Why Can't Johhny Read? (in WI) - Page 2 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

aklim · #16 02-22-2011, 01:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chas H

Or do parents have other things to do, such as paying for healthcare/insurance, a house, a retirement fund? Which leaves them little time or energy to make sure their kids get an education.

When someone wants to have kids, I believe there are 4 simple questions that need to be answered HONESTLY first.

1. Can you afford to have kids? IOW, are you barely making ends meet working 2 jobs and living paycheck to paycheck or do you have a cushion for problems that arise?

2. Do you want to afford the kids assuming you can afford them? IOW, are you willing to make the financial sacrifices you have to incur or will you look at them as a millstone around your neck?

3. Do you have the time for kids? See #1 also. If both are working 2 jobs to make ends meet, well, that becomes a problem

4, Do you willingly give up your time for the kid, assuming you actually do have a reasonable amount of time for the kid? If you want to go play as soon as you get off work, come back late, etc, etc, well, probably not.

If you cannot answer YES to all 4, you aren't ready to have kids. It is that simple.

Skid Row Joe · #17 02-22-2011, 01:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aklim

When someone wants to have kids, I believe there are 4 simple questions that need to be answered HONESTLY first.

1. Can you afford to have kids? IOW, are you barely making ends meet working 2 jobs and living paycheck to paycheck or do you have a cushion for problems that arise?

2. Do you want to afford the kids assuming you can afford them? IOW, are you willing to make the financial sacrifices you have to incur or will you look at them as a millstone around your neck?

3. Do you have the time for kids? See #1 also. If both are working 2 jobs to make ends meet, well, that becomes a problem

4, Do you willingly give up your time for the kid, assuming you actually do have a reasonable amount of time for the kid? If you want to go play as soon as you get off work, come back late, etc, etc, well, probably not.

If you cannot answer YES to all 4, you aren't ready to have kids. It is that simple.

Which has exactly what to do with the OP's post:

Dept of Education stats indicate:

Two-thirds of the eighth graders in Wisconsin public schools cannot read proficiently according to the U.S. Department of Education, despite the fact that Wisconsin spends more per pupil in its public schools than any other STATE IN THE MIDWEST.

Kuan · #18 02-22-2011, 01:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Txjake

Dept of Education stats indicate:

Two-thirds of the eighth graders in Wisconsin public schools cannot read proficiently according to the U.S. Department of Education, despite the fact that Wisconsin spends more per pupil in its public schools than any other state in the Midwest.

And these are the same bozo taechers ranting in the street? Seems like they s/b back in the calssroom, doing what they are paid to do, instead of taking fake sick days i/o to relive the 60s.

http://cnsnews.com/news/article/two-thirds-wisconsin-public-school-8th-g

Better than 32 states and tied with three others.

Edit: Forgot to mention Wisconsins graduation rate at consistently over 90%

aklim · #19 02-22-2011, 02:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skid Row Joe

Which has exactly what to do with the OP's post:

Dept of Education stats indicate:

Two-thirds of the eighth graders in Wisconsin public schools cannot read proficiently according to the U.S. Department of Education, despite the fact that Wisconsin spends more per pupil in its public schools than any other STATE IN THE MIDWEST.

It was in response to Chas's post about the parents not having enough time for the kids because of other commitments.

Chas H · #20 02-22-2011, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aklim

When someone wants to have kids, I believe there are 4 simple questions that need to be answered HONESTLY first.

1. Can you afford to have kids? IOW, are you barely making ends meet working 2 jobs and living paycheck to paycheck or do you have a cushion for problems that arise?

2. Do you want to afford the kids assuming you can afford them? IOW, are you willing to make the financial sacrifices you have to incur or will you look at them as a millstone around your neck?

3. Do you have the time for kids? See #1 also. If both are working 2 jobs to make ends meet, well, that becomes a problem

4, Do you willingly give up your time for the kid, assuming you actually do have a reasonable amount of time for the kid? If you want to go play as soon as you get off work, come back late, etc, etc, well, probably not.

If you cannot answer YES to all 4, you aren't ready to have kids. It is that simple.

I'm gonna guess of parents don't give fig about your test. And since most kids live to adulthood, circumstances can easily change after the little bundle of joys are born.

aklim · #21 02-22-2011, 02:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chas H

I'm gonna guess of parents don't give fig about your test.

And since most kids live to adulthood,

circumstances can easily change after the little bundle of joys are born.

And that is EXACTLY the same thing as Joe Schmoe running out and going on a buying spree without figuring out the costs and consequences. Usually, that sort of planning, or lack of it, ends people up behind the 8 ball. Why you have sympathy for 1 group of bad planners and not the other, I don't understand.

Which says what exactly?

Yes they can. They could win the lottery or one can be disabled and even worse off. Change can also be for the worse, not just the better. Not being prepared financially and emotionally does make it much harder when things go south, or do you disagree?

barry123400 · #22 02-22-2011, 02:31 PM

Besides all the extrainious things. Genetics are producing an ever growing percentage of children with disorders. This has already occured as people with these disorders where not responsible and tended to overbreed.

Their offspring probably now produce children at normal average rates. But the genetic base was established.

For many reasons these children cannot or do not benifit from the school system. Add to this the social issues and there is a problem of some magnitude out there. I think it may have peaked now.

Where did I assimulate this from? My wife working in the school system reporting growing percentges of students with these difficulties year after year. The system tried and perhaps is still trying to adjust to it.

It may have been better to deal more directly with the issue as it was occuring. Soon the systems may be forced to deal with it. Teaching to the lowest common denominators level in a system is a recipe for overall failure at some point.

Kuan · #23 02-22-2011, 02:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chas H

I'm gonna guess of parents don't give fig about your test. And since most kids live to adulthood, circumstances can easily change after the little bundle of joys are born.

I prefer this checklist by Amy Lawrence.

Quote:

Lesson 1

1. Go to the grocery store.

2. Arrange to have your salary paid directly to their head office.

3. Go home.

4. Pick up the paper.

5. Read it for the last time.

Lesson 2

Before you finally go ahead and have children, find a couple who already are parents and berate them about their...

1. Methods of discipline.

2. Lack of patience.

3. Appallingly low tolerance levels.

4. Allowing their children to run wild.

5. Suggest ways in which they might improve their child's breastfeeding, sleep habits, toilet training, table manners, and overall behavior.

Enjoy it because it will be the last time in your life you will have all the answers.

Lesson 3

A really good way to discover how the nights might feel...

1. Get home from work and immediately begin walking around the living room from 5PM to 10PM carrying a wet bag weighing approximately 8-12 pounds, with a radio turned to static (or some other obnoxious sound) playing loudly. (Eat cold food with one hand for dinner)

2. At 10PM, put the bag gently down, set the alarm for midnight, and go to sleep.

3. Get up at 12 and walk around the living room again, with the bag, until 1AM.

4. Set the alarm for 3AM.

5. As you can't get back to sleep, get up at 2AM and make a drink and watch an infomercial.

6. Go to bed at 2:45AM.

7. Get up at 3AM when the alarm goes off.

8. Sing songs quietly in the dark until 4AM.

9. Get up. Make breakfast. Get ready for work and go to work (work hard and be productive)

Repeat steps 1-9 each night. Keep this up for 3-5 years. Look cheerful and together.

Lesson 4

Can you stand the mess children make? T o find out...

1. Smear peanut butter onto the sofa and jam onto the curtains.

2. Hide a piece of raw chicken behind the stereo and leave it there all summer.

3. Stick your fingers in the flower bed.

4. Then rub them on the clean walls.

5. Take your favorite book, photo album, etc. Wreck it.

6. Spill milk on your new pillows. Cover the stains with crayons. How does that look?

Lesson 5

Dressing small children is not as easy as it seems.

1. Buy an octopus and a small bag made out of loose mesh.

2. Attempt to put the octopus into the bag so that none of the arms hang out.

Time allowed for this - all morning.

Lesson 6

Forget the BMW and buy a mini-van. And don't think that you can leave it out in the driveway spotless and shining. Family cars don't look like that.

1. Buy a chocolate ice cream cone and put it in the glove compartment.

Leave it there.

2. Get a dime. Stick it in the CD player.

3. Take a family size package of chocolate cookies. Mash them into the back seat. Sprinkle cheerios all over the floor, then smash them with your foot.

4. Run a garden rake along both sides of the car.

Lesson 7

Go to the local grocery store. Take with you the closest thing you can find to a pre-school child. (A full-grown goat is an excellent choice). If you intend to have more than one child, then definitely take more than one goat. Buy your week's groceries without letting the goats out of your sight. Pay for everything the goat eats or destroys. Until you can easily accomplish this, do not even contemplate having children.

Lesson 8

1. Hollow out a melon.

2. Make a small hole in the side.

3. Suspend it from the ceiling and swing it from side to side.

4. Now get a bowl of soggy Cheerios and attempt to spoon them into the swaying melon by pretending to be an airplane.

5. Continue until half the Cheerios are gone.

6. Tip half into your lap. The other half, just throw up in the air.

You are now ready to feed a nine- month-old baby.

Lesson 9

Learn the names of every character from Sesame Street , Barney, Disney, the Teletubbies, and Pokemon. Watch nothing else on TV but PBS, the Disney channel or Noggin for at least five years. (I know, you're thinking What's 'Noggin'?) Exactly the point.

Lesson 10

Make a recording of Fran Drescher saying 'mommy' repeatedly. (Important: no more than a four second delay between each 'mommy'; occasional crescendo to the level of a supersonic jet is required). Play this tape in your car everywhere you go for the next four years. You are now ready to take a long trip with a toddler.

Lesson 11

Start talking to an adult of your choice. Have someone else continually tug on your skirt hem, shirt- sleeve, or elbow while playing the 'mommy' tape made from Lesson 10 above. You are now ready to have a conversation with an adult while there is a child in the room.

This is all very tongue in cheek; anyone who is parent will say 'it's all worth it!' Share it with your friends, both those who do and don't have kids. I guarantee they'll get a chuckle out of it. Remember, a sense of humor is one of the most important things you'll need when you become a parent!

Chas H · #24 02-22-2011, 03:03 PM

While we're discussing school teachers, I find it interesting there are none posting right now; but there seems to be a number who think less than highly of them posting.
Any guesses as to why?

Txjake · #25 02-22-2011, 03:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chas H

While we're discussing school teachers, I find it interesting there are none posting right now; but there seems to be a number who think less than highly of them posting.
Any guesses as to why?

good question. My mother was a life long school teacher. She was NOT a union member. She primarily taught at private schools, though she cut her teeth on public schools in New Orleans. Her mission was to teach children, not preach her specfic beliefs from her rather small bully pulpit. Reading, writing, arithmatic functions. Grow a mind that could reason, and not fill it full of bias and crap.

Skid Row Joe · #26 02-22-2011, 03:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kuan

I prefer this checklist by Amy Lawrence.

That makes too much sense, Kuan.

Skid Row Joe · #27 02-22-2011, 03:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Txjake

good question. My mother was a life long school teacher. She was NOT a union member. She primarily taught at private schools, though she cut her teeth on public schools in New orleans. Her mission was to teach children, not preach her specfic beliefs from her rather small bully pulpit. Reading, writing, arithmatic functions. Grow a mind that could reason, and not fill it full of bias and crap.

X 2

Right on, right on, right on!

Skid Row Joe · #28 02-22-2011, 04:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aklim

And that is EXACTLY the same thing as Joe Schmoe running out and going on a buying spree without figuring out the costs and consequences. Usually, that sort of planning, or lack of it, ends people up behind the 8 ball. Why you have sympathy for 1 group of bad planners and not the other, I don't understand.

Which says what exactly?

Yes they can. They could win the lottery or one can be disabled and even worse off. Change can also be for the worse, not just the better. Not being prepared financially and emotionally does make it much harder when things go south, or do you disagree?

What's it really matter, if as in WI. public schools, they can't read?

Skid Row Joe · #29 02-22-2011, 04:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aklim

It was in response to Chas's post about the parents not having enough time for the kids because of other commitments.

You're missing the point......what's it matter what the parents are doing when:

"Two-thirds of the eighth graders in Wisconsin public schools cannot read proficiently according to the U.S. Department of Education, despite the fact that Wisconsin spends more per pupil in its public schools than any other state in the Midwest."

Why are the teachers even being paid for that performance??????

aklim · #30 02-22-2011, 04:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skid Row Joe

What's it really matter, if as in WI. public schools, they can't read?

It is a 2 part equation. The teacher must want to teach and be competent. The student must want to learn and be able to receive instruction. If the student is not motivated, they will not make the effort to study and hence they will fall behind. If teachers are not motivated, they will not teach well and you also have problems. At present only one end of the equation can be fixed.

Problem is when the teacher is not competent, we can light a fire under them and get them going. When the student is not wanting to learn, there is little you can do