High rate of Tenn. Lottery scholarships are lost by bad grades

Comment #25

tntea — Sun, 28 Jan 2007 17:32:43 GMT

Here is another example of what we have to deal with when it comes to parents.

Before Thanksgiving, each 6th grader had to pick a project for the Feb. Science Fair.

After making choice, they had to take home the plans to be discussed with parents and get approval for the project.

The students were then able to begin working on research before Christmas, and then doing procedures after Christmas and start the report writing.

We have one student who hasn't done anything .. Why? Becaus... [ More ]

Comment #24

cps10 — Thu, 25 Jan 2007 18:36:07 GMT

We get the same nonsense here...it just makes no sense that parents just don't give a crap.

Comment #23

tntea — Thu, 25 Jan 2007 04:22:02 GMT

You are getting a first hand taste with the observation classes..

Just when you think you have seen it all.. you will turn a page to a new chapter..

I have had parents come up and drag the student out of class to ask what they wanted for supper that night..

I put a complete stop to parents coming to my room for such nonsense.. One parent came to school to show her son her new haircut..

Now.. couldn't that wait until he got home..

Comment #22

tntea — Thu, 25 Jan 2007 04:14:52 GMT

I agree with you Cps..

I have students whose parents live off their disability check.

They have asked teachers to score their evaluation low so the check will not be cut..That checks keeps the parents from working.

I have parents who are afraid if their child learns to read, the check will be cut..

Comment #21

tntea — Thu, 25 Jan 2007 04:06:33 GMT

The parents are the ones that need educating...

Comment #20

tntea — Thu, 25 Jan 2007 04:05:01 GMT

Amen..

Walking your shoes ....

I have students who will tell you they don't plan on working after school, even if they have to live in a cardboard box..The parents think it is funny. I suggest that I teach them how to dumpster dive for food and how to fight off rats that want the same crumbs.

And they want these kids to pass the state test.. so no kid will be left behind.

On that note, I have had parents tell me in meetings that their children could fail under this No kid le... [ More ]

Comment #19

bambini — Wed, 24 Jan 2007 01:38:30 GMT

It is an emotional topic to say the least. I love LP members, you get such a wide variety of opinions and insights

Comment #18

cps10 — Tue, 23 Jan 2007 21:03:04 GMT

These cases are showing that the parents should be a little more responsible and to teach kids strong work ethics...this disgusts me. I hope that the students you get are better than that!

Good luck on the rest of your schooling! And I agree...it's students like you that deserve these scholarships.

Comment #17

IMGONNAWIN — Tue, 23 Jan 2007 20:44:58 GMT

First I have to say I am going to university in about six months to become a teacher ( I am one year from graduating (I am in an accellerated teacher education program). Now I should tell you what my observations of classrooms has been like. I observed a 5th grade math class (not inclusive), there was one particular child who had been to class only 2 days of every week. Now how is the teacher to handle this? She notified the authorities and in turn got chewed on by the parents, and the administr... [ More ]

Comment #16

SirMetro — Tue, 23 Jan 2007 16:08:19 GMT

First...LittleOldLady, keep trying. Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but eventually, there will always be that one student who walks up to you and tells you thank you for all of your efforts. You and all of those who work along beside you to help shape our future are appreciated.And you know something Nancy, on this rare occasion I agree with you 100%. Heaven only knows how many times my Mom told me how horrific my generation was compared to hers. And after how many times she told me I would... [ More ]

Comment #15

cps10 — Tue, 23 Jan 2007 15:48:45 GMT

Good points, justxploring...I didn't think of things that way

Comment #14

cps10 — Tue, 23 Jan 2007 15:46:15 GMT

Funny you mention this, bambini. My son - who is 6 - ALWAYS tells everyone when he is asked What do you want to be when you grow up? - I want to be a scientist. You can never imagine how good that makes me feel. He loves going to school and loves learning. This kid will sit around and prefer to watch Food Network (I know, a little odd I admit) than cartoons, or music videos. He is a well-rounded kid with tons of interest, which isn't something you see these days. Just like you said - give me... [ More ]

Comment #13

cps10 — Tue, 23 Jan 2007 15:39:43 GMT

$22k a year? Geezus...the private school where I attended is only $17k a year nowadays...back when I was there it was around $7 or $8k. So the public schools here in my town are getting MORE money than private school students pay and the education is far worse? That stinks.

But I do think that parents need to better discipline their children, teach them respect and to work hard. A lot of parents in this area couldn't give a hill of beans what their kid is doing, so long as they are out o... [ More ]

Comment #12

justxploring — Tue, 23 Jan 2007 05:11:33 GMT

the key problems with youth today

I can't comment about Tennessee, and this article is a wakeup call for their educational system, but I have been hearing about kids nowadays for about 50 years (and I'm 55.)

I know just as many parents who have children who are well balanced and get good grades as I do those who have troubled children. It's the same 'ol, same 'ol...people always talk about the youth of today as if they are worse than the earlier generation. My parents would talk abo... [ More ]

Comment #11

bambini — Mon, 22 Jan 2007 00:43:16 GMT

One of the key problems with youth today, is that our society puts actors, singers and sports figures on a higher pedestal than scientists, and academics. Their are more TV biographies on Britney Spears, than on Albert Einstein. I have a 16 year old niece and I have told her numerous times, she should at least learn how to type, file, learn AP systems. She has no interest in any of it. She is going to be an actress. Thats it, she has no back up plan.

Comment #10

Littleoldlady — Mon, 22 Jan 2007 00:13:47 GMT

I think also that NCLB has done a share of right but it has also some components that make it very skewed. The graduation rate for a school HAS to improve every year. How can it improve when you have students who will not do ANY classwork..NO homework...will NOT read ..period. Every day, I preach to my students about life. If you have a job, YOU MUST PERFORM..if you can't, no one is going to keep you there. I really don't think they believe me because they don't change. Many parents have t... [ More ]

Comment #9

bambini — Sun, 21 Jan 2007 23:57:14 GMT

So what you are saying that 22 grand a year per child (Dept. of Education statistic) is not enough money. The majority of american parents don't give a rats ass about their childrens future, and only care about their kids making a fashion statment. If that is the case, the U.S. can kiss its future goodbye. On a personal note my 3 year old, has recently taken his preschool test. He knew his numbers, the alphabet, geometric shapes and colors. The test administrator said he is at third g... [ More ]

Comment #8

CARBOB — Sun, 21 Jan 2007 23:47:41 GMT

Amen, Sir Metro! Everyone wants to blame the system, instead of the parents taking the responsibilty for their children's education. Lot of the kids come home from school and the parents never discuss anything about what happen in school today or never, ever go to PTA meetings, don't ever pay any attention to the childs report card and God forbid, discussing the childs grades with the teachers. I realise the times have changed since I was in school. But lord, help my ass if I brought home a b... [ More ]

Comment #7

SirMetro — Sun, 21 Jan 2007 22:23:08 GMT

Perhaps I am just not reading the following statement as it was intended;

IT is not the students fault or the parents fault, kids are failing, its the educational system, period!

Could someone kindly clarify to me how a Teacher is expected to TEACH an unresponsive child that has Parents who fail to take the time and interest in educating their child? Or how is it a Teacher is expected to TEACH a child who actually believes the entire reason of attending school is to make a fashion state... [ More ]

Comment #6

cps10 — Sun, 21 Jan 2007 02:50:43 GMT

You are exactly right bambini. Our public schools here in Charlotte are sh*t. Lack of respect, which IS the parents' responsibility, contributes to the teachers not caring, so therefore the education system suffers. Here it is bad all around...

Comment #5

bambini — Sun, 21 Jan 2007 01:22:32 GMT

I think we are missing the point here. Private school education is the best money can by. However if millions of dollars are being funneled into the public education section via the lottery and property taxes. All children should be getting the best education our tax and lottery dollars can provide. Countries with less money for education, have better educated students. Our performance standards for students is way to low. IT is not the students fault or the parents fault, kids a... [ More ]

Comment #4

cps10 — Sat, 20 Jan 2007 14:52:46 GMT

A lot of kids are not equipped. I went to the University of North Carolina for college. I was very lucky. It's hard to get into, but somehow I got in. Probably because I went to a private school where I started taking many AP classes. I also was recruited to play baseball, so that certainly didn't hurt. There is no way on earth that I would have gotten in based on today's admissions standards, athlete, AP or not. Anyway, the strange thing was that my first three semesters were a re-hash of my ju... [ More ]

Comment #3

Littleoldlady — Sat, 20 Jan 2007 14:31:36 GMT

Reading, writing a legible sentence, reading comprehension, work ethic (turning in all work due completed and on time)!, and poor study habits are just a few of the things I recognize now. High stakes testing is also to blame for some of this..a student can make A's and B's in high school but when they get to college, the workload is more demanding and many students just fall by the wayside because they are not equipped to deal with the type of pressure that college generates. Sometimes I thin... [ More ]

Comment #2

cps10 — Sat, 20 Jan 2007 01:28:58 GMT

This I would have to agree with. And NO - don't lower standards...eventually they will find something deserving of the scholarship AND be willing to work for it and make it worth the state's while.

Comment #1

bambini — Fri, 19 Jan 2007 21:54:08 GMT

Maybe Tenn. should spend some of the lottery money, on actually educating its students.

High rate of Tenn. Lottery scholarships are lost by bad grades

Lottery Post — Fri, 19 Jan 2007 20:12:01 GMT

There is a high probability that Tennessee college students with lottery funded scholarships will lose them.

A state report found 64% of students who got the scholarships two years ago failed to qualify to keep them.

In translation, roughly almost two out of every three students' did not make the grade.

Of the money raised by the Tennessee Lottery, 30% goes to college scholarships. Figures, just now coming in for students who received the first bunch of scholarships in 2004, are not... [ More ]