O-mama - Opinionated Moms

This story is MIND-BLOWING! My mouth is agape and I'm so sorry for my MAMA friends with kids in the ATL public school district. We need a better way to measure school/teacher performance....any ideas ?

I am definately buying this for my children.Politics aside,I think it is wonderful for a man of his stature to want to inspire and involve children in American history. We are a homeschool family and my young children have already shown a great deal of interest in history.And our President for that matter! :)

MAMAS, as we send our kids back to school, let's stay engaged and talk to each other about the state of our EDUCATION system...what are our solutions? Easy or difficult, let's throw them out there!!!

Don't get me wrong. Kids need a break to be kids. My two youngest are at a charter school that starts August 26 and doesn't end until July 1st. They had PLENTY of vacation. It was only 9 days before I heard..."I'm bored". So in spite of their protests I think they are looking forward to going back. (Plus their school day is from 7:40-4:45 every day) Our students, particularly our urban students are falling/have fallen behind. Nearly every day this summer there has been a kid of some age (elementary through HS) that has either gotten hurt on the city streets or gotten in trouble with the law. In addition to watering down the curriculum, having this much time off bodes for disaster when the kids need to recall information learned.

Our school district here discusses posting things on website and anything inappropriate or even questionable is terms for termination. I think teachers should be very careful when posting anything... even the B word. Not sure what the rules are in that particular area - I don't have a problem with it personally, but I preach and harp on things to both my kids that what you post on any public site could be taken for something more than what it is so be very careful when doing so - this is an example of the consequences of doing so.

MizzBee is right. My sis in law igonres ALL requests from studens and their parents. She is not friends with Middle Schoolers nor their parents. She has a special website where parents/coworkers and students can visit and contact her. She posts fun updates that are filtered and appropriate. She doesn't wish to be closed off or unapproachable, but fb is not the place to connect with certain people!

It is the system and expectations and parenting. Sooo complicated. I'm of the theory that a teacher should teach to the top, and the school should offer some support for the kids who need extra help. Merely passing them through is not good enough and that's what we mothers should be fighting for....and in the absence of parental advocacy...teachers can be a BIG help by being proactive IF they have the resources to offer. Herein lies the rub. Big HATS off to educators...no one gets in to the education "business" to make money...they do it for love and we should fight to make sure they get what they need to help our kids become productive members of society.

If a teacher does not have her students as friends, then it should not be a problem. She was not engaging in illegal activities. I hold my son's teachers to a high standard when in comes to teaching, empathy, consideration, etc. I would never complain if a grown woman used the "B" word.

I do agree that teachers should be held to a slightly higher standard than a 'non-public' employee; however, what she did was not wrong. If the children were not her "friends" on FB and she was not being derogatory what is the harm? If people want to get that nit-picky, they should really be putting their focus towards TV and Radio... you can't get any more public than that! Every other word or image is of "not so classy" behaviour and its totally acceptable, but NOT for a teacher to call herself a "Bitch"... spend your time focusing on the REAL issues.

The problem is how are they going to define "dramatically better"? I teach at a high school that has about 4,000 students, 70% or there abouts are English learners. Some are quite fluent, others are barely literate in their home language let alone English. Some of my students' parents don't even speak English, so communication can be tricky. My school is also a low-income area, meaning if there are two parents at home, both probably work full time in order to pay the rent (we also had the dubious distinction last fall of having the highest foreclosure rate in the nation, over taking Las Vegas). The average 10th grader that comes into my classroom (regardless of language learner status by the by) will have an average of a 4th grade reading level. Now if I can motivate and encourage that kid, inspire him/her or catch his/her attention, then I could help that student increase his reading level by 3 or 4 grades--meaning by the end he could read at an 8th grade level (national reading level is 8, so he/she would be totally functional in our world). Four years growth is phenomenal! But is it good enough? The State and Federal Government says NO. My students get compared to students at the high school across town--the majority of which have parents with multiple college degrees and some time to help with homework. But wait, think about those kids--most of them would come in with 10th + reading levels, is it okay for me to just let them rust since they're ahead anyway? Can I be content with them being above the curve and not push them? No. Hopefully this demonstrates the crux of the problem. We seek for a one-size-fits-all, magic-bullet answer to the problem. AND THERE ISN'T ONE. No one thing works, no one thing will solve our problems. I look into my classroom at any given period and I have 35 separate people who have 35 problems that need 35 different solutions. Yes, we have to have high standards and requirements. Yes, we shouldn't accept the status quo. But NO, we can't treat these kids like they're all 1984 Toyota's -- some are VWs, some are Benzs, some are Pintos, some are cars we can't even (or don't want to) imagine. For some students "dramatically better" means they have improved their writing abilities and are ready for college, for other students it means he/she actually, finally wrote a paper. We have to look at the individuals closely and carefully--understand that there is a lot that influences each child's education and learning (much of which is outside the teacher's control--believe me we'd fix it if we could!), not just complain that the system is broken, it's the teacher's fault (not mentioned in this clip, but a popular soundbite) or any other litany of ideas. The only problem is that this isn't easy nor neat nor convenient.

I agree with matlucmar. Standard should be nation wide. However, teaching to the top seems to be the way to go, too. Schools should maintain the special programs to give the students that need it the extra attention. How do you do that with limited resources? That's the tricky part and I don't know what kind of a program can deal with that.

I hope whatever we do applies to all students. We started in the public schools this year, and it is so sad to see how the teachers are so desperate to get their material in without really teaching all the kids. It seems that as long as the top 10 get it, the other 13 or so can just follow probably barely getting the lessons or just a watered down version of it. Honestly, it should be about all the kids learning, not those that are fast at grasping the concepts. Old or new standards should be for all.

Great article about why No Child Left Behind is not working - what are we going to do about it? http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/03/education/03ravitch.html?pagewanted=1&emc=eta1

I think this is a great idea to insure every child in America is receiving the SAME education. Education is the key to our furture economy and if we don't make sure our kids can compete on a global level we are going to be in a world of trouble.

Went to a great talk last night by Sir Ken Robinson. He spoke about the need to adjust the current education system to allow more creativity. Challenging in an education system that teaches to the "standards" but something parents can do on their own. A very interesting book "The Element" and talk. Check it out.

If Jodee Blanco comes to your town to do a workshop - I highly recommend you go and take your kids (if they are middle school age or up). I took my soon to be 12 year old son last night and it was a really powerful presentation and I know it had a positive impact on him. http://www.jodeeblanco.com/index.htm

Anyone else hear about the new education requirements in Texas? Apparently, kids have to learn about the historical relevance of the NRA and other conservative organizations...how do we feel about that?

Happy President's Day!

Off to for an educational trip to Rome and Pompeii next week with middle schoolers--learning about ancient Rome. Will report in on travelling with teens and their parents!

yes! a degree is worth it...if not for anything than just to say you started and finished something. plus...try to get a good job or a masters without one!

Good to see that New Orleans reaped some benefits from hurricane Katrina! Whatever improves the kids' lives is good, right? Too bad it took a tragedy to do it!

Found another great learning resource for children with reading issues. Lindamood Bell. They've got a website..are national and were featured in Newsweek Magazine. Check them out if your child struggles with reading!

I was so happy that my youngest learned about MLK this year and really took in the message of loving one another. I agree with tiredmama...the speech makes me cry each time!

I've never read the words to MLK's "I have a dream" speech...amazing.

Pretend City is a great museum! My kids love it.

Try a site called 'teacher tube' to see cool educational videos...

I'm hoping that these games raise some IQ's around my house and neighborhood...maybe my friends and I should start playing them more!

Check out all the news from this weekend!

Lots to be thankful for in 2009! Love to all of you O-MAMAs!

I'd be mad as hell, too! 32%? Crazy!

Watched schoolhouse rock...love that you posted it! Learn something new every day...

gonna show my kids the consitution! love schoolhouse rock!

Honestly, didn't know the difference between the different documents...now I do! Saw the speech and didn't catch that mistake. You would think our government leaders would though...

If you have a spare 20 mins - watch this - I think it is brilliant http://www.cnn.com/2009/OPINION/11/03/robinson.schools.stifle.creativity/index.html

I love Halloween...any swine flu worries with the trick or treaters?

Madonna should just move to Africa ... she should take a lesson from Oprah though and get someone to run the school properly before just enrolling students.

We should have a new teachable moment every week!

@momof2: Loved the MSNBC KIPP video above...GREAT teachers inspire GREATNESS in kids. That is for sure!

The KIPP video is an inspiration. Teachers should rule the world! I wish all parents could watch this and see how much a few people can inspire and effect their kids. Way to go

my solution has been simple. i keep telling my son that people aren't allowed to drive until they're 30 (i know in a few years he'll catch me on that one).

REad the story about the pupil who had to be pried from the teacher's arm in OHIO! That kid needs help! Makes me sad for him. What would make a child act that way?

Sotomayor's mom is my inspiration

Oprah had a story about a kid like this..is this the same one?

Fun fact to share with our kids!

O-MAMAs, please check out the CNN post above. What an amazing kid!

Of course, but sports do help inspire kids...and the Olympics was going to generate a lot of jobs, so kids would have parents that work and set a good example for them.

Too bad about the Olympics, BUT....the schools are not really responsible entirely for our children... we parents must inspire them to be more, strive for more and work harder to achieve their goals. We can do it without the olympics ..right?

All of the above probably! They are just trying to keep it together half the time...following rules, making friends, avoiding bad situations...it's all stressful. Maybe go into the teacher room and ask their perspective?!

Why do kids cry at school? Stress? Fear? Who knows the answer...teachers?