maybe just for 2 games though, I do enjoy the fact that CMC goes out of their way to schedule trips all over the country. Again, I will stump for the SCIAC to play 10 games. this 9 games stuff is bullsh*t.

[snoop dawg]

stealth.....only a 42 incher?  whats up with that? You must flip burgers in the FLA!
<Sarcasm intended, with emphasis>