BLUEBOARD WATCH 2007v2

[arianna]

Gun laws vary from state to state, though. Someone noted that the shooter at Virginia Tech wouldn't have been able to buy a gun here, but had been able to purchase one there....I think pawn shops are a big problem, though. I don't know if they're required to or even have the means to do back-ground checks like gun stores do, but some probably sell illegally anyway. From what I've heard, most of the guns involved in school shootings were acquired illegally...except the ones owned legally by the parents. In those cases, it was the parent's responsibility to keep the guns locked up and teach their kids about gun safety.

But again, they have to be smart on gun laws, too. Some people want to make it illegal to even own a gun. Which is unnecessary when more people use responsibly than not. Better background checks and required gun-safety classes should be a must before someone can even get a gun. As it is, you can buy a gun after they do a background check, but you can't carry it without a gun permit. Kinda defeats the purpose of buying one in the first place if you don't have a permit, doesn't it?


And I'm not sure what the No Child thing is, either. Supposed to help kids do better in school, but it's not working apparently. Drew would be better at explaining as I'm sure he hates the program

[Drew Thornton]

The thing is these crazy shooters are either finding loopholes or circumnavigating the law to get a gun. It already is a big deal to get a gun but making it tougher won't stop these guys.

Not a big fan of Pink's latest, but I do have to agree with her on No Child Left Behind. The concept sounds all warm and fuzzy: let's make sure every kid gets the same education no matter what. The big push is to have everyone reading by 8 and able to do Algebra before they finish High School. The way they do this is by telling teachers exactly what to teach and how to teach it and when to teach it (they're called pacing plans and scripted lessons-- as if making us go through an extra year of college and many extra hours of training every year wasn't enough) and then by testing everyone every month or so to make sure it's happening.

I read an article in Newsweek last week that made a parallel to saying that every child will be successful at playing sports or will be fluent in music. The problem is that everyone is different and someone will ALWAYS be left behind. Imagine that you and the rest of your classmates had to wait for the slowest kid in class to catch up to you. That kid may have special needs (which is a whole different issue of Full Inclusion which has its good points and bad points) but the brighter kids have needs too.

And yes, as Lily said, things tend to get dumbed down. In California, or standards are pretty rigorous, but the curriculum in the Los Angeles School District is geared for the just below average student. It covers the standards but in such a fashion that no one gets it. The concepts are too hard for the below average kids and the curriculum is too boring for the above average.

I could rant on this for hours. I'm a strong Republican but I really can't believe my party came up with this one.

[hermione7lunaroc]

There's some sort of rating system for schools and teachers too. I once heard this speech in forensics that someone used in my category that compared schools to dentists, as in if the dentists got rated on how good their patients teeth would be. He pointed out the problem that he only gets to see his patients every so often and if they came from poor families where they didn't get the best dental care, of course, they were going to have more cavities and stuff like that. It's really a ridiculous thing.

Here's the dentist story if you want to see it. Article I didn't know this before, but according to the history, it was made because of something that was going on in South Carolina before the No Child Left Behind but now has a new life because of it, because it applies to this too.

[Drew Thornton]

I've seen similar things like that, but yeah, that's pretty much what they do. We have no control of who comes in or leaves our classroom, what goes on at home, what medical issues there might be. I've had kids comeinto my classroom a week before testing and then their score is supposed to determine if I'm doing my job or not? I don't think so.

And then, the people that come up with these bright ideas (including the Los Angeles Superintendent of school) have never actually taught in a classroom. Most have never stepped foot in a classroom since they were in school or if they have, it was to meet with their kids' teacher for an hour. They have no idea what goes on daily.

Like I said... I could go HOURS on this

[arianna]

Look at my brother...he was supposed to graduate this last year. That didn't happen. Why? Because the school determined that he DIDN'T have a learning disability. My mom had him retested and guess what? He was supposed to be in resource throughout high school, but didn't get it because the people giving the test the first time determined that he was just lazy and didn't care. He got "left behind" because no one would give him that extra help he needed and now has to go to a special school to get his GED.

They really need to figure out something better. Give the below average kids the help they need and the above average kids something challenging. Yes, it most likely requires more resources, but wouldn't that be better than risking their futures?

[hermione7lunaroc]

Hear! Hear! I think overall, the education system just needs one entire gigantic overhaul.

[Drew Thornton]

everyone talks about funding schools but the problem is that there's a trickly down and most of the money gets stuck at the top. The classroom sees very little of it. Teachers don't get paid nearly enough for the work they do and to top it off, spend on average $2000 a year of their own money on their class (I've already spent $400 for the coming school year and we don't even start until after Labor Day). I have broken tables and chairs and computers in my classroom that are older than my students (yeah, like Windows 95 is worth anything now). The schools in the poorer neighborhoods tend to get more of the things they need and faster because apparently there are no stupid rich kids... or even stupid middle class kids. Only poor kids need science equipment. They buy us new text books every few years which sounds really nice, but when you look at the other things that they don't have money for, you can't help but wonder "How much has math really changed in the last five years?"

Meanwhile the district offices have upgraded everything from their computers to the comfy swivel chairs they sit in. There solution to declining test scores are more tests (if we're always testing, when do we teach?) and more administrators (who of course need updated computers and comfy swivel chairs, right?)

you got me started... I warned you...

[hermione7lunaroc]

I didn't say anything about funding them, I just said changing them. I know funding is one of the problems, but part of that changing them is changing where the money actually goes to.

It's all messed up. It needs help. *sticks band aid on the school system* *band aid falls off* Darn. That was supposed to work.

[Drew Thornton]

but it's funding... proper funding that will do it. You make a teacher's salary more competitive with other well trained professionals and you will get quality teachers. You get the money into the schools to fix the facilitites, update the technology, and the students will be more successful. You wouldn't expect Tiger Woods to win the Masters if all he was doing was practicing on a Putt-putt course. You wouldn't expect John Williams to compose symphonies on an out of tune piano. No, you give them quality equipment and surround them with people who challenge and support and guide them. It's the same with any sort of learning.

[arianna]

My favorite (snort) is when they take a qualified teacher in one subject and make them teach another subject they aren't qualified in. That's how our school district tried to 'fix' things. Teachers were told they didn't have enough hours or whatever and had to teach something else. Of course a drama teacher isn't going to take eight different drama classes* through the week because their classes might have a total of ten kids each if they're lucky. So they had to teach something else. Unfortunately, this meant me getting an English teach who didn't teach at all and failed me my first term. I switched teachers the next and got straight A's...wow. I wonder how that happened There's also the US History class I got stuck in because I had other classes keeping me from taking it from the History major. US History isn't one of my favorite subjects and it was made even more difficult for me because all we ever did was read from the book and answer the questions at the end of each chapter. I didn't do well in that one, either....

Funnily enough...both of those teachers were supposed to teach drama, not the subjects I had them for....

*we had A/B days...four classes one day, another four the next.

[Tristan Howard]

krissy said:

Tristan its 'This is Spartar!' ... Least I think Thats how he sounds like he says it anyway

It is. But I like Spartan[/u].

[Krissy Fleming]

keagan said:

But we have the right to bear arms, Krissy. They can't make it much harder. ((EDIT: I guess, technically, they can, but people wouldn't be happy with bending the Constitution)) And I'm glad of that.

Right to bear arms. Pssshhtt. I'd never argue for the right to bear arms. Ever. I'd argue against it. If I had my way I'd destory every gun in the world. Or perhaps not all to that extent. But pretty darned close. I don't see why anyone would want the right to bear something that kills people so often. And to allow EVERYONE to have this right. Seems like a good way to encourage more killing to me.

The no child left behind thingy sounds pretty stupid too. However not knowing much I wont say much

But that being said. Thats ALL thats being said by me on these. I have VERY large doubts about the American law system right now, plus I don't know very much at all. However with what I'm hearing about the guy who's in trouble for organising illegal dog fights between pitt bulls and other such dogs and having killed them via other means if they didn't become violent enough, and having 7 dead dogs found on his premesis and them saying he's only gonna get like 6 years, My faith in the American lawing system is VERY low. But like I said - I don't know much. If you want to talk to me about any of it further. PM me. I wont say no more in here. Like Drew - I could go on forever

For now though...

Tristan Spartar sounds SO much better. 'This is spartan' sounds silly Especially if you yell it accross a crowded shopping centre Hehe.

[Drew Thornton]

Just as I'm reading that, the news on the radio has a story about how the guy is so sorry and he's "turned his life over to Jesus" now. That sounds all sweet and all, but the guys on the radio said they'd rather see him turn his life over to a ring of pit bulls

Unfortunately Krissy, the cases that make world news are the big stars and yes, they tend to get lighter sentences. It's not a fault in the legal system as a whole so much as these are the people who can afford high powered lawyers who know how to work the publicity and get better deals. No, it's not very fair but I do know that public outcry seems to be fixing it some.

[Krissy Fleming]

Heh.. yeah legal systems suck. And its not just the American legal system I dislike on the matter of animal cruelty. Then again, there would be very few people in the world who would agree with my opinion. Because I would say every life is as valuable as another. Animal or not. Because the problem with inteligence is because with it comes a feeling of importance. We think because we know have made so much we are better then the other species. I say all are the same and that the same laws should apply for killing of animals as does for killing humans. But like i said I could fully go on for hours.

Lol I swear one day I'm gonna be one of those crazed protestors being shot with a high powered water cannon over animal rights.. Lol...

N ergh.. turning his life over tp jesus sounds like he's seen the religious show thats currently playing on my tv right now too many times... If I could be bothered reaching for my remote I would change the channel

Dang late night tv

[Drew Thornton]

Yeah, most peole think it's just something the guy is saying to get some sympathy. It's like Lindsay Lohan saying she's seen the errors of her ways and is checking into rehab. yeah... right