Truancy

[wirehair]

We're fecked. The NY Times picked up an experimental truancy thing at my school. We're getting buried in reporters.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/12/ed...rssnyt&emc=rss

[Eracer]

Originally Posted by wirehair

We're fecked. The NY Times picked up an experimental truancy thing at my school. We're getting buried in reporters.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/12/education/12dallas.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

You mean you actually have to show up for work now? Ain't that a bitch!

[Sandpiper3]

truency? a crime?

the grandmother said "im just so glad they didnt take him to jail"

FOR SKIPPING SCHOOL!?!?!

You guys are fecked up.

[SilverUberXeno]

I'd be in Alkatraz if truancy was a crime.

[eclark53520]

Better idea...

Kid skips school one day, comes to school the next day gets tied to a pole naked all day blindfolded...simple solution, less time wasted by cops having to come in for this piddly shit when they can be taking real criminals off the street

I dont have a problem with teachers spanking children either...most parents dont know how to discipline their child and expect our teachers to "babysit" them....horse shit, if my child did something dis-respectful and/or stupid you can bet your ass there will be swift disciplinary action taken by me since its "illegal" for the teachers to do it

[SilverUberXeno]

A little harsh, eclark.

I say put the responsibility on the kids. If they don't come to school and fail to get an education because of their poor planning, that's nobody else's problem. Enjoy a minimum wage job and a life of, most likely, drunken bliss.

Schools would be a lot more effective if they DIDN'T mandate attendance. Kids that wanted to learn could do so with much greater efficiency.

[Eracer]

Originally Posted by SilverUberXeno

A little harsh, eclark.

I say put the responsibility on the kids. If they don't come to school and fail to get an education because of their poor planning, that's nobody else's problem. Enjoy a minimum wage job and a life of, most likely, drunken bliss.

Schools would be a lot more effective if they DIDN'T mandate attendance. Kids that wanted to learn could do so with much greater efficiency.

That's all well and good. But instead of minimum-wage jobs, lots of those kids end up being criminals who put a drain on our justice system and drive our taxes up. Respect for authority and order is learned early in life. A Lassiez-Faire attitude towards juvenile dlinquency just breeds bigger problems down the road.

Lord of the Flies.

[wirehair]

Originally Posted by Eracer

That's all well and good. But instead of minimum-wage jobs, lots of those kids end up being criminals who put a drain on our justice system and drive our taxes up. Respect for authority and order is learned early in life. A Lassiez-Faire attitude towards juvenile dlinquency just breeds bigger problems down the road.
Lord of the Flies.

To be realistic, what we're really talking about is minimum wage versus a more reasonable wage. Because a kid habitually ditches school, isn't an indicator that he's a sociopath, just a dumbass that is relegating himself to life as a dumbass. They could still get a career in a skilled trade/occupation, but it just makes it tough on them to get there.

A few will sit down & learn something if you chain them to the desk. It's not very likely that a kid who is forced to attend high school is going to find a cure for cancer, or write a great novel. Most will either go to sleep, or just tear up the classroom and make it tough on others.

[Eracer]

Originally Posted by wirehair

To be realistic, what we're really talking about is minimum wage versus a more reasonable wage. Because a kid habitually ditches school, isn't an indicator that he's a sociopath, just a dumbass that is relegating himself to life as a dumbass. They could still get a career in a skilled trade/occupation, but it just makes it tough on them to get there.

A few will sit down & learn something if you chain them to the desk. It's not very likely that a kid who is forced to attend high school is going to find a cure for cancer, or write a great novel. Most will either go to sleep, or just tear up the classroom and make it tough on others.

Yes, but dumbasses go on welfare, use foodstamps, drink their problems away, and end up in hospitals with no insurance.

I hear what you're saying, but no kid will ever grow up to be a surgeon, engineer, chemist, CPA, etc. without discipline and education. Maybe a politician, but hey - even sociopaths need career paths.

[wirehair]

These kids we're talking about are under court order to go to school. Their parents don't see any benefit to education, because they consider themselves successful with a job as a welder in a muffler shop and would rather have the kid pushing a lawnmower than wasting time in high school.

The only reason it's an issue is because one of the criteria of whether a school is "Academically acceptable" under No Child Left Behind is attendance and graduation rates.

In addition, the Texas' "Recommended" High School program includes math courses that include trig and beginning calculus (derivatives & integrals). A senior in English IV will read something like Antigone. We do not teach carpentry, welding, or even how to read blueprints.

The State & Federal government mandate an unrealistic curriculum and at the same time punish us for a student that has no reason to show up. I'm not talking about the drug dealers, or 16 year old welfare mothers, I'm talking about the 50% of 9th graders who aren't going to College. We've gone from providing a free public education to requiring one. Then the only thing we offer them is a GPS device so the judge can monitor their location.

[Eracer]

Originally Posted by wirehair

These kids we're talking about are under court order to go to school. Their parents don't see any benefit to education, because they consider themselves successful with a job as a welder in a muffler shop and would rather have the kid pushing a lawnmower than wasting time in high school.

The only reason it's an issue is because one of the criteria of whether a school is "Academically acceptable" under No Child Left Behind is attendance and graduation rates.

In addition, the Texas' "Recommended" High School program includes math courses that include trig and beginning calculus (derivatives & integrals). A senior in English IV will read something like Antigone. We do not teach carpentry, welding, or even how to read blueprints.

The State & Federal government mandate an unrealistic curriculum and at the same time punish us for a student that has no reason to show up. I'm not talking about the drug dealers, or 16 year old welfare mothers, I'm talking about the 50% of 9th graders who aren't going to College. We've gone from providing a free public education to requiring one. Then the only thing we offer them is a GPS device so the judge can monitor their location.

So what's the answer? Do we offer kids a choice of High School or a new form of the CCC?

"Study Algebra, or you'll be picking up trash on I-10."

And if we give up on their scholastic futures, what are all the criminals who skipped school and are now doing roadside work gonna do with all their free time?

[wirehair]

Originally Posted by Eracer

So what's the answer? Do we offer kids a choice of High School or a new form of the CCC?

"Study Algebra, or you'll be picking up trash on I-10."

And if we give up on their scholastic futures, what are all the criminals who skipped school and are now doing roadside work gonna do with all their free time?

Someone's going to be left behind, it's unfortunate but real.

How 'bout shop class. I'm not aware of any welding or carpentry classes being taught in Dallas, and would be willing to bet a dollar against a donut that lots of kids would rather be able to draw a decent bead with a welding torch than take a derivative.

[Eracer]

Originally Posted by wirehair

Someone's going to be left behind, it's unfortunate but real.

How 'bout shop class. I'm not aware of any welding or carpentry classes being taught in Dallas, and would be willing to bet a dollar against a donut that lots of kids would rather be able to draw a decent bead with a welding torch than take a derivative.

So do we take the path of supporting them throughout their lives? Or do we simply write them off and isolate them from society, waiting until they end up victimizing society or its citizens? Maybe eugenics isn't such a bad idea after all?

I'm all for career-based educational paths. I agree that we place too much emphasis on using our educational system as a "filter for greatness." A percentage of kids can make it to college, and we do need alternatives for those who won't.

But truancy is not an acceptable answer. Even a welder needs to know how to do some math.

[wirehair]

There are about 7 Freshman wearing the GPS device. We're going to pump a quarter of a million dollars into that program. None of those 7 freshman will ever walk across a stage at graduation.

That same $250,000 would buy a shop class, and produce a couple of hundred welders that will be able to actually do something.

Sometimes you have to fold a losing hand, I'll gladly trade those 7 for the hundreds. We'd have far fewer unemployed miscreants "victimizing society" if we cut or losses and wish 'em well as they walk down the street.

[Eracer]

Originally Posted by wirehair

That same $250,000 would buy a shop class, and produce a couple of hundred welders that will be able to actually do something.

Or a whole bunch of nice Scotty's!!! $250K for 7 kids is "juuuuuuust a bit outside."