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My child attends a school in SDOL. Parent conferences were last week. I have to say that I am more impressed with the teachers this year than I have ever been before. It's amazing how much this particular group seems to care about my child and the other children. This is a refreshing concept indeed!!
Not only did I get to meet with ONE of my child's teachers, I met with THREE of the five instead of having to 'chase them down', they all came into the room where I was having my conference.
I get messages from them every single day, I get phone calls at least twice a week, I get information from the school sent home every Wednesday.
Thanks SDOL for caring about my child!
School's bad rap
are there any GOOD things to say?
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MultiQuote#2 Guest_Suz_*
Posted 22 November 2004 - 08:31 AM
QUOTE(ominousne @ Nov 21 2004, 12:39 PM)
My child attends a school in SDOL. Parent conferences were last week. I have to say that I am more impressed with the teachers this year than I have ever been before. It's amazing how much this particular group seems to care about my child and the other children. This is a refreshing concept indeed!!
Not only did I get to meet with ONE of my child's teachers, I met with THREE of the five instead of having to 'chase them down', they all came into the room where I was having my conference.
I get messages from them every single day, I get phone calls at least twice a week, I get information from the school sent home every Wednesday.
Thanks SDOL for caring about my child!
Not only did I get to meet with ONE of my child's teachers, I met with THREE of the five instead of having to 'chase them down', they all came into the room where I was having my conference.
I get messages from them every single day, I get phone calls at least twice a week, I get information from the school sent home every Wednesday.
Thanks SDOL for caring about my child!
Thanks Ominousne, for pointing out a postive example from a school experience. Schools are an easy target when tax papers become disgruntled. I can tell you from being a teacher that it's not perfect, but there are many dedicated people working hard to change things. And like so many other huge bureaucracies, decisions are often made without teacher input. I don't understand why "they" don't consult teachers more since teachers are on the "front lines" doing the work.
#3 Guest_chas_*
Posted 22 November 2004 - 12:10 PM
School teachers, physical plant, text books, etc. are all important.
However, what really creates good students? Good parents.
My experience in SDOL goes back more than a decade now, but even then only a small number of parents were really involved in the life of the school my child attended. It was those hardy few who ran the fund raisers, attended PTO meetings, and participated in classroom volunteer activities.
Sad to say, but I hear that the number of involved parents is fewer now, in all schools, but especially so in SDOL. Schools have a difficult time in surviving and producing when the people who consume their services are so passive.
However, what really creates good students? Good parents.
My experience in SDOL goes back more than a decade now, but even then only a small number of parents were really involved in the life of the school my child attended. It was those hardy few who ran the fund raisers, attended PTO meetings, and participated in classroom volunteer activities.
Sad to say, but I hear that the number of involved parents is fewer now, in all schools, but especially so in SDOL. Schools have a difficult time in surviving and producing when the people who consume their services are so passive.
#6
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Posted 22 November 2004 - 05:36 PM
I am the mother of a 5 year old boy who is in Kindergarten at Hamilton Elementary School. I have been blessed to be a stay at home Mom and was able to volunteer for his Preschool and will volunteer for his elementary school. His Father and I both attended the Parent-Teacher conference last week. We have seen a real improvement in him since going to school. We feel fortunate that his teacher is a recent grad of Millersville University. We are very involved in our child's life and will be to the bitter end (so to speak!)
We may be few and far between, but some of us parents care about our children!
JRM
We may be few and far between, but some of us parents care about our children!
JRM
"Youth is the gift of nature, but age is a work of art."
Stanislaw Jerzy Lec (Polish writer, poet and satirist 1906 - 1966)
Stanislaw Jerzy Lec (Polish writer, poet and satirist 1906 - 1966)
#7
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Posted 22 November 2004 - 05:47 PM
I had positive and negative experiences with conferences this time around. Erin's conference at Hand was wonderful. All the teachers were readily available, and we were able to discuss not only her but the direction academics at Hand are headed.
My older daughter, Laura, is a sophomore at McCaskey. I got a notice Friday afternoon to call for conference appointment times. I called at 8 AM Monday to schedule. and was told I'd get a call with times. Wed. night I finally got a call saying all her teachers were too booked up and I should have called sooner!? I'm still waiting for her teachers to contact me for an individual meeting about her grades, but I'm not holding my breath.
My older daughter, Laura, is a sophomore at McCaskey. I got a notice Friday afternoon to call for conference appointment times. I called at 8 AM Monday to schedule. and was told I'd get a call with times. Wed. night I finally got a call saying all her teachers were too booked up and I should have called sooner!? I'm still waiting for her teachers to contact me for an individual meeting about her grades, but I'm not holding my breath.
Dream like you'll live forever
Live like you'll die tomorrow
Live like you'll die tomorrow
#8 Guest_Keithkeefer_*
Posted 22 November 2004 - 07:13 PM
QUOTE(jrmwarfare @ Nov 22 2004, 04:36 PM)
We may be few and far between, but some of us parents care about our children!
I'm sure alost all parents care about their children. You are acting as I would to show that support of your children. I like that you volunteer in the schools. I used to when my son attended Martin Elementary. It seems that those parents that actually get into the schools, don't complain as much about how the school is run. They don't have the opinion that the schools are out of control.
What I was impressed with at parent teacher conferences was the high level of understanding that his teachers had. The teachers were educating parents on the new math program and obviously understood the theory behind it.
If it weren't for the high emphasis of city schools to get everyone to "proficient", my son would still be attending SDoL schools. For us, it was all about avoiding PSSA hell.
#10 Guest_Keithkeefer_*
Posted 23 November 2004 - 08:02 PM
It's a test in the state of Pennsylvania. We have decided to look at PSSA scores of schools to make comparisons of those shools. Even though it's not a valid practice, it's what we are doing. Kids take the PSSA in 3rd, 5th, 8th, and 10th grade. Students are placed in categories like basic, below basi, proficient, and above proficient (?)
In my opinion, too many schools are paying attention to this test, and have tried to increase test scores. It's been forced on schools to a degree, so in some cases it's out of the school's control.
In my opinion, too many schools are paying attention to this test, and have tried to increase test scores. It's been forced on schools to a degree, so in some cases it's out of the school's control.
#11 Guest_ominousne_*
Posted 23 November 2004 - 10:12 PM
It's also had no legitimate field tests nor is it comparable to any other states so it's not a true measure of anything except how pitiful the state is at making a test and adding more work to the teachers without any reason.
When students are held accountable for their own progess, such as in being held back if they fail and when administrators are held accountable for their actions or lack thereof, perhaps the schools will improve.
Right now the teachers are the scapegoats for everyone and everything and they're the ones who are working their collective butts off.
When students are held accountable for their own progess, such as in being held back if they fail and when administrators are held accountable for their actions or lack thereof, perhaps the schools will improve.
Right now the teachers are the scapegoats for everyone and everything and they're the ones who are working their collective butts off.
This post has been edited by ominousne: 23 November 2004 - 10:14 PM
#12
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Posted 01 December 2004 - 03:31 PM
After 10 years in the district, I'm still satisified. The curriculum is challenging. The music program is fantastic. And most of the teachers seem enthusiastic and dedicated (in the face of many dismal family life situations).
I've met many great parents who are excellent school supporters, but the percentage is small. (Too many two income families, too busy to support their kids.)
Like everything in life, SDoL is what you make of it.
I've met many great parents who are excellent school supporters, but the percentage is small. (Too many two income families, too busy to support their kids.)
Like everything in life, SDoL is what you make of it.
"History shows again & again how nature points out the folly of man." BOC
#13 Guest_ominousne_*
Posted 01 December 2004 - 08:01 PM
QUOTE(GeoW @ Dec 1 2004, 02:31 PM)
After 10 years in the district, I'm still satisified. The curriculum is challenging. The music program is fantastic. And most of the teachers seem enthusiastic and dedicated (in the face of many dismal family life situations).
I've met many great parents who are excellent school supporters, but the percentage is small. (Too many two income families, too busy to support their kids.)
Like everything in life, SDoL is what you make of it.
I've met many great parents who are excellent school supporters, but the percentage is small. (Too many two income families, too busy to support their kids.)
Like everything in life, SDoL is what you make of it.
I agree Geo, the teachers are great, mostly anyway. The students are great, mostly. Most parents are great. If they want to fix the problems with SDOL, they need to do away with about 90% of the administration and hire only what they NEED instead of giving cushy jobs to their buddies.
By getting rid of the useless SLCs and extra assistant principals in schools that aren't big enough to need one, they could hire more teachers and give our kids more oppotunities. They need to drop the dead weight and put the money where it could be better used. The bureaucracy has taken over and it's holding back the entire district.
