Public school starts today and I found out something weird..

Martha R. · **Joined:** Sat Jun 30, 2012 8:45 am **Posts:** 2924

School starts here today. Two of the schools in our county (1 elementary, 1 middle) got "D"'s on the FCAT, the federally mandated testing. Because of this the school gets additional funding for some extra personnel, but also the kids go AN EXTRA HOUR to school to give them "intensive reading instruction." Can you believe that little kids K-5 are now going to be in school from 8AM to 3PM? They don't have recess in school any more so those poor little things are going to be expected to sit still all that time. It's CRAZY!!!

laurajean · **Posted:** Mon Aug 20, 2012 8:30 am

UGH!
I would have NEVER made it through school without recess!
And that's the truth! :mrgreen:

Sis · **Joined:** Sat Jun 30, 2012 5:22 pm **Posts:** 8837

My sister is a teacher and she said they are cutting the "mandatory school days" down to 175 this year and can cut them as low as 160 and still expect good results on the tests. Yet another government institution that is too far out of whack to expect reform any time in the near future.
: (

LisaTX · **Posted:** Mon Aug 20, 2012 9:55 am

I think that's about the same amount of time my ds was in school for K and 1st, but they did get two 15 minute recesses (oh how generous of them), which they took away if the child misbehaved. I felt bad for my very active ds and couldn't wait to get him out. Needless to say, he wasn't thriving in PS.

Having NO recess at all, though? What are they thinking?!

Scott Bryce · **Posted:** Mon Aug 20, 2012 10:35 am

I can't help but wonder what this intensive reading instruction is. Raquel tutors reading for kids who have fallen behind. The program they want her to use is all look-say. She won't use it. She has developed a phonics based program based on Romalda Spalding's (The Writing Road to Reading) work. Raquel is the only one of the tutors who is having any real success.

Anna1111 · **Joined:** Sat Jun 30, 2012 7:14 pm **Posts:** 8115

Yes, I know another reading tutor in public school who is forced to use look-say even though she finds it ineffective. She's young, and won't use another method if it's against policy - which it is in her district.

Pam in Colorado · **Joined:** Sat Jun 30, 2012 2:58 pm **Posts:** 1095

Look say will work for some, as there are those who need to learn to read a whole word before and then learn phonics after. As a whole though, I think many learn the other way more easily. Why can they not use the one the individual child needs?

Jenileigh · **Posted:** Mon Aug 20, 2012 12:12 pm

How heart breaking. Those poor little ones.

I'm thankful that I didn't have to put Meadow in ps until the 4th grade.

We are unsure if we will leave her in for highschool. I will be done with RN school by then IF I make it through, and we will pray and see where things stand then.

scottbiddle · **Posted:** Mon Aug 20, 2012 12:16 pm

Our school day was 6 hours and 20 minutes from 1st grade through 12th. Of course, in grade school it was broken up by morning and afternoon recess and lunch which was time for eating plus a long recess. Oh well, another reason not to want our kids in public school.

LindaS · **Posted:** Mon Aug 20, 2012 3:43 pm

Kids here in elementary go from 7:30 to 2:30. 7 hrs. Now half of those hours are standing line to get from class to library or to lunch room.
This school district used to be excellent now it has really really dropped in the last five years.
I have a friend that left the school district two years ago and went to private school so she could teach kids how to study and how to behave. You cannot do that in public school.

Forum rules

Public school starts today and I found out something weird..

Who is online