We are all so very happy to see that the First Lady has made reading a renewed priority for our country. The literacy issue is a big one. Kids are being passed year after year and still not able to read in High School. One issue, which is quite evident is the incredible turn over of teachers. There is a 50% attrition rate of teachers in Five years. This is somewhat similar to Corporate America too, but why are the teachers who have studied hard to specifically become teachers calling it quits?
Well, one issue is the pay. Some say that if you count the three months off in summer for non-year-round school programs that they make great money for working only 9 months. Yes indeed this is a rational comment and is duly taken into consideration. Some say well, teachers get off early at 2-3 pm so they make a little less. Ah, but they have to grade papers and project assignments so this is not a worthy debate topic. In fact if you look at the pay rates teachers are underpaid and normally do not get advances in pay without completion of other degrees, such as a masters in teaching.
In interviewing teachers myself at coffee shops, yes teachers need coffee to deal with all those unruly, uncontrollable kids who lack proper parenting with 1.5 parents on average. The parents generally have not disciplined the kids properly, they expect the teachers to baby sit them. I have heard so many horror stories on the road from teachers, each year it gets a little worse in many regards. Almost all the teachers we talked to had taken their own money and used it to buy school supplies. On average and yes I have been taking notes about $1300.00, this seems highly unfair and totally unacceptable.
I propose an immediate account which can be used at various pre-determined stores for supplies for schools, Teacher approved credit cards. They can be spent in online catalogs for schooling, home depot or Lowes for project supplies, Office Depot, Office Max, Staples for suplies. The amount of $2250 per classroom over 20 kids. Fifteen to twenty children $ 1800 and Under 15 kids $1300.00 for such supplies deemed necessary by the teachers.
We are all for no child without progress and we ramp up the no child left behind goal, but some of are upset over the lack of money in the class rooms themselves, that is unacceptable and unforgivable and must not continue. We can buy more supplies for the classroom and teach everyone to read and speak the language, understand basic mathematics and learn proper ethics or we can pay for more police, jails and prisons later. It is our choice, if we fail to make that choice we have simply pre-chosen the latter.
"Lance Winslow" - If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; www.worldthinktank.net/wttbbs
express cleaning service Arlington Heights ..If you are a member of a stepfamily, you know... Read More
As a mother of two sets of fraternal boy/girl twins,... Read More
"Life consists not in holding good cards but in playing... Read More
We want our children to do the right thing, especially... Read More
One reason public schools get away with educational failure, year... Read More
As the new school year begins, parents play a pivotal... Read More
We all know that using cloth nappies is best for... Read More
When planning a child birthday party, just a little bit... Read More
Q: Whenever we tell my daughter "no," she just bugs... Read More
In seminars I am often asked about pocket-money and whether... Read More
It was at that time when our marriage was falling... Read More
Once your little boy/girl goes off to school, you may... Read More
The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 is making... Read More
Is your babysitter watching the kids and your k9 family... Read More
A strange thing happened to me today. Or more precisely,... Read More
The word no is probably the most overused word in... Read More
Did you know that the number of twin births have... Read More
We all want to comfort our children after they suffer... Read More
How would you like to have a closer relationship with... Read More
Is there a fathering instinct?Celebrated child development expert Erik Erikson... Read More
Is your baby approaching his or her first birthday and... Read More
Maintaining a safe home environment for your childrenAs adults and... Read More
Most of us recognize the continuing escalation of violence around... Read More
No matter how old your children are, you have an... Read More
You've just received a call from your child's teacher. As... Read More
tidy up service Arlington Heights ..A sure way to double the joys of parenthood is... Read More
I love Google and Yahoo. With Google and Yahoo I... Read More
When kids try new things, sometimes it's a 'fit' and... Read More
Child support is defined as that part of your income... Read More
The key to a successful car wash fundraiser event is... Read More
Why Me?"We should certainly count our blessings, but we should... Read More
Would you like your child to be the best that... Read More
Q. What's the right age to start giving a Bible... Read More
There are millions of young children in this country who... Read More
The older my daughter gets the more it's sinking in... Read More
Best friends! It may seem impossible to believe, but today's... Read More
If You're Having Twins..is it double the headache, or double... Read More
Joey steps away from his time out chair "I won't... Read More
College is one of the largest expenses through the course... Read More
Although it's hard to say when the first stuffed dogs... Read More
Well first off, please to don't institute the ? hour... Read More
There are two methods for teaching children to read; whole... Read More
"Will my doubts and fears affect my child?" This father... Read More
Volunteering together is a fantastic way to spend time as... Read More
I'll never forget my first lesson in a glider.I'd been... Read More
Although many parents become frustrated as they try to maintain... Read More
When I was pregnant, we knew that we had some... Read More
We need a grass roots campaign targeted towards parents to... Read More
Many parents seem to be more than a little confused... Read More
Should a parent give a child a tangible reward when... Read More
Parenting |