Teacher/Education-related Perceptions(June-Nov. 2006)
Part 2 of 3.
DISCLAIMER: This is a summary of the perceptions of over 300 people that I talked with in our community. Perceptions are: "personally meaningful interpretations of sensations" and they can be relatively accurate, somewhat biased and distorted, or mostly/wholly inaccurate.
ALMOST EVERYONE believes that the MAJORITY OF THE TEACHERS are GOOD, DEDICATED people who care about EDUCATION, and that we have many smart, hard working kids in or schools. HOWEVER, right now, ATHLETICS and TAKS results are viewed as the DISTRICT'S PRIORITIES - IN THAT ORDER. WHY do they hold this perception?
1. HIGH # of PART-TIME teachers, FULL-TIME COACHES at HS is seen as a MAJOR NEGATIVE.
2. HIGH cost of ATHLETICS, but LACK OF FUNDING for EDUCATIONAL programs(e.g., DECREASE in CLASSROOM FUNDS, DROPPING ARTS/MUSIC/etc).
3. SB's ONLY stated EDUCATIONAL GOAL is "EXEMPLARY on TAKS".
4. GRADE BOOK configured so as to NOT give grades UNDER 50.
5. Students given REPEATED attempts TO PASS - NOT made to be RESPONSIBLE FOR WORK. Students who score OVER 70 NOT given same repeated chances to IMPROVE GRADES.
6. REMOVAL of ARTS, MUSIC, etc OUT OF THE DISTRICT - THIS DISTRICT was FOUNDED as an ARTS-FOCUSED educational district.
7. School cut short on days when FOOTBALL GAME is away - BECAUSE so many COACHES leave that there ARE NOT enough teacher TO TEACH, and BECAUSE PRIORITY is ATHLETICS. SAME is NOT DONE for UIL.
8. ATHLETES RECEIVE SPECIAL TREATMENT
a. Grade CHANGES
b. ATHLETES and related folk given SPECIAL PRIVILEGE (e.g., DON'T HAVE TO
FOLLOW DRESS CODE).
c. DRUG TESTING NOT pushed BECAUSE many ATHLETES ARE USERS.
9. DECREASE in number of QUALITY EDUCATION CLASSES - MORE indep study now.
10. AP CLASSES made easier so DISTRICT looks BETTER ON PAPER, but AP teachers NOT GIVEN sufficient training to teach AP courses.
11. Some COACHES who teach ARE NOT GOOD TEACHERS - even when teaching SPORTS (e.g., a TENNIS INSTRUCTOR sat under tree talking on cell phone and NEVER taught students).
12. COACH who "HIT ON STUDENTS" given HAND SLAP.
13. Classes created or allowed to teach NON-REQUIRED COURSES so COACHES have something to TEACH.
DISCLAIMER: This is a summary of the perceptions of over 300 people that I talked with in our community. Perceptions are: "personally meaningful interpretations of sensations" and they can be relatively accurate, somewhat biased and distorted, or mostly/wholly inaccurate.
ALMOST EVERYONE believes that the MAJORITY OF THE TEACHERS are GOOD, DEDICATED people who care about EDUCATION, and that we have many smart, hard working kids in or schools. HOWEVER, right now, ATHLETICS and TAKS results are viewed as the DISTRICT'S PRIORITIES - IN THAT ORDER. WHY do they hold this perception?
1. HIGH # of PART-TIME teachers, FULL-TIME COACHES at HS is seen as a MAJOR NEGATIVE.
2. HIGH cost of ATHLETICS, but LACK OF FUNDING for EDUCATIONAL programs(e.g., DECREASE in CLASSROOM FUNDS, DROPPING ARTS/MUSIC/etc).
3. SB's ONLY stated EDUCATIONAL GOAL is "EXEMPLARY on TAKS".
4. GRADE BOOK configured so as to NOT give grades UNDER 50.
5. Students given REPEATED attempts TO PASS - NOT made to be RESPONSIBLE FOR WORK. Students who score OVER 70 NOT given same repeated chances to IMPROVE GRADES.
6. REMOVAL of ARTS, MUSIC, etc OUT OF THE DISTRICT - THIS DISTRICT was FOUNDED as an ARTS-FOCUSED educational district.
7. School cut short on days when FOOTBALL GAME is away - BECAUSE so many COACHES leave that there ARE NOT enough teacher TO TEACH, and BECAUSE PRIORITY is ATHLETICS. SAME is NOT DONE for UIL.
8. ATHLETES RECEIVE SPECIAL TREATMENT
a. Grade CHANGES
b. ATHLETES and related folk given SPECIAL PRIVILEGE (e.g., DON'T HAVE TO
FOLLOW DRESS CODE).
c. DRUG TESTING NOT pushed BECAUSE many ATHLETES ARE USERS.
9. DECREASE in number of QUALITY EDUCATION CLASSES - MORE indep study now.
10. AP CLASSES made easier so DISTRICT looks BETTER ON PAPER, but AP teachers NOT GIVEN sufficient training to teach AP courses.
11. Some COACHES who teach ARE NOT GOOD TEACHERS - even when teaching SPORTS (e.g., a TENNIS INSTRUCTOR sat under tree talking on cell phone and NEVER taught students).
12. COACH who "HIT ON STUDENTS" given HAND SLAP.
13. Classes created or allowed to teach NON-REQUIRED COURSES so COACHES have something to TEACH.
posted by cw at 6:33 PM
2 Comments:
Comment #2
High dollar amount allotted to coaches for "travel" to other games where little or no dollar amount allotted to academic teachers or directors of other programs to receive professional development training.
Comment #3
If the students at the High School were taught at a higher academic level, the TAKS tests would not be an issue as the students would be smart enough to take the tests without special TAKS classes.
Comment #6
Why did the orgainization of Arts From the Heart come to being? To offer the arts to the students of the Wimberley area since they don't get them in school, especially in the lower levels. Even though there are teachers on record for some of the arts in the district, the statements are still made that there are no arts. Perhaps "no high level art being taught" is more the statement. (exclude Theatre and Band from these statements. The Wyatts are a formidable team and Bing has had his set of problems with the current administration but maintains a high level)
Interesting to know.
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