You know, Ms. Peck had a great deal of support from me until this statement; "These students often have a shorter school year, only take a standard end-of-year test, and come from classes that often incorporate prayer with fewer than 25 peers."

The very students whom she praises are taking a "standard end-of-year test" are just like their public school counterparts! That statement was not the one where my support was really lost though. Had Ms. Peck not brought in a religious issue, I could have dealt with the points made. However, the religious issue blew it!

ANY and EVERY child in public school can pray at ANY time that child so desires! There are NO laws that say a child may not do so.

The statement on prayer reveals the entire context of this LTTE. The LTTE is NOT about a poor public educational system. Rather, it is about a public educational system that will not mandate a teacher/administrator, etc. led prayer. Ms. Peck, if you want that, then have your child enrolled in a private school where it can happen. Otherwise, cease seeking to have your religion pushed on the children of others.

Shalom

I couldn't agree more with Ms. Peck's comments regarding the lack of education that the GCS provides its students. That is precisely why I removed my now 9 yr old daughter from the school system at the conclusion of her 2nd grade year. Her entire 2nd grade year at a very reputable magnet school here in Greensboro, was spent preparing her for 3rd grade EOGs. My husband and I found ourselves doing what her incompetent teacher could not. We were teaching her the basics. The GCS school system, my child's 2nd grade teacher and the principal at the time, failed my child. Those experiences led to our enrolling our child in a local private school. Since then, she has excelled in her school work and the distractions that exist in a public school setting are not an issue. I would encourage anyone with a child in the GCS system who are not satisfied with their child's education/school to explore private schools. There are affordable ones out there and your child's future is definitely worth it.

Darryl, I agree with you on the point about religion and prayer. Perhaps, what home schooling and private schools can do is to individualize course content to the needs and learning styles of the students a little better than larger schools. It seems to me that students who are being home schooled or sent to private schools "may be fortunate in that regard". Maybe these alternative educational methods/systems have something to offer the larger school system.

joejoe, I do not discount nor discredit what private schools can offer a student. However, I am totally opposed to home schooling, which is basically what karalina said was done while her child was enrolled in the GCS System.

My question to karalina is why did you expect the teachers, et al to have the complete and sole responsibility of educating your child? As a parent, are you not part of the matrix of educating your child?

Blaming the System because your child was not educated the way you wanted is not the fault of the system. Rather, it is the fault of the one with the unrealistic expectations. There has been enough discourse about the GCS System that nothing should be surprising to ANY parent in Guilford County!

And with the Every Child Left Behind mandate from the No Blame President, the situation will only further decline in the American Public Educational System!

Shalom

Darryl, did I state that the teachers were to teach my child everything? I am fully aware that as a parent, my job is to teach my child the fundamentals and to reinforce what is being taught to her, or supposed to be taught to her at school. My job is not to re-teach her- there is a difference. A problem arises when my child is sent home with work that she was supposedly being taught in the classroom, but was not because her teacher has limited time to teach the "unimportant" things that are not being scored when the EOGs roll around. And pray do tell, what is unrealistic about sending my child to school and expecting her to actually learn????? Did I miss something or is school just for socialization now? I never let my children re-enter/enter the Guilford County School system. This of course is a personal choice based on personal experiences.

karalina, how long have you been a resident of GC? NC?

The answer to those two questions should provide the answers to the questions posed to me.

Shalom

Karalina,

It's no wonder The GCS System is so fouled up. They have to make sure students pass standardized tests. Did you know that there are tons of studies which show that just because students can't pass a standardized test, they may still know the material? Additionally, standardized tests may incorrectly determine if a child is bright or not.

I was a terrible student all the way from First Grade through High School. I did horribly on standardized tests. GCS had pretty much written me off as a dummy. There was a 10 year break between High School and college for me. When I discovered that doing well on exams, and learning the material are not the same thing; I immediately became an "A/B" student. Graduated Cum Laude... twice.

Public education in this country is no longer about learning; merely passing a test. Now that I have my two 'sheep-skins' in tow, I find that learning is much more preferable to getting an education.

Darryl,
I was born and raised in G'boro. I was educated in the public schools. I was an AG/Honors/AP student and I actually learned! I went on to earn my bachelor's from UNC and a master's from A&T. I was taught by teachers who actually cared....and I was not taught for a test that determines bonuses/awards, etc for the school with the highest scores. The EOGs are simply a tool to score the school, not the student. These tests are not an accurate indication of what one has learned and the big problem occurs when teachers have to put lessons on the backburner to "coach" the kids on the subjects that the EOG covers.

Bishop,
I agree with you wholeheartedly. Standardized tests are no a true indication of one's knowledge (my GRE scores prove that!). My child's experience took a turn for the worst when EOGs were in her near future. The shift from acutally teaching subject matter to coaching her for EOGs was evident. She was loosely taught concepts and several subjects were covered in what I believe was an inadequate amount of time. I was very disappointed in the quality of education she was receiving. Today, however, she is not only learning but at an advanced level.

karalina, if you are a native of NC then you should have known what NC education has evolved to in the 21st Century. If you have been around GCS since Grier came onboard, again you should have known what to expect.

So, why not take some ownership for the problem with your childs lack of learning in the public school? As I have covertly pointed, both the State and now with the Every Child Left Behind junk, NO parent should be surprised at what their child does/does not know, especially a NC parent.

As even you responded to Biship, standardized tests are not the end all of "measuring sticks."

As for a private school education, Sure, it can be better. However, not every bright child has a family that can afford that luxury. So, the next best thing is to seek to have reforms enacted to correct the mistakes that have been made.

Trust me, the education system was better when I was in elementary school many years ago, even with corporal punishment being used!

Shalom