Weekend Update

So many things I could write about:

• my 29th student shows up tomorrow. She only speaks French.
• We've been in class for twelve days so far.
• I think PrincipalLady is trying to make it so we fail this year. She has dumpped so many things on the table, I can scarcely breathe.
• However, I have decided to have a personal life this year, so I will not take home crap. Won't check my school email after school and weekends.
• I will hang out with BrownBear. (My new high school freshman!!)
• I won't be a helicopter mother with Prep - my new college freshman!!!
• So, as bad as life could be, I'm not going to let it be. I miss my girl, but I know she's happy and having the time of her life. I am not going to waste the next four years with BrownBear because I am all too familiar with what is going to happen. I am going to make this a great school year. I am just going to will it.

No Child Left Behind or What?

My week has been absorbed with test results flowing back from the Big State Test. Apparently, our state department of education is being led by an idiot and her crew. Approximately 70% of our state's 6th and 7th graders failed the Social Studies test and 60% of the 8th graders failed the Math test. Our illustrious leader has decided to throw out the Social Studies results but she is letting the math results stand. It is impossible to go on to the next grade in 5th or 8th grade without passing the Reading and/or Math tests, unless, of course, you go to summer school, retake the test and pass. (If you don't pass, your parents may request a conference with your former principal and teacher and you may be promoted administratively. That information may not be widely known, however.)

All hell's done broken loose, here. It was revealed that people in the State Department of Education knew that students were going to fail the Social Studies test in record numbers and did nothing to prevent it. They told no one. They also knew that the math scores were going to take a rather large dive and also did nothing. Their rationale was that the curriculum and standards had changed, so, of course, some kids were going to fail. What they didn't take into account was the fact that lots of kids who failed the Big State Test were Honors students who had made As and Bs all year long.

As I said, All hell's done broken loose. We're talking summer school, a retest and possible retention for kids who were honors students. I am surprised that our state superintendent hasn't requested a body guard. Parents are calling for her resignation and her recall. Wheeeee!



I have not heard the state failure percentage on 5th grade in math: I know that our school failure rate was right at about 20%. Some of the kids who failed were expected: if you don't know your math facts what do you want me to do? I can't possibly teach you pre-algebra if you can't add, multiply or work with decimals. And that is the whole problem. When the state changed the standards, our glorious leaders didn't take into account those children who haven't, can't, didn't move ahead quickly enough for whatever reason. Our state requires second graders to master multiplication facts.

I'll give you a minute to let that sink in.

Second graders to master multiplication facts. Second graders can barely add with regrouping and yet we expect them to multiply. Hello?

I am all for keeping up with China and Japan and India, but at the same time, I am all for a curriculum that is age appropriate and is it really appropriate for a second grader to be held responsible for multiplication facts? I just don't think so.

But, hey. No one in the Department of Education asked me, or any other teacher, about changing the standards or writing the tests. Trust me. The Social Studies questions would have made sense and the Math questions would have matched what the teachers taught. I guarantee.

And guess who's looking for a slew of summer school math teachers?

President's Day. Thank You, Gentlemen.

Prep and BrownBear are in a lather. You see, they sauntered off to school as I waved good-bye to them as I stood in the doorway in my pajamas. Apparently, their politically correct private school took MLK Day, but chose to blow off the Presidents. Now, while I am often loathe to stir the pot, I am interested. When did one person become more important than the 43 people who have led this country for the past 200+ years? When I was growing up (here it comes), we celebrated Lincoln's Birthday (log cabin milk cartons) and then a scant two weeks later, we celebrated the hell out of George Washington's birthday. Growing up in Washington's hometown, we had to biggest parade; we ate cherry pie. We wore tri-cornered hats. Granted, I was living through the Civil Rights Movement, but I never thought I would send my daughters to a school that would blow off President's Day. Blow it right off.

So, dear internettters, discuss. As you do, some pictures of some of my all time favorite presidents.

And an anecdote of a favorite school project I make all my classes do: Something I stole called Presidential China. Everyone picks a number between 1 - 43. That is your president. You research that president and get yourself a color picture of him. Creatively put all your information on a white paper plate and decorate it. Hence, you have "Presidential China."

Last year, we did this little project, and one of my geniuses said, "I didn't know they had presidents in China." That is why I continue to make them do this project, year after year. Because they don't have presidents in China, Precious.