A brief rant.... I feel better now

Jefferson county schools are saying goodbye to superintendent Dr. Stephen Daeschner. Here's a part from this article:

Dr. Daeschner did take a few serious moments. He says his he is most proud of implementing all-day kindergarten, focusing on early childhood education and the $25 million GE grant the district got to come up with new innovative ways to teach math and science.


The one project he cares deeply about is the same on that will be left unfinished: Everyone Reads. It’s designed to have all JCPS kids at reading level by next year. They've had huge community support but it doesn't look like they'll reach their goal.

I'm not really sure about the Everyone Reads project. My son attends Jefferson county public schools. I spoke, about one week ago, with his science teacher. Our conversation was focused on my child's inability to read. I was told, in no uncertain terms, that my child does not have to be at the correct level. They know he is not at level and will continue to pass him along to the next grade level. Of course, this is if he continues to faithfully fill in the circles and sit in his seat in a well behaved manner. (Teacher says, "He gets good grades and is well behaved.")

So, they know children are not anywhere near the level of their current classes but continue to advance the level of the classes? Anyone else see a problem with this?

Of course there is the primary reason this is wrong. I think we can all agree this does nothing for the child's education.

So, let's move on here.... what else is wrong? Well, it's a terrible waste of money. There is an astounding average of over $8,000 spent educating each student each year. So, why are we paying this much for a class we KNOW is too advanced for the child?

The almighty testing is effected by this. That alone seems like a reason public school wouldn't allow this. Hmmmmm... there must be a loop hole. I bet the mandatory state test scores compiled for each school do not include the scores from students like my son. Whatcha' want to bet it's got something to do with a label being applied to the student?

And what is the goal for students who are wrongly and continually passed along to higher and higher grade levels? What, you may ask, will become of these children when they reach the end of their senior year? They will receive a handy dandy certificate of attendance.

Let's think about this folks;a certificate of attendance? Have you EVER in your life seen a job application which listed this certificate as an educational level? I sure haven't. It's not an indicator of learning at all. A diploma should signify the student has grasped (to some degree) the majority of their lessons which shows learning. But a certificate of attendance? What does this prove? Well, it proves the kid was in school but not learning. After all, if they were learning they would have earned a diploma.
So, what and who's need does this indicator of attendance fulfil? It's not helping the student, not even Burger King has "certificate of attendance" on their employment application. This paper only helps the public school certify they were legally requiring this student attend and as such fulfilling the state compulsory attendance laws.