Educational Demographics reading

Wow, what an incredible read, I firmly believe that all future teachers should be required to read and digest this essay, it is full of raw facts and expanded beliefs about the future of American education. This essay goes beyond just facts about our education system, but applies it to how the teachers are effected currently and how they will be effected in the future in terms of our "salad bowl" American culture. Students should be given the right to enter a school building and not be seen as what they represent but be seen as another student wanting to learn and I feel Harold Hodgkinson ( the author of the article) called out the dark secrets of our wonderful, perfect society and made the reader realize to teach is to embrace what students have to offer and use that as a launching pad to unique and personalized knowledge.

I hope that I never forget this essay and keep it in my heart all the days of my life, with all I meet

The Primer...

What can I say about overwhelming statistics, but some shocked me:

• 17% of public school students attend public "schools of choice" about 2% of public schools students attend charter schools, and 3% attend magnet schools
• more than 60% of education spending, on average, goes toward instruction. About 8% goes toward administration
  

I am startled by the information in the Public Education Primer because it showed the raw facts about our American school system and it appears to be failing the children who deserve a chance.

I wish for a utopia of education where all are given a chance and told they are worth it

Not Autistic or Hyperactive... then what?

I was pointed to a New York Times article called "Not autistic or hyperactive" and I was struck by how many children were diagnosed with ADHD, ADD, or Autism because of their behavior, when a simple eye exam can prove "double vision".

I worked for the past three years in an autistic program as a paraprofessional/teacher's assistant and I saw the positive and negative side effects of early intervention diagnoses when the child was not hitting their development benchmarks. There were the children that started getting therapy at as early as 1 year old, and because of that we saw great progress at the age of 6 because they got a jump on how to learn with their impairment. But then there were some children that were diagnosed with Autism, that clearly had Schizophrenia ( experienced hallucinations, had severe unexplainable temper tantrums, and anxity) but because this child also could be diagnosed with Autism (there are overlaps with Autism and Schizophrenia) the children were placed in our program and their most of needs were not met.

I see the need for early intervention, but I frequently struggle with the urgency of a diagnoses because maybe we are missing something or overlooking it for the sake of ADHD, ADD, or Autism.

your thoughts?

thanks
sarah

American Teaching Force

On planet earth we have educational facilities called schools. The way they are structured are from grades one to six, which are known as elementary school, seven to eighth, which are known as middle school, and nine to twelve known as high school. The content knowledge of the student in known by their grade level. Students are required to know certain subject areas such as Math, Reading, and Science. As shown by the PEP, Math, reading, and Science scores have risen from 1990 to 2005 in elementary and middle school, yet in high school scores have declined from 1990 to 2005. This decline is due to low moral from students, lack of resources and educational funding. By improving this, it will show an improvement on scores in the upcoming years.

Most of our students come from a Caucasian background. There are about 53% whites, 5% Asians, 15% African Americans, 24% Latino, and 6% American Indian. Due to the surrounding areas that we live in we want a positive and successful education for our students. As successful educators we find ways to connect language, music, cultural background and lifestyle of different students to make them feel comfortable not as an outsider. Our main goal is to push our students and motivate them to succeed in what ever they choose to do in life.


Our teachers often begin at or about the age of 22 and having received a bachelor?s degree. Many continue to pursue their own education as well as working to educate their students. 47% of our teachers have achieved a master? degree or doctorate, and 58% of our teachers have been working in the field of education for over ten years. The majority of our high school educators are trained specifically in there are of content, ranging from 79% of Mathematics instructors to 84% of Social Science instructors. Although the Federal ?No Child Left Behind Act? does not require instructors to have a degree in their field of teaching, it does require them to, ?demonstrates subject matter competence.? A constant flow of new ideas about teaching is coming into our education system through an average of 14-21% of full time teachers with less than 3 years experience. These instructors, though lacking in experience,, more than compensate with a passion for teaching and a wealth of new
and exciting ideas!

learning to become an educator

to learn is to move from ignorance-

to teach is to inspire and engage-

as I learn to teach may I continue to move from ignorance, and inspire and engage others to do the same.

I am bit timid for a first time blogger, but I only hope to become more typographically eloquent pertaining to my inner passion for education.