The way that parents and teachers buy into this nonsense.  Has it ever occurred either of them that these kids are bored out of their minds; frustrated that they can’t read nor do arithmetic; tired of being bullyed or bullying;stressed by the noise and chaotic atmosphere if the ‘child centred learning’ environments?  No it’s not that!  They’re bipolar; adhd; dyslexic; or whatever else we can foist on them.  How are these poor children going to function as adults?

Work hard and teach well, is the only way to overcome learning difficulties. But there is conditions that do get in the way, and these kids have to work twice or three times harder, when doing school work. The trouble is in our schools, using labels to put on children, is being used as an excuse for these children for not receiving the proper help for their learning problems. Adding temper tantrums and binge eating on a long list of metal disorders, will just increased the number of children who are being accommodated in the regular classroom. It will increased the work of the general teacher and put stress on SE services, for students who do really need the services of SE. In the end, accommodations does not remedied the learning problems. It is hard work and good teaching that does it.

It used to be only a handful that was accommodated in the classroom. Now, I would estimate that it is coming close to 50 % of a classroom. Accommodations related to classroom learning. However accommodations related directly to reading, and writing is difficult to obtain and to take advantage of. Such things as an e-reader, or a laptop for use in the classroom are very helpful in improving fluency in reading and writing. For some kids, reading from an e-reader would be the first time they manage to read a whole book by themselves.

Listening to Pres. Obama’s speech to Urban League, and it would appear that we’re all correct.

1)  Poor performing schools,  “...need a change in management and organization, the whole community needs to get behind them.”  Solution:  close them down and re-open as chartered schools.  In his speech about 5,000 schools in the US.

2)  Teachers need support and better training.  Solution:  higher pay (yes, just like a certain contributer harped on about), better training, career ladder, good professional development.

3)  Higher standards - not only for curriculum, but for behaviour.  Odd that it takes the President of the United States to make the case that actions like patient listening are learned, and better at an early age - Amen!

4)  More testing; but also better testing.  Not just to give a picture of what is lacking, but also to see what has already been learned.  How did he put it?  “Not a snapshot of where the student is today, but a diagnostic tool.”

It would be interesting to see if we can post a link to a video of the speech.

There is a brief commercial first, but here is the link to Obama’s speech:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/38468284#38468284

Excerpt:
    “So, I want teachers to have higher salaries. I want them to have more support. I want them to be trained like the professionals they are – with rigorous residencies like the ones doctors go through. I want to give them career ladders so they have opportunities to advance, and earn real financial security. I want them to have a fulfilling and supportive workplace environment, and the resources – from basic supplies to reasonable class sizes – to help them succeed. Instead of a culture where we’re always idolizing sports stars or celebrities, I want us to build a culture where we idolize the people who shape our children’s future.

    “All I’m asking in return – as a president, and as a parent – is a measure of accountability. Surely we can agree that even as we applaud teachers for their hard work, we need to make sure they’re delivering results in the classroom. If they’re not, let’s work with them to help them be more effective. And if that fails, let’s find the right teacher for that classroom. As Arne says, our kids get only one chance at an education, and we need to get it right.”

* A good teacher or a good coach can be 3-4 times more effective than a mediocre one and is definitely worth being paid well.

That being said, while teacher’s salaries in Canada are about average when beginning to teach or above the average after some 10-15 years for a professional with similar education - not taking into account the benefits, vacations, job security - in most US states they tend to be lower than the average.
I don’t think real financial security for teachers is an issue in Canada.

Personally I think the teacher’s salaries in Canada would be about right if they were doing a good job. To do it right, teaching requires a lot of stamina, patience and knowledge day in and day out.

As it is now, since our students are not getting a solid education, we as citizens we are being ripped off. Our tax money goes to waste.

* Yes, teachers do need support. The teachers I know all say is that they need a supportive administration especially when it comes to enforcing discipline and to grading issues.

Today, even if somebody is a good teacher what chance does he or she have if he has to teach a middle or high school class where the students don’t know the basics and on top of that he needs to tiptoe around discipline issues so that not to be interpreted as lack of sensitivy, discrimination or God knows what else?

The teachers need to earn back their respect and authority but they also need the system and the parents to support them in doing that.

“The teachers need to earn back their respect and authority but they also need the system and the parents to support them in doing that.”

I have a question. Why are not the teachers’ unions fighting for the type of system, where a teacher has that kind of respect and authority. Why are they not fighting for the necessary changes that must happen to not only have better achieving students but as well as making a teacher’s life easier.Why are they not approaching the union brass, to start the ball rolling?

Nancy,

That’s the million dollar question.  Anyone’s guess is equally as likely to be true.  However, there is a point in his speech where the President mentioned that there a great amount of inertia in the system and teachers (unions) seem to like the status quo that they know and understand rather than venture into uncharted waters.  I believe he said something like “it’s easier to keep doing what we’re doing than to change.”

BTW:  Salaries - my personal opinion is that we are very well paid already.  I would like to see more freedom to implement change/programs that would be more effective for my students.  I just included that point because it was interesting to see that every contributer to this blog could take something from what Obama said and say that he supported their position.

Wayne, you should know that charter schools were started by teachers to have freedom to do just what you suggest.

Doretta,

Yes, I have read your blogs and watched your video.  The big problem right now in Canada is the small numbers.  Although charter schools are more popular in the US, the percentage here is smaller.  Couple that with the fact that we have one tenth of the US population, and the numbers here are too small (especially in rural areas like mine) to make them viable.  It is my hope, with Obama’s speech, and the education summit coming up, that Canadians may start considering better alternatives.

Rural areas, with their dropping enrolments and possible school closures, may find that a charter school is a cheaper and attractive alternative to losing a school.

Where charter schools have been very popular in the U.S. is in the big inner-city areas of low income families.

“It is my hope, with Obama’s speech, and the education summit coming up, that Canadians may start considering better alternatives.”

I too hope, that the Canadian system is finally coming to the crossroads. With the advent of school boards losing much of their power, and really are beginning to look for like a fifth wheel, than the main driver of education and local education. I believe choice lies in two things. One, the schools will decide on what is and what is not within their walls and school boundaries will be no more. The majority of school boards forces most students to go to the nearest school, and it is a bureaucratic nightmare, narrowed criteria,  to get a child in another school zone.

Canada may have a small population, but it does have the ability to make changes and adapt easier than the U.S. education model. The problem is with the top guns, the educrats who insist on the centralization model, leaving everyone else without the power and the need to seek approval from everything to A to Z. It leaves students and their parents out of the process, and it is where parents are becoming aware of the faults in the present system. I see it happening within the parent groups, on the blogs, and other media, where parents are opening up that there has to be another way.

I came across a parent blog, with an amusing article, but it is a reality for most parents. I can certainly can relate to it,  and in the end some might agree it is not the parents that need to change, but the educrats.

http://ibitchabout.wordpress.com/2010/06/10/boys-will-be-boys-and-theres-nothing-you-or-i-can-do-about-it/

“Over the Christmas holiday, I tried to encourage him and cheer him up. He would have none of it. He informed me that he was a bad kid. Period. He felt that there was no point in trying anymore. I assured him that he was wrong and that everybody loved him, including his teachers and the Principal. I told him that if he behaved himself in class this would all change and that I was sure he could earn back his recesses. “Talk to your teachers,” I said “Try it, you’ll see”.

“No, mom, you’re wrong. They won’t do anything”.”

I have heard the last line, every year by my youngest.

The article is called, “Boys will be Boys, (and there is really nothing to be done)

If principals had the power over the curriculum, instead of being the enforcers for the provincial ministry, perhaps I would never have to hear that line from my youngest, “No Mom, you’re wrong. They won’t do anything.”

Well the subject of this thread is ADD/ADHD, not teaching skills and pay scales.

Although I do believe Ritalin is often pushed as a cure-all, I have to disagree.
My boy (9) has ADHD and I admit I was looking for the natural cures and we read all the books (pro and con) we could lay our hands on. We cut out red dye, sugar, refined flour, we cook our own meals and our kids eat most veggies, some we even grow ourselves. Phys Ed is 20km cycle every second day, soccer, swimming, hiking, etc. and the TV and playstation is gone.  We’re home schooling so we can’t blame the teachers, the bullying and distractions are gone as well.

First issue is he can not sleep, so we started by using Melatonin 3mg before bed. Melatonin is a pretty safe, non-addicting over the counter sleep aid . That was an improvement but he was still having problems with behaviour and focus. As we had read all the books, we already suspected ADHD, so we had him tested. We knew just from the questionnaires (many) that he indeed had some form of ADD/ADHD.

He is now taking Concerta (an improved time release version of Ritalin), he’s not doped up and he now has focus and stays on task. I’ve had a motorized scooter sitting here for ages, I told him to figure out how it works if he wanted to use it, but he never seemed to have interest. The other day he cleaned it up, fiddled with the rats nest of wiring, asked me for some new gas and got it running! He’s building ramps for his bike. He’s doing his chores, asking for extra chores for allowance. He’s pleasant, calm, not bugging his sister, more empathetic and a joy to be around.
More importantly he is reading without being asked, for hours on end and he is motivated .

Unless you have walked the mile in one of these parents shoes, or are a health care professional, your opinion (respectfully) on this subject is no better than the average teacher.

You’re absolutely right, Mark, however I do believe that ritalin is over-prescribed, and therefore in many cases the child’s real problems aren’t being addressed.