RE-1 looks at cutting buses - Journal Advocate

For the second time this school year, the RE-1 Valley Board of Education met with district and building administrators at a special workshop.

[confused]

Hm, as far as homework goes, let's not blame the teacher for not teaching well enough that the student has to spend 2 hours on an assignment at home with help from a parent. Let's maybe try to put some accountablility on the student as to why he is struggling with it. Maybe he was busy texting on his/her phone when the teacher was trying to teach the lesson. Or maybe he was busy fiddling in his desk and not paying attention to what the teacher was saying. It's about time that parents take some responsibility for their childs education and not try to blame the teacher for everything. Teachers are trying to give the students in RE-1 school district the best education they can give them,oftentimes giving up much of their own time to make sure someone else's child gets the best of them that day.

[Puzzled too]

When I volunteered in my child's classroom, the teachers always gave me specific activities to do with the students. They gave me ideas of things I might say to the students to prompt learning. If a parent has the time and wants to spend time in the school, I would hope staff would be aware of specific tasks needing done and then could provide brief instructions. Without direction, a parent will sit and watch, rather than become additional assistance for much needed help.
Many children do not learn, read, computate, etc. at the same rates as their peers. My child had a learning disability and completed work at a much slower rate than peers. Each night we did 3-4 hours of homework; many times accompanied by tears. We finished all work not completed at school, plus all assigned homework. Rather than following the IEP and reducing written work; my child was required to do the same amount even when he was able to demonstrate he understood the information. The end result? Ignore, Ignore, Ignore. I feel like a failure, I am a failure. Sometimes homework has the opposite effect of what was intended.

[RE-1 Parent]

You are educating our children and you think it should be considered more like "Customer service" wow that is harsh. You need to remember they are our children and we are allowing RE-1 to educate them.

Homework is gone over and beyond. I have no problem with finishing a couple assignments and wrapping up a days lesson but that is not the case in my child's class. Most homework is over and beyond the classroom work. The school wonders why parents and kids are not connected and why kids are lacking "family time" well the answer is pretty simple. Children sit in school for 8 hours a day and have one very short recess and are then expected to come home at night and sit and do more work. Anyone that knows anything about children and how they learn should know their bodies are not made to sit and listen. It would be amazing how much more children would put out if they were aloud to be children. The other concern is that not all children have parents that are able to help them with homework. If parents wanted to teach and were able, don't you think they would home school. We SEND our children to school to be taught...not to bring work home. There is a fine line in this area and in my opinion it has been crossed. Lets get back to letting kids be kids.

[no way]

There is a high school teacher who thinks more in the way of giving 5 + hours of homework to do in an evening. Do these teachers not think these kids have any other classes to do work in. The teachers who give homework on Fridays to be turned in on Mondays are way out of line. Students put in the required time at school 5 days a week and deserve the weekend off with no studies...And with this teacher anyway, even if you do the best you can, he finds it in his heart just to give you a "F" anyway..Why do our kids need to deal with that? I think everyone will know just who I'm talking about too.

[Richard]

RE-1 Valley brought this transportation problem on themselves, by changing the schools by grades. We live by a school but the kids go across town to other schools and we cannot take them at the same time, so the bus are needed and the District should just cut some jobs or pay cuts to cover it.

[Concerned]

Instructors at Sterling High School are charged with providing opportunities for students to improve their knowledge base along with developing specific, targeted skills that will be needed either in the workplace, college, armed services, or other option available to that particular individual. Concurrently, instructors must remain cognizant of the expectations regarding student performance with respect to requisite exams, such as the CSAP exam. Planning, preparation, and differentiation allows each instructor to deal capably and effectively with students, who bring to school a variety of work ethics, aspirations, and performance levels. For each instructor, the focus is on providing an environment that allows students to maximize their yield from the time invested. Students planning on attending college perform better and have a higher graduaton rate if challenged in the high school setting. Students are gifts bestowed upon the instructor by parents. Once in the classroom, it is a common belief that our responsibility requires us to challenge students to improve, to stretch themselves and find out that of which they are capable. Should that require homework, so be it. Homework is a proper and necessary reinforcement of the day's lesson. No one remembers everything they've learned so repetition is critical.

[no way]

"Concerned" must be the teacher I'm talking about...The high school offers advanced placement classes if the kids want that kind of a challange. To place those challanges on each individual student, especially the ones who struggle with average work is immoral. Some teachers don't feel that students are "gifts bestowed upon the instructor" as you said..So are you the teacher that makes my kid come home and say "I hate my life"? Because this kind of homework is rediculous and beyond average homework. So do you, "concerned" teach one of the highschool biology classes? Not every kid chooses to have "biology" in their future college studies..But this class is a requirement to graduate. All this does is lower their GPA. When a teacher tells the students they don't teach out of a book because its wrong, they have to find it on the internet to do their homework it totally wrong! This teacher has been around for years and never changes his ways. If you want to see who it is, just look for his line at conferences, or look in the office at registration to see what class kids and parents are trying to get out of..Same old story..Bad teacher!! This kind of learning is a very bad experience to deal with.

[no way -out of line]

I had that teacher you are talking about around seven years ago. His class is very challenging, don’t get me wrong on that, but I accomplished and learned so much that year. It was the best feeling in the world when I walked out of there at the end of the quarter and got a B. I wasn’t the greatest learner nor the fastest, but I put hard work and time in the class.
There is nothing wrong with challenging your kids to show their full potential. Once your kid gets out in the real world and if he wants to succeed, he’ll know that hard work is the only way to do that. Not by blaming others and trying to take the easy road.
Also it’s really immature of how you are going about this whole issue. If your kid is really saying to you “I hate my life” maybe you should seek help and look at what influence your making in your kids life, instead of blaming others.

[Student]

I agree with the above post...I had the teacher you're referring to the past two years. I have never heard of a student who has had an easy time in his class. I've been a good student throughout high school and can honestly say the B I got in his class is the proudest I've ever been of ANY grade. I know the frustrations, tears, and late nights of the homework he gave. I always thought his pitfall was the answer he gave to questions...another question. But the skills I learned in his class...how to analyze and think through things I don't understand rather than have the answer handed to me...have helped me not only in my tougher classes but at my job and at home too. Sure, his teaching style may not be the best for some students, but he is NOT a bad teacher...he's the exact opposite, in fact.

[no way]

I don't expect anything "handed" to any student. Was that said? Read the post...Was there blame, blame for what, my child is not failing. No its the teacher crossing lines. I wasn't against homework in general. What about the kids who don't have internet to do it. What if they can't get a ride to the library to do it? You make it sound like no other teacher had any influence in your high school years. Thats too bad you missed out on so much. This isn't the only kid that I have that has had him. And to "no way- out of line", I'm not immature, actually I'm a very responsible, successful adult--so I don't need to seek help as you think. All of my kids are successful! You're way out of line. Re read the post to see what the complaint was really about. I will be more than happy to debate the subject when you figure it out. Teachers need to find a style that suits each individual student to help them succeed, or they (the teacher) doesn't succeed. This teacher tells his students, he doesn't care if they pass or fail. So maybe if you feel that its "challanging" to watch that go on in class, "no way out of line" and "student" - you both need help. His constant derogatory statements are very unprofessional and abundance of the homework cross the line.
Question for "Student", if you have him for 2 years now, why do you show you reside in Helena, Mt?
And you must be heading in the direction of science, good for you, but thats not every students choice. It shouldn't be an issue of force to do so.

[no way -out of line]

“no way” just for your information I’m from Denver and my post is coming up as Minneapolis, MN. So even though Student is coming up as Helena, it does not mean Student is from Helena. Yeah I bet you feel a little dumb now!! lol

Also in one of your post you did make the suggestion that your student is failing with an “F”. You need to remember what you write or make what you write more clear so others can understand!

Last but not least I never made the suggestion that no other teacher made an influence in my high school years. So I don’t need you telling me that it’s too bad that I missed out on so much. You need to read the post!!! Or at least understand what you read!!

Oh and about you saying that “student” and I need help….. well sorry but I’m not the one with a kid who hates his life.

Talk to you tomorrow!!:-p

[no way]

To no way-out of line, you picked your name, you are out of line. Ha ha. And yes I can tell your a high school student, you're acting like one. A vindictive one. I never said my kid was failing, getting an F, on a paper, a homework paper. In your post, you "suggested" no other teacher made an influence in your life. So you write it so we can read it also. Read between the lines and grow up. These posts, that I did not start were about teachers and homework. Not students who need to do some serious growing up and telling parents they need help. Do you have your own child in the RE 1 school system? My concern is for students in that district and what can keep students up to average standards and to keep them from dropping out. Because of bad teachers. Not every student is as fortunate as some. For all I know, you and "student" are the same person or you are best friends. By the way, seems you're not smart enough to go and make your own name on your post. Maybe you also copied all your school work to pass, or maybe your parents did your work for you. You have a nice day. You're not worth my time.

[no way]

Just one more thing "no way-out of line"...
You might start at the beginning and read the RE 1 Parent post about the homework and teachers who have our kids all day. Hmmmm. no way-out of line tell me it doesn't talk about homework and teachers. Maybe you also just skip to the end of the book to try to grasp the main objective..

[no way]

Thought you might want to read it twice to avoid any unsound suggestions.

[Student]

Well I guess I should've clarified as to what I agree with....IN MY OPINION, this teacher is not a bad teacher. Did I ever say that you expected your child to have things handed to them? NO. But I sure as heck know I did before I had his class...that's how most teachers help with answers...and I was simply stating that although I struggled with his class, by my personal measure of a good teacher, he was not.
I'm currently in high school, so there's no way I can be the other poster. There's been at least two other teachers I've found to be great teachers too, so I didn't miss out.
And no, I'm not going into anything related to the science field at all...business actually.
My schedule also included him for chemistry, not by my specific choosing.
The default setting for the location is Helena, MT. I've never posted on here before.
I just wanted to put in my two cents...I've seen how much high school teachers have to put up with, and if said teacher happens to be reading this I would hope he knows that his teaching did make a positive impact on some. I'd do it for the other teachers who've helped me out throughout high school any time.

[no way- out of line]

wow... your really funny with your hehe you big ho hoho.

your right i am being very vindictive towards you but only becasue you think it is ok to write shit about teacher who are trying to make something out of your kid in life. thats not cool. if you have a problem with him... go and talk to him like a good parent would, whos kid is in their class, and figure out what the problem is. Im sure you have talked to him, but apparently the problem wasnt fixed if your talking crap about him online.

"..And with this teacher anyway, even if you do the best you can, he finds it in his heart just to give you a "F" anyway... All this does is lower their GPA".

That is a quote from "no way" your earlier posts. if your kid got an f on a paper it wouldnt affect his GPA and i dont see the word homework in there like you suggest. i must be worth your time, you did post three postings in a row.:-p

"In your post, you "suggested" no other teacher made an influence in your life. So you write it so we can read it also. Read between the lines and grow up"

in reference to that i did not suggest. i feel like im running around in circles with you. so get over yourself. your the one who needs to grow up. you did even suggest that you think i am a high school student. well that makes you a bully. picking on some less then prob what 40-50 years younger then you. pick on someone your own size ya &#$@.

[no way]

no way-out of line, go copy someone else and use your internet profanity elsewhere...Shouldn't you be in bed. I'm sure its past your bedtime for a 2 year old. Since I'm at least 40-50 years older than you. And if you don't think an "F" on a paper doesn't lower a gpa, how do you figure that. If a paper is worth say 100 points and he doesn't give you that credit for 100 points, then you could fall down a grade point. I don't have time to teach you basic math. Yes I think you're a high school student, because most adults wouldn't come back with comments that use internet profanity and broken words. So bring on your "cut down abusive profanity" that you believe makes you a winner..Might I suggest Anger Management for you. I am seriously glad I don't have a kid with your ugly temper. I've been definately blessed!

[no way]

Oh, my, what a tangled web you weave, "no way-out of line". Go take your meds!