Tag Archives: concerns of public education A t

Concerns of Public Education: X = Xtended Families

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Wow! Again it is very hard to find a word to use that begins with the letter “X”. Therefore, I have once more chosen to use a word that begins with the sound of the word “X”. For my concerns of public education I have chosen xtended (extended) families. Often public education and teachers remain in the old days. We tend to live in the idea that children live with their parents. The word parents, to us, means those who conceived, mom and dad. However, this is no longer true in many cases. We must begin to adjust our thoughts … Continue reading →

Concerns of Public Education: W = Wow Factor

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Another concern of public education is what I call the “Wow Factor”. The Wow Factor is the amazement or excitement that children now expect with every task that they are given to complete. Many children need a wow factor to interest them in everything and anything that they do. They do not play with toys or games that do not have it. Children no longer play with stuffed animals or toys that do not talk or make noise of some kind. They want games and items that flip, sing, and wow them. The same is expected of teachers and school. … Continue reading →

Concerns of Public Education: V = valid Assessments

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My “concerns for public education series” is ready for the letter V. My topic for V has been briefly addressed in the past. V will represent the concern of finding valid assessment in public education. As many of you know, I discussed the concerns of standardized testing in a previous article. Those concerns still exist and likely will for several years to come. Finding a test that gives unconditional valid results of student learning and knowledge as well as the teaching of educators is a great concern to administrators and overseers of public education systems. Finding a valid means of … Continue reading →

Concerns of Public Education: U = Uniforms

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Uniform policies are a concern in many school districts. My school system does not require or enforce a school uniform policy. However, we do have a dress code policy. Many districts are concerned about student attire and placing a uniform policy into effect. Some school officials feel that uniforms would cut down on concealed weapons and drugs in the schools, especially in middle school and high school. Others believe that having a school wide dress uniform policy would cut down on social competition among the students. Students could focus more on academics than social status and appearance. However, placing a … Continue reading →

Concerns of Public Education: T = Tardiness & Truancy

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Today’s concern is another major one in my eyes. Today, I will discuss the concern of tardiness and truancy. We have many children that are either tardy for school or absent. This begins as early as pre kindergarten and kindergarten. Some children are continuously absent from school. When they return to school, they discuss playing or taking trips while they were away from school. Some children have missed so much work that it is impossible to make everything up. When a kindergarten child misses a lot of school, it takes time for the teacher to catch the child up on … Continue reading →

Concerns of Public Education: S = Student Teacher Ratio

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A concern that my school and most schools in my district face each year is student teacher ratio. Many school systems place the maximum number of students allowed into classrooms. Therefore, they do not have to hire more teachers and spend more money. However, what they do not realize is how much they are depriving the children of intensive learning. In kindergarten, we have had 21 or 22 students. One of our first grade classes this year had 23 students. Some older grade classrooms have as many as 25 to 30 students per teacher. When I taught eighth grade, I … Continue reading →

Concerns of Public Education: R = Readiness

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My “concerns of public education” series is ready for the letter R. R is for readiness. Readiness for school is a major concern in kindergarten an all other stages of education. Children begin school on all different levels. Similarly, children will go to each grade on a different level. However in kindergarten, they have no common experiences. When I send a group of children to first grade, they have all experienced carpet time and school routines. They have all walked down the hall in a line and they have all been and eaten in the cafeteria. When I receive the … Continue reading →

Concerns of Public Education: Q = Questionable Conduct

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Hello everyone! I am back with my concerns for public education series. Today, I am up to the letter Q. Q is for questionable conduct. It seems as though the education news section is now filled with acts of questionable conduct by teachers, administrators, and other school staff members. Several situations come to mind when I think of questionable conduct. The first case involves a teacher who took students on a field trip against the wishes of the administration. She also discussed very inappropriate relationship issues in her home living class. Another case involves a trial with a male teacher … Continue reading →

Concerns of Public Education: K = Keeping Records

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In my concerns of public education series, I am to the letter K. For my concern of K, I have chosen keeping records. Organization has never been a big strength of mine. I keep the things that I am supposed to keep but finding them may take a little time. In public education, we are required to keep everything. We must keep track of all money coming in and money going out. The record logs must be in a certain type of ink and signed in a certain way. We have to keep track of what the students are eating … Continue reading →

Concerns of Public Education: J = Job Placement

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My last perk of public education that I discussed was the feeling that I have job security. While I do feel that my profession will be in demand for years to come, today I will introduce a concern along the same topic. Today’s concern for public education is J for job placement. While teachers in good standing with tenure are most guaranteed jobs, the grade placement or location is not a guarantee. A principal can move a teacher to any room and any grade within the school without considering the teacher’s wishes or seniority on the job. My school presently … Continue reading →