| Author |
 Topic  |
|
Lynda
Advanced Member
1282 Posts |
|
|
massdee
Moderator
5299 Posts |
Posted - 11/07/2007 : 1:58:37 PM
|
| Lynda, if I read those results correctly, it appears our students didn't fear too good. |
Edited by - massdee on 11/07/2007 8:31:05 PM |
 |
|
|
Court4Fred
Advanced Member
1201 Posts |
Posted - 11/07/2007 : 3:01:33 PM
|
| Yeah - put the "needs improvment" numbers together with the "failing." It's not pretty. Let's see if any of these newspapers pick up on it. |
|
|
|
Lynda
Advanced Member
1282 Posts |
Posted - 11/07/2007 : 6:55:04 PM
|
No Massdee you are right, those are the scores.
Do you know that when our children are given something to do, first the directions are given to them in English, than Spanish, than Portuguese, than Cree, than whatever else is in their classrooms, and then they are told to start. Well, by this time our children forget what it is they are suppose to do. I have witnessed this in my child's third grade class. It is ludicrous! These children should be taught the language of our country before being sat in class. It should be required that they learn English (in our schools) before entering mid stream. It is delaying our children's progress. I do not mean to sound like a prude but, enough is enough. Just look at the grades. |
|
|
|
ChuckMtWashington
Member
2 Posts |
 Posted - 11/07/2007 : 8:17:08 PM
|
This is my first post. I have read the blog but never posted before.
I am a teacher here in Everett and there are so many inaccuracies in this forum. Sometimes, I can't believe the things that are posted about our schools. When I truly believe, the only thing going for this city are our schools.
First of all, I would like to start off by saying: yes, our MCAS scores are not great. However, there are so many reasons for this. The tests are not truly designed to show exactly what our students are learning and how they are progressing. We cannot compare our scores to the likes of Newton, Marblehead, etc. Our sizeable city has a large population, which is experiencing an extremely high poverty rate, estimating 30% of our students. Often, the odds are stacked against them before they even walk into the classroom. This city has changed, and there is nothing wrong with it. You must keep these factors in mind when we look at these scores.
What I am truly upset with is Lynda's comment about what is being spoken in the classroom. You are nothing but wrong in your statements. The only language spoke in the mainstream classroom by teachers to students is ENGLISH. While there are ELL (English language learner) students in mainstream classes, they are there for the experience of full immersion language acquisition. Teachers do not modify their lessons by speaking in another language to these students. We have teachers designated for this position to relate more one on one with these students.
We send notices home in English, but do offer them in a variety of languages including Spanish, Portuguese, and Creole. This is so we can maintain a positive, open dialogue with our parents who are not fortunate enough to have had the opportunity to learn English, one they are hoping their children is getting. You simply sound ignorant when you rant on about learning English before entering mainstream classroms. If you want anything successful to come out of this city in the future, these are the students that need to be taken into account. Our city has, is, and will continue to change. It's the nature of the beast. I can only hope that we are willing to adapt and move along in a positive manner. |
|
|
|
massdee
Moderator
5299 Posts |
Posted - 11/07/2007 : 8:33:43 PM
|
| Welcome, Chuck. Your post is most enlightening. |
|
|
|
tetris
Moderator
2040 Posts |
Posted - 11/07/2007 : 9:04:01 PM
|
Chuck,
Those of us that watch the school committee meetings on a regular basis have some sense of the challenges that our schools face with MCAS scores. The problem may be that we may tend not to believe everything that we hear on those meetings because of other issues that we may have the school department administration and school committee members. I would encourage you to post whenever you have something to add to the discussion as long as you feel that it will not do anything to jeopardize your position.
Welcome aboard! |
|
|
|
Lynda
Advanced Member
1282 Posts |
Posted - 11/07/2007 : 9:42:49 PM
|
Well Chuck when I was in my sons classroom for observation, the instructions for the work they were to complete was spoken in English first, than another Teacher, maybe a aid, came forward spoke in another language and so on till the whole class was covered.
Also I remember last year the teacher had a hard time the beginning of the year because some of the children did not know how to tell the teacher that they had to go to the bathroom and in turn were having accidents in the class. This is true, not hear say on my part, I witnessed it all. |
|
|
|
EverettsPride
Advanced Member
1140 Posts |
Posted - 11/07/2007 : 10:30:18 PM
|
Mr. Kebreau, a teacher from Everett High died today.
Sally |
|
|
|
EverettsPride
Advanced Member
1140 Posts |
Posted - 11/07/2007 : 10:32:30 PM
|
My son has learning disabilities and is expected to pass MCAS to graduate. He is so discouraged because he has struggled for years and now this may stop him from graduation. He failed the math portion by just a few points. I feel bad for him because he has given up. He wants to quit school. Of course that is not goign to happen. But how can you base 14 years of education on one damn test? It makes me so mad.
Sally |
|
|
|
massdee
Moderator
5299 Posts |
Posted - 11/07/2007 : 10:38:29 PM
|
| I remember back when they started the MCAS, the made it so stressful on those kids. The day my youngest took it for the first time, she was so stressed out the she hyperventilated and end up passing out. I understand they need a tool to gauge the learning of the students, but there has to be a better way, and they really need to factor in the students with disabilities. It is just not fair the way it is done. |
|
|
|
EverettsPride
Advanced Member
1140 Posts |
Posted - 11/07/2007 : 10:42:20 PM
|
I agree. I got a phone call today because my son is acting out in class. He is on the verge of flipping out and there is no need for it. The special ed teachers have been wonderful over the years, but there is only so much they can do. I wish I had sent him to Pope John where he would not need to take MCAS, but they do not have special ed either.
Sally |
|
|
|
Lynda
Advanced Member
1282 Posts |
Posted - 11/07/2007 : 11:03:33 PM
|
| Sally, you my dear are stuck between a rock and a hard plate. Fortunately we past that stupid test and are all set to graduate around here. Thank God. But I will tell you I feel for you and yours. |
|
|
|
EverettsPride
Advanced Member
1140 Posts |
Posted - 11/07/2007 : 11:20:37 PM
|
Thanks Lynda, I do not know what to do. He is not motivated at all since he is convinced he will not graduate anyway.
Sally |
|
|
|
Court4Fred
Advanced Member
1201 Posts |
Posted - 11/08/2007 : 06:24:16 AM
|
Chuck - you've made some very interesting comments and they are appreciated. The one thing I do want to point out is that Revere and Malden seem to be making adequate progress (particularly Revere) while Everett is struggling. These are both communities with significant poverty and immigrant populations.
I would also not count out Lynda's observations. It's been my experience that the "official" version of what takes place in the classroom is quite different than what one experiences in the classroom. If Lynda is telling us that this is happening, then perhaps you need to check further. You can't possibly know what is happening in all sections of the building.
Sally, I am terribly sorry to hear about your son's struggle. There should be MCAS prep available to him...it's been budgeted in the past. Inquire with Joe G., and seek an advocate. The only people with LD children who seem to get what they need are either politically connected or have an education advocate who won't play games with these people. |
|
|
|
Gabby
Member
26 Posts |
Posted - 11/08/2007 : 09:06:25 AM
|
| Here we are still talking about the MCAS, but nothing can be done about it. My child has learning issues also, but feel very fortunate because he happens to love math, and that's three quarters of the battle. Some other subjects are more of a struggle... and it's very hard to motivate when they feel they can't do it. And what sense does it make when Everett High has to pass the MCAS, yet Pope John doesn't? Do they have any testing at all? |
|
|
|
Topic |
|
2007 MCAS Results
