Post by coachcb on Apr 27, 2011 15:10:06 GMT -6
Not when you work in a private school... That's another one of our issues; the school can't figure out it's identity. We need to decide whether we truly are an "academy/college prep school" or take on a public school model. We have teachers that set the bar at the "academy" level and it just kills our kids. BUT, on the flip side, you have teachers that set the bar wayy too low and it is just as detrimental. They get their butts worked off in one class while sliding through another.
We're really between the two right now and not in a good way... It's hard to set that bar super high for kids when you don't have a remedial programs to catch the kids up. It's really turning into a nightmare. I have a general math class that's designed to prepare the kids for Pre-Algebra and Algebra. BUT, there's a SNAFU; the Pre-Algebra/Algebra teacher as decided we're an "academy". He writes his own curriculum; Pre-Algebra is basically Honors Algebra and Algebra is Honors Algebra 2.
and that's what I'm talking about in examining what's happening in the school.
Sounds like a rough situation and a frustrating one. Another question I would have would be how do your kids come to you? If you are an academy/prep school shouldn't there be some family background or entrance requirement that helps make sure the student are capable of succeeding?
This is another situation where we are trapped between public and private. The administration says "everyone deserves a shot" and I do understand that. We're one of the few schools in the region that actually offers a decent education.. The two other reservation schools are horrendous.
But, there's two issues here:
1. We are not equipped to deal with the special ed kids. I have several freshman that fall well within the range of "learning disabled"; they scored very, very low on the tests. But, we still accept them and they struggle.
2. We have a lot of kids that are perfectly capable but they are lazier than hell. But, we only hold them to academic standards when it comes to athletics; we should be doing so all around. You have to exhibit some pretty severe behavioral problems before we'll boot you. I had a student who had the school put on lock-down three times because of drugs; it took the third time to get him kicked out.
Honestly, I think we need to find a happy medium between the two. Establish a SPED program so we can still accept everyone. But, boot the kids if they're not pulling their weight academically. If they can't pull a 2.0, put them on probation for a semester. Kick them out if they still don't keep their grades up.