Education News Palm Beach Teacher Interviews

The Learning Game

In case you have not noticed, our kids are failing at school. Not failing to graduate, failing to learn basic skills But make no mistake, they are lagging behind the world and our complacency is undermining meaningful school reform. Raising their level of achievement is hard work. Unless children can find a way to actually learn more math, science, literature, and history without breaking a sweat, then the prospects for reforms that ask children and parents for more –– more time, more homework, more effort –– are not very good. We are just fooling ourselves

My lawyer says I can sue the school because they're violating my right to be stupid

WHAT PALM BEACH COUNTY TEACHERS SAY
All the teachers requested anonymity. They participated on the condition they remain anonymous
The Interviews were taken by Dominick Borgia Jr.

Dominick Borgia Jr.

High School Teacher
Boca Raton

PBT: How long have you been a teacher? 26 years
PBT: What is the biggest problem in our schools today? Legislators pass laws without thinking about the repercussions. The FCAT is a great example: Why would anyone in their right minds grade student performances by looking at attendance, suspensions, graduation rates etc.,? Come on! The scores the students receive on the FCAT itself should be the sole statistic used to grade schools.
PBT: Do parents hold their children to a high standard? I hope so, but sometimes I think parents’ standards can be too high and unrealistic. Saying “I want B’s or better” to a kid who’s struggling in, say, Math, could put additional stress and pressure on the kid and lead to frustration. Parents, for the most part, care about their kids and want what's best for them.
PBT: Do teachers hold students to a high standard?
All the teachers I know do – partly because that’s just their professional nature, partly because we’re being held accountable for student achievement. That second part is okay, except for the problem with your question #1
PBT: If you could change anything about our schools what would it be? Id go back to when we had much smaller classes. Putting 50 in a social studies class, or doubling up in a math class to make 70 students and 2 teachers is crazy. It’s especially bad when a teacher has 4 or 5 disruptive kids in a class of 40 - 45. Where do you move the troublemakers?

High School Teacher
Boca Raton

PBT: How long have you been a teacher?
Seven Years
PBT: What is the biggest problem in our schools today?
OVERCROWDING – Lack of funds and technology –– lack of qualified teachers –– a system to hire and reward teachers.
PBT: Do parents hold their children to a high standard?
Some do, but many make excuses for their children and do not value their education as much as their grades!
PBT: Do teachers hold students to a high standard?
Yes, but students are less willing to reach those standards and failure rates cannot be too high. The pressure to make kids pass.
PBT: If you could change anything about our schools what would it be?
A maximum class size of 25, a different system for teacher promotion and evaluation that is more fair and “real world.” Less class periods so there would more time with the kids

“Many make excuses
for their children
and do not value
their education
as much as
their grades”!

High School Teacher
P.B. Gardens

PBT: How long have you been a teacher?
I have been teaching for a total of 17 years with 12 of them in Palm Beach County.

PBT: What is the biggest problem in our schools today?
The class sizes being too large and the students failing to take school seriously are two major problems today.

PBT: Do parents hold their children to a high standard?
I think parents do hold high standards for their children, but everyone is so busy that they do not check their child's progress as well as parents did in the past.

PBT: Do teachers hold students to a high standard?
I think teachers hold high standards for their students as they always have.

PBT: If you could change anything about our schools what would it be?
Lowering class sizes would be a great improvement toward increasing student improvement and self esteem. I think students feel lost in the crowd and not as worthwhile nor cared for.

High School Principal
Boca Raton

PBT: What is the biggest problem in our schools today? Overcrowding – schools are just too large. Example 2,700, 3,800, 3,000
PBT: Do parents hold their children to a high standard? Some do – some don’t.
I believe parents try to do as much as they can for their children but sometimes they just don’t have the involvement and resources needed to stay in touch and keep up.
PBT: Do teachers hold students to a high standard?
I don’t think teachers have a choice anymore.
Our grade scale is already higher than most states and with FCAT, the requirements are well documented.
PBT: If you could change anything about our schools what would it be? Limit the class size.

High School Teacher
Boca Raton

PBT: What is the biggest problem in our schools today? Respect for instruction, themselves and classmates. Not caring enough to listen, which causes poor learning atmosphere for student who do want to.
PBT: Do parents hold their children to a high standard? Some do, some don’t. But I would hope so.
PBT: Do teachers hold students to a high standard?
Until proven not - and we still try.
PBT: If you could change anything about our schools what would it be?

Go back to when students would fear and respect educators so learning and teaching can go on. Their language is horrible

High School Teacher
Boca Raton

PBT: What is the biggest problem in our schools today?
Students motivation, no homework.
PBT: Do parents hold their children to a high standard?
It has declined because both of the parents work full-time.
PBT: Do teachers hold students to a high standard?
We try, but parents and students complain.
PBT: If you could change anything about our schools what would it be?

Students who refuse to work, remove them to a trade school.

	The light side

	THE TOP TEN
	...signs you’re going to a bad school

10.	You've already been in four fights since the school year began . . . and you're the principal.
9.	Forget about the desks . . . the TEACHERS are bolted to the floor.
8.	Most popular Vocational-Tech course: Computer hacking.
7.	Special Award given out at Graduation to: Teachers who managed to get through the school year without ever taking the state competency test
6.	Student awards include, Best Excuses, Best tan and Best Video Game Player.
5.	On an average day, there are more cop cars outside the school than in the Dunkin' Donuts parking lot.
4.	Students get the day off for Eminem’s birthday.
3.	Students in class spend a whole week learning the benefits of social promotion.
2.	The School Cafeteria sells diplomas with the meatloaf.

	...and The Top Sign You're Going to a below average school. . .

1.	The smartest kid in school can’t read this list.