Vision 2020 or Rose Colored Glasses?
I'm sure we'll hear a whole lot more about the Midland Vision 2020 Committee as the Spring and Summer heat up, but their first meeting generated an eye popping quote about the "perceived" state of education in Midland that just floored me:
Across the table, Rachel Stone agreed and said kids are dropping out "left and right" often because they're not being challenged and lose interest in school as young as in pre-kindergarten.
WTF? Losing interest in school as early as Pre-kindergarten? How the hell do you screw up finger painting, Lincoln Logs, recess, nap-time and growing beans and caterpillars so bad kids lose interest?
You think it is the PARENTS of those pre-kindergartners that "lost interest" in school and re-inforced those values in their 4-year olds, which causes their kids to mimic that attitude in school?
I say concentrate on the parents and quit wasting gobs and gobs of money on more and more programs for kids. If you can't fix the attitudes and environment where the kid sleeps and wakes up in the morning, all the money in the world for new and expanded pre-K, early childhood or even late night teen programs and places won't change a thing.
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5 Comments
Ospurt stimulates "old" Otto sufficiently to get him to quote Pink Floyd. Wow!
Between this and the goverment take-over of GM this morning, I think I am on the wrong side of the mirror, kinda like in Alice in her Wonderland (Shepherd in Wonder-What's-Gonna-Happen-Next-Land?) A Monday to beat all Mondays. And it's only 11:15.
By the way, great post Ospurt, and my ditto to your comments on where the problem really lies in our local education system. I have several educators in my family and they mirror your take as well. Parents first.
This is NOT a hijack. That said , GM now stands for "Government Motors" and you will be required to buy at least one.
Aren't you GLAD you lived this long to see all this crap ?
BAH !
A recent episode of Top Gear on BBC America featured communist made cars and they concluded that the socialists never made a good car.
http://www.topgear.com/us/videos/more/communist-cars
If you haven't seen the show its very entertaining and beautifully done, even the wife enjoys the show.
wasawd
Ospurt, Ospurt, Ospurt...sigh.. I grew weary of government education at kindergarten !
We were required to bring large towels to lay on the floor of our government school so we could participate in government nap-time.
The good little boys and girls would nod out for the required half hour ...then there was Old Otto.
okay, okay...little lord Otto.
From Kindergarten on I felt school sucked ! I could not wait to get out of the system ! I felt I was far smarter than my instructors and believe it still today !
Two of my kids TEACH !
Yet I hate Government schools ! You go to a private Baptist school and you get an education in how to get by AND how to be a good Baptist !
Same for any other school !
Government schools teach you how to become a good sheep. A herbivore . So when the government WOLVES come calling...you are trained to know instinctively..your time is up .
HEY TEACHER ! LEAVE OUR KIDS ALONE !
All in all, another brick in the wall.