This story can evoke many responses; shock, anger, sadness and disbelief among them. I cannot disagree with the mother's contention that the school failed in many ways but I strongly disagree that the school is 100% responsible and she and her son are blameless. The stats mentioned are staggering. A budget of over $5 million per year for 400+ students. Graduation rate of less than 50%. Out of over 400 students, only 2 are proficient in math and English. Stratospheric truancy/tardy rates.

The fact that this school remains open is a national embarrassment.

$12,500 per student compares favorably with many public high schools in the most affluent areas.

Philly spends $6500+ per student, a local money-bags township spends $17,000.

Teacher pensions, health insurance, tuition reimbursement and other employee benefits add up to a sizable portion of school spending. https://www.governing.com/arch...-funding-states.html

Yep, I can guess where Baltimorre's $100M is going.

^^^More evidence that the amount of money spent per student on education has Absolutely NOTHING to do with any actual learning by the students! But I'm sure you already knew that...

So the son passed something like 3 classes in 4 years and was not in class around half of the time and somehow the mother knew nothing about it? When the report cards came home and she saw he failed everything, she didn't notice?

I don't think so.

Incidentally, I spent my Junior and Senior High School years in a school that was around 2/3 minority students. I've mentioned before that when the tests were sent up to the front of the class I noticed that the minority students filled out their name and the date and nothing else. Made no attempt to answer the questions. They got a D- for that. I asked the teacher why they didn't flunk and he said that if they showed up, the school wouldn't flunk them.

So, we ended up with a bunch of high school graduates who spoke, read and wrote English at about a 5 year old level and couldn't get jobs.

Who woulda thunk it?

This starts back at the elementary school. These kids show up and cannot read or write. I’m sure many of them have behavioral issues and the teachers just want them passed on. So by the time they get to high school, they cannot do the grade school basics. At this point, what is a high school teacher to do? They have been given a 9th grader with a failing first grade education.

I will say, it all comes down to the parenting. My parents were very involved. When I brought home poor grades, I lost my most valued possessions. I lost the freedom to do as I wish, and go outside with friends. I was jailed for six weeks of schoolwork at home, after school and on the weekends until a progress report showed I was improving.

If I skipped school, it was even worse than poor grades. Aside of my home prison, it was also a labor camp. So skip school, you lose your shit, have to study round the clock, and have an unattainable list of chores to do.

The mother of the kid in the video, how old is she? Late twenties, early thirties? Yet she has a kid that is in the 12th grade?
So I put a lot of the blame back on the parents, or the grandparents. The older generation started this by allowing their teens to do the same shit these kids are doing. Teen mom, trying to raise a fatherless baby, the vicious circle continues.

Mom, the school didn't fail your child, you failed him.

No wonder they thrash around in life and ultimately blame others for being stuck in poverty and crime.

quote:

Originally posted by Skins2881:
Mom, the school didn't fail your child, you failed him.

Yes, but to point that out is, of course, racist. And we find ourselves where we are today.

Accountability is colorless. They don't see it that way.

Wow, Just Wow. This involves a stupid kid, stupid parent(s), stupid teachers, stupid principal, stupid school board . . . . . . and so on. Nobody appears to give a shit.

quote:

Originally posted by Flash-LB:



So, we ended up with a bunch of high school graduates who spoke, read and wrote English at about a 5 year old level and couldn't get jobs.

That was because of racism.

Capitalism is mighty unappealing to the ill-equipped. Who wants to do the work with no tools and zero skills?

My wife and I talk about this all the time and see it from an EARLY age. In the VAST number of instances it’s not the kids fault so to speak, it’s the parents. From politeness, to morality, to education/drive, to common sense etc. etc.

I mean yes there are of course truly broken kids due to some clinical/mental reason and yes schools and others do play a role at least at some point but the vast responsibility falls on the parents and does so very early on.

But hey I am sure saying that is somehow offensive or wrong or whatever.

Exactly why the CRCT cheating was going on.

I remember in 1999 at the year opening meeting the superintendent bragging about the tremendous strides the system had made which were statistically impossible.

quote:

Originally posted by darthfuster:
No wonder they thrash around in life and ultimately blame others for being stuck in poverty and crime.

Common pattern. Make poor life choices, get corresponding results, and blame others for their miserable conditions.

quote:

Originally posted by darthfuster:
Capitalism is mighty unappealing to the ill-equipped. Who wants to do the work with no tools and zero skills?

That is why liberals favor socialism, which pays the laborer and the idler the same wages.

I have posted before, teaching college, a minority student who had poor attendance, didn't do homework, poor scores on exams, complained to the Dean he wasn't passing the class. The Dean told me to find a way to pass him.

In CA, if minorities don't have the same graduation rates and GPA's, it is due to racism (which all white males are guilty of).

Aspiring rap star, Dindu Nuffin?

Let's chase this back to the absolute beginning. Question #1...Where's dad? Didn't see him in the video did ya. Probably a good reason for that. Question # 2...Where's mom? Kid was out of school 359 days in four years and mom never knew that or that he hadn't passed anything the few times he did go to school?

This whole problem starts at the very beginning, which is a complete breakdown of the family in the black community (same thing is happening now in the white community). Government has not only encouraged that to happen, but has actively promoted it. I know I sound like a broken record, but every single problem plaguing this country can be directly tied back to an utter failure of government. We have what we have today because it's exactly what government wants. A cohesive family would be interested and motivated to ensure their children received a good education, and would participate in that process wherever they could to guarantee that outcome.

Consider this: he is above average.

quote:

This starts back at the elementary school. These kids show up and cannot read or write. I’m sure many of them have behavioral issues and the teachers just want them passed on. So by the time they get to high school, they cannot do the grade school basics. At this point, what is a high school teacher to do? They have been given a 9th grader with a failing first grade education.

You've raised valid points and each certainly contributes to the problems faced by this student's high school teachers. The early years are when the standards and expectations need to be set for both students and teachers alike. I doubt that most teachers favor sending those with educational and behavioral challenges on to the next grade beginning in kindergarten. Making 'social promotions' unacceptable in most instances requires a school board and school administrators who will agree on and embrace and enforce those standards They must also be willing to take on the inevitable charges of being guilty of the many 'ism's' which are routinely used to stifle criticism of those policies and practices which are designed to encourage teaching responsibility and expecting excellence from students and teachers alike.

quote:

Originally posted by FiveFiveSixFan:

quote:

This starts back at the elementary school. These kids show up and cannot read or write. I’m sure many of them have behavioral issues and the teachers just want them passed on. So by the time they get to high school, they cannot do the grade school basics. At this point, what is a high school teacher to do? They have been given a 9th grader with a failing first grade education.

You've raised valid points and each certainly contributes to the problems faced by this student's high school teachers. The early years are when the standards and expectations need to be set for both students and teachers alike. I doubt that most teachers favor sending those with educational and behavioral challenges on to the next grade beginning in kindergarten. Making 'social promotions' unacceptable in most instances requires a school board and school administrators who will agree on and embrace and enforce those standards They must also be willing to take on the inevitable charges of being guilty of the many 'ism's' which are routinely used to stifle criticism of those policies and practices which are designed to encourage teaching responsibility and expecting excellence from students and teachers alike.

A recent article in the local fish wrapper indicated that around 35% of the third grade students in my town were reading and doing math at grade level.

So, by the 3rd grade, they've already failed. Didn't take long, did it?

what a pathetic story on so many levels

in a Democrat stronghold - imagine that

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