RED INK

Ok so I am going to add to this topic...can't help myself

I home school my children and thankfully we live in a state that so far is ok with it. However I keep up with other states and there are many that are anti-homeschooling. Part of the reason we do it is because of things like what Bill is talking about. My husband (believe it or not) teaches High school math and through the years we have come to realize that the kids will get pushed more at home and have a better education. (Now I am not saying that homeschooling is for every one or that your child will not do well in public schools...every child learns better under different circumstances) It maddens both of us when they do stupid things in the public school system like this. It is bad...every year they come up with more "PC" things for these teachers to live by. It has gotten bad. In CA they are told that you can not say "girls" or "boys" any more...you have to say "students" without stating gender! Come on!

Ok so I will stop my rant...sorry. I don't normally like to post "controversial" things but I couldn't pass this one up
Sarah
 
Maybe they need to start grading papers in more "kinder, gentler" colors? How about pink, or is that too close to red? Or maybe bright, sunshiny yellow? or pretty grassy green?
All I can say is, "Whatever"!! (in best valley girl voice!!!)
 
>Maybe they need to start grading papers in more "kinder,
>gentler" colors?

Or how about in transparent ink? That way, the teacher has the satisfaction of giving a grade (even an "F," if it's merited), but the students aren't traumatized by getting a grade.
 
Yep, this has been in our school system for a while. And I had major frustration when DD was in 4th grade. At the time I was pushing hard to get her tested for a learning disability(finally did it on our own in 7th grade, she has an IQ of 131, but a non verbal LD). She was failing math badly, and not doing well in other things. It seemed like all the school was concerned about was her self esteem. That is fine and dandy, I don't want my DD feeling rotten about herself, but when she enters 5th grade with math skills of a first grader, uhem, there is a problem.

Luckily I am very stubborn and so is DD, and she is doing much better. 7th grade was very rough, and even I was getting to the point of worrying about self esteem, because she was giving up. With the testing, we had the law on our side, got the help that DD will allow,(Now that she is older, she does not want to be singled out), but in 8th grade now she has renewed vigor, and seems determined to work on her issues.

But one thing the school told me last year, don't worry, your DD won't be held back, and I was thinking, um why the blankity blank not, she cannot do the math lessons at grade level.

And in defense of the schools. These things are put in place because they get in trouble and sued if otherwise.
 
Bill,

Sorry to hear about all of this. Maybe you and some other parents should get together on this. There is safety in numbers and just maybe this stupid idea will fizzle.

Good Luck on fighting the good fight. This is definitely a hill I would die on. :)
 
>And in defense of the schools. These things are put in place
> because they get in trouble and sued if otherwise.

Yep, but schools have gotten ridiculously cautious. I have a friend that quit teaching because she didn't receive any support from the administration in standing up to the parents. The last straw was when a parent complained that their child should have gotten an A instead of a B+ and the administration made her change the grade. They said "what's the big deal - it's just one grade and if it will make the parents go away, just do it."
 
my son is in 1st grade. his test he got a 22/23...written in PURPLE ink by his teacher! other papers he got GOOD JOB stamped in RED ink?
 
I'm a special education teacher and I have to say our education system is totally messed up. I teach a kindergarten behavior class and over the last 7 years that I've taught teacher's are required to do more and more paperwork to prove what great teachers we are. I've now got to keep a "scrapbook" to prove what a great teacher I am. Every year, they add more paper work to my ever increasing pile which takes time away from lesson planning and actual teaching. Even though my parents attend IEP meetings and sign 20 pieces of paper giving me and the school district permission to place their child in this class and to follow the prescribed Behavior Intervention Plan, I still have parents who yell, scream, and holler whenever a consequence has to be implemented and this is AFTER the positive interventions have not changed the inappropriate behavior. I literally sat in tears at our first faculty meeting when the paper collection process for my "scrapbook" was described. One teacher already has hers done and we just started this year. She looks GREAT on paper, but is a lousy teacher. Every year our principal bends the rules for her and allows her to get by with whatever she wants, but she will have the best "scrapbook" and receive the highest rating possible. When I don't recieve the highest rating b/c I refuse to spend hours "scrapbooking" I plan on writing and placing in my scrapbook that I actually think teaching is more important than providing pieces of paper to prove that I'm a good teacher. I invite administration and parents into my classroom any time they want to come and see what is going on. I will be able to tell you why we are studying what we are studying, why I had to modify, and what my future goals for the children are. THAT is how you know what a good teacher is...walk into the classroom unannouced and check it out...anyone can put together an awesome scrapbook...believe me, the worst teacher at our school has an awesome scrapbook. The scary thing is, she will probably end up being a principal one day and that saddens me beyond belief.

Sorry...I got off on a little tangent...but I DID touch on the behavior issues some...
Angela:eek:
P.S. I guess the point I'm trying to make is that I love teaching. I love working with children who have behavior problems and getting them ready for a regular first grade classroom. I love to see the progress they make, but those parents who fight you all year long and the paperwork suck the life out of me more and more every year. I am torn every year between signing my contract or changing careers and I really want to teach. I just feel like teaching is not the main jobs of teachers anymore...it's paperwork and dealing with parents who do not want their child to suffer any negative consequences for their actions.
 
I can sympathize with your friend who quit teaching because of aggressive parents (last year I strongly questioned my career choice because of this very reason). I love teaching, I love my subject area (HS English), and I love working with my students -- but there's nothing more disheartening and frustrating than having to cater to very pushy parents who refuse to let their children bear any responsibility whatsover for poor grades, etc.

There was a very interesting article in TIME magazine last year about the major problems stemming from parent-teacher relationships in the classroom. I remember one COLLEGE professor expressing frustration becasue he/she had students' parents badgering him/her about poor grades (on their cell phones, in the middle of class!!!) Don't get me wrong - I absolutely love it when parents are involved and are willing to communicate with me about their child, but there IS a limit. What kinds of kids are we raising when they have to run to mommy and daddy for every little problem and assume none of the reponsibility for themselves?

Sorry to rant here, but this really touched a nerve. I start the new year on Wed. and am really excited about my new classes, but I'm hoping that I won't have a repeat of some of the problem parents I encountered last year.

OK, I will step off the soap box now ;)
 
>I'm a special education teacher and I have to say our
>education system is totally messed up. I teach a kindergarten
>behavior class and over the last 7 years that I've taught
>teacher's are required to do more and more paperwork to prove
>what great teachers we are. I've now got to keep a
>"scrapbook" to prove what a great teacher I am. Every year,
>they add more paper work to my ever increasing pile which
>takes time away from lesson planning and actual teaching.
>Even though my parents attend IEP meetings and sign 20 pieces
>of paper giving me and the school district permission to place
>their child in this class and to follow the prescribed
>Behavior Intervention Plan, I still have parents who yell,
>scream, and holler whenever a consequence has to be
>implemented and this is AFTER the positive interventions have
>not changed the inappropriate behavior. I literally sat in
>tears at our first faculty meeting when the paper collection
>process for my "scrapbook" was described. One teacher already
>has hers done and we just started this year. She looks GREAT
>on paper, but is a lousy teacher. Every year our principal
>bends the rules for her and allows her to get by with whatever
>she wants, but she will have the best "scrapbook" and receive
>the highest rating possible. When I don't recieve the highest
>rating b/c I refuse to spend hours "scrapbooking" I plan on
>writing and placing in my scrapbook that I actually think
>teaching is more important than providing pieces of paper to
>prove that I'm a good teacher. I invite administration and
>parents into my classroom any time they want to come and see
>what is going on. I will be able to tell you why we are
>studying what we are studying, why I had to modify, and what
>my future goals for the children are. THAT is how you know
>what a good teacher is...walk into the classroom unannouced
>and check it out...anyone can put together an awesome
>scrapbook...believe me, the worst teacher at our school has an
>awesome scrapbook. The scary thing is, she will probably end
>up being a principal one day and that saddens me beyond
>belief.
>
>Sorry...I got off on a little tangent...but I DID touch on the
>behavior issues some...
>Angela:eek:
>P.S. I guess the point I'm trying to make is that I love
>teaching. I love working with children who have behavior
>problems and getting them ready for a regular first grade
>classroom. I love to see the progress they make, but those
>parents who fight you all year long and the paperwork suck the
>life out of me more and more every year. I am torn every year
>between signing my contract or changing careers and I really
>want to teach. I just feel like teaching is not the main jobs
>of teachers anymore...it's paperwork and dealing with parents
>who do not want their child to suffer any negative
>consequences for their actions.

Angela, bless you. It is teachers like you that have gotten me and my DD through some difficult times.
 
This fall my oldest went off to college. We had to attend some preview sessions in June to prepare us, and him for what was to come. At one session, the staff was explaining that all mail from the University gets sent to the student. That they are adults, they get their grades, and information for registration and such. Oh my was there an uproar in the room. Parents were demanding that the grades be sent directly to them. Apparently there is a waiver that the student can sign to do this. We had a bathroom break afterwards and in line, the ranting continued. I finally said, Why can't you just ask your student what their grades are? I got stared at like I was stoned.

Since I was still standing outside the bathroom in line, my DH heard this, and he was cracking up, because he knew what I was thinking and was thinking the same thing. Our son will tell us his grades, and it is his business to get good grades. In High School if he pulled a bad grade, we never had to talk to him, he brought it up. He knew that was expected of him, that he was capable of it, and he knew he had to do the work.
 
Yep, this is the real deal. Do a search on red ink and grading and you will discover red is "scary", negative, abrasive, unfriendly, stressful, blah blah blah. I teach for the community college and avoid red ink when I grade... just my preference... I like green, purple (my favorite color) and pink... but, I may return to red.

:)

Autumn
 
Hi Bill - love your posts.

I'm askeered of Barney and glad my kids always loathed him.

Back on topic...this is yet another reason I am thrilled to be a homeschooling mom. And BTW, I scratch all over my boys INCORRECT work with red ink, orange ink, pink ink (really annoys boys}( ), etc but red is the color of choice.

I am happy to say that my boys -one who deals with cerebral palsy and high functioning autism, one who deals with bipolar disorder, and one who deals with asthma/allergies that make him feel crappy-- are well-mannered, respectful, obedient (well, except when BP or autistic issues kick), intelligent, hard-working, take pride in their accomplishments, understand right from wrong, know that noone is perfect, correct their work, etc. They know consequences follow wrong/inappropriate behavior. I'm also proud to say they almost always think of others before they think of themselves.

AND one of my favorite remarks to them when they do whine needlessly, "Get over it, life is not and never will be fair."

AND I also hug them, kiss them, laugh with them, play with them, cry with them, and worship the ground they walk on...:7
 
> I love to see the progress they make, but those
>parents who fight you all year long and the paperwork suck the
>life out of me more and more every year. ... I just feel like teaching is not the main jobs
>of teachers anymore...it's paperwork and dealing with parents
>who do not want their child to suffer any negative
>consequences for their actions.

What an aweful situation.
At least at college level, we don't have to deal with parents (most of the time: last semester, the mother of a student who got an "F" in my second-semester French class called the department chair--it was summer already, and I wasn't in---because he HAD to get a passing grade to graduate...he should have thought of that earlier, because his grade wasn't going to change).

We do, however, seem to have more and more paperwork to do. We also have some bogus "ethics training" every single year for the last 3 years. We have to go online and read some crap about ethical behavoir, take a test and pass. Every year! As if we may have been ethical last year, but suddenly changed. (And most of this stuff doesn't even apply to teachers, as it's meant for all government employees, and has situations like taking gifts from someone who works for a company that has a bid in for work to be done for your company...nothing like dating students or revealing private information about students that should be kept confidential.)
 
I'm a middle school language arts teacher, and I, too, have heard various administrators and colleagues in recent years discourage use of the red pen. I never really understood this. I use red -- as well as purple, green, and pink, whatever's handy. It is the only way to make the comments or corrections stand out from the students' blue/black ink. When my students revise and edit their own papers, I ask them to use a different color ink for the same reason. Growing up, my teachers used mostly red to correct my papers, and somehow I didn't suffer any dip in self-esteem because of it. I'm sure this is true for most of us on these boards.
 
If you pushed the school system should have tested. Parents have rights, and yours should have been respected.
 
I know several teachers who quit or took early retirement because they could no longer deal with the behavior of the kids and/or their parents. My aunt is one of them; she told me when she started teaching if she had one "problem" kid in the classroom it was a big deal. Now they are the majority, and she spent the last 5 years of teaching trying to enforce discipline, while the handful of kids who were actually ready to learn pretty much had to fend for themselves, or work quietly on their own. When she did discipline a kid, she'd have a phone call from the parents demanding to know why his or her Spawn of Hell was unfairly disciplined.

I'm amazed by the Catheite parents. You guys seems so...sane, lol, kind of like parents the way they USED to make 'em!

Sparrow


Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming ‘Wow - what a ride!’ — Peter Sage
 
Here's some additional madness!

Daycare workers in Australia have been urged not to use the terms "good boy" or "good girl" when dealing with little tykes because the terms are sexist and might encourage unsuitable behavior, according to The Courier Mail.

New guidelines from the board that certifies child-care workers also instructs teachers to avoid negatives like "no" and "don't" because they might hinder a child's development. Staff are told to use alternative words like "stop" instead.

A spokesman for Tom Barton, the minister for employment and training, said positive instructions are preferred over negative condemnations.


Sparrow

Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming ‘Wow - what a ride!’ — Peter Sage
 
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