Comments on: The problem with American education http://bookwormroom.wordpress.com/2007/12/19/the-problem-with-american-education/ She escaped from the belly of the liberal beast Thu, 17 Dec 2009 10:52:35 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Tauna Rogers http://bookwormroom.wordpress.com/2007/12/19/the-problem-with-american-education/#comment-110732 Tauna Rogers Sat, 08 Mar 2008 15:46:22 +0000 http://bookwormroom.wordpress.com/2007/12/19/the-problem-with-american-education/#comment-110732 Well, I waited and waited. Readers, please go here for a response to Walter Williams' blather: http://aplacetorespond.blogspot.com/2007/12/new-projectmy-world-book-bloggers.html Note: You must read well down into my blog post before I actually address the specific disinformation that Williams disseminated in the piece Bookworm cited when she began this thread. Also go here: http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/1227/p09s02-coop.htm I could add so much more...but this is just for starters. Well, I waited and waited. Readers, please go here for a response to Walter Williams’ blather:
http://aplacetorespond.blogspot.com/2007/12/new-projectmy-world-book-bloggers.html

Note: You must read well down into my blog post before I actually address the specific disinformation that Williams disseminated in the piece Bookworm cited when she began this thread.

Also go here: http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/1227/p09s02-coop.htm

I could add so much more…but this is just for starters.

]]> By: Tauna Rogers http://bookwormroom.wordpress.com/2007/12/19/the-problem-with-american-education/#comment-106438 Tauna Rogers Sun, 06 Jan 2008 13:45:43 +0000 http://bookwormroom.wordpress.com/2007/12/19/the-problem-with-american-education/#comment-106438 Understood. And thank you. Please don't forget me and that recommended reading. Understood. And thank you. Please don’t forget me and that recommended reading.

]]> By: Bookworm http://bookwormroom.wordpress.com/2007/12/19/the-problem-with-american-education/#comment-106335 Bookworm Sun, 06 Jan 2008 05:22:21 +0000 http://bookwormroom.wordpress.com/2007/12/19/the-problem-with-american-education/#comment-106335 I'll get there, Tauna. I've been dealing with work, power outages, and children, so have had little time for following up on your recommended reading. As it is, keep in mind that Williams was merely a springboard for my own deep concerns, based on my own observations, about public school teachers. We've been in the public school system for two years, and in that time, half the teachers my kids had were disgraces to the profession, genuinely ignorant women, and half were real teachers. The shame of it is that the disgraces still have jobs. I’ll get there, Tauna. I’ve been dealing with work, power outages, and children, so have had little time for following up on your recommended reading. As it is, keep in mind that Williams was merely a springboard for my own deep concerns, based on my own observations, about public school teachers. We’ve been in the public school system for two years, and in that time, half the teachers my kids had were disgraces to the profession, genuinely ignorant women, and half were real teachers. The shame of it is that the disgraces still have jobs.

]]> By: Tauna Rogers http://bookwormroom.wordpress.com/2007/12/19/the-problem-with-american-education/#comment-106328 Tauna Rogers Sun, 06 Jan 2008 04:41:15 +0000 http://bookwormroom.wordpress.com/2007/12/19/the-problem-with-american-education/#comment-106328 Sure would like some response! Sure would like some response!

]]> By: Tauna Rogers http://bookwormroom.wordpress.com/2007/12/19/the-problem-with-american-education/#comment-106110 Tauna Rogers Sat, 05 Jan 2008 04:53:14 +0000 http://bookwormroom.wordpress.com/2007/12/19/the-problem-with-american-education/#comment-106110 Bookworm, please see my comments above since our last exchange. And for even more on those PISA scores that Walter Williams used to blast America's public school teachers, go to http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/1227/p09s02-coop.htm And please see the latest about pundit blather on my blog at http://aplacetorespond.blogspot.com Thank you! Bookworm, please see my comments above since our last exchange. And for even more on those PISA scores that Walter Williams used to blast America’s public school teachers, go to http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/1227/p09s02-coop.htm

And please see the latest about pundit blather on my blog at http://aplacetorespond.blogspot.com

Thank you!

]]> By: Tauna Rogers http://bookwormroom.wordpress.com/2007/12/19/the-problem-with-american-education/#comment-105680 Tauna Rogers Wed, 02 Jan 2008 23:29:54 +0000 http://bookwormroom.wordpress.com/2007/12/19/the-problem-with-american-education/#comment-105680 Hi again Bookworm, Please see my new comment from last night. Thank you! Hi again Bookworm,

Please see my new comment from last night.

Thank you!

]]> By: Tauna Rogers http://bookwormroom.wordpress.com/2007/12/19/the-problem-with-american-education/#comment-105523 Tauna Rogers Wed, 02 Jan 2008 06:44:43 +0000 http://bookwormroom.wordpress.com/2007/12/19/the-problem-with-american-education/#comment-105523 Hi Bookworm, Thanks for the response to my comment! I have indeed been reading through your blog. I'm impressed and I find it fascinating. Your posts seem thoughtful and free of viciousness. While we might disagree on some things, I really appreciate the civil discourse. I'm new to blogging, as you probably noted from visiting my humble site...I have much to learn. You might be relieved to learn that I don't teach technology. I am glad that the children in your community aren't hurting economically or socially. I'm a special ed teacher and I have some students who have been horribly abused and neglected. It is all too common Bookworm, all across the nation. Certainly there are legitimate complaints about public school teachers. I am not a union member and am really no expert on the extent to which unions actually keep incompetent teachers from being fired. I do not doubt that it occurs some. Funny, I've spent thousands of hours digging and researching the attacks on public education, yet that's an issue I haven't really studied. Believe me, however, my experiences have taught me to be skeptical about almost everything I read. It is good to question and dig. While there are indeed some lousy teachers (there are some lousy professionals in any field) I must reiterate that Dr. Williams' data about teacher competence is incorrect. I do not mean to be unkind but he (along with many think tanks, pundits, editorialists, politicians, business opportunists, and a lazy and complicit media) has for years disseminated false and misleading information about public education. You didn't comment about any of the specifics you may have read when you went to my blog. I wonder if you would mind reading through it again and leaving a comment or two? Again, I'm new to blogging and today is actually the first day I've even let anyone know my blog exists! I started it a few months back, abandoned it, then just decided a few days ago to go ahead with it. Sooo......comments, suggestions, different points of view welcome. Hi Bookworm,

Thanks for the response to my comment! I have indeed been reading through your blog. I’m impressed and I find it fascinating. Your posts seem thoughtful and free of viciousness. While we might disagree on some things, I really appreciate the civil discourse.

I’m new to blogging, as you probably noted from visiting my humble site…I have much to learn. You might be relieved to learn that I don’t teach technology.

I am glad that the children in your community aren’t hurting economically or socially. I’m a special ed teacher and I have some students who have been horribly abused and neglected. It is all too common Bookworm, all across the nation.

Certainly there are legitimate complaints about public school teachers. I am not a union member and am really no expert on the extent to which unions actually keep incompetent teachers from being fired. I do not doubt that it occurs some. Funny, I’ve spent thousands of hours digging and researching the attacks on public education, yet that’s an issue I haven’t really studied. Believe me, however, my experiences have taught me to be skeptical about almost everything I read. It is good to question and dig.

While there are indeed some lousy teachers (there are some lousy professionals in any field) I must reiterate that Dr. Williams’ data about teacher competence is incorrect. I do not mean to be unkind but he (along with many think tanks, pundits, editorialists, politicians, business opportunists, and a lazy and complicit media) has for years disseminated false and misleading information about public education.

You didn’t comment about any of the specifics you may have read when you went to my blog. I wonder if you would mind reading through it again and leaving a comment or two? Again, I’m new to blogging and today is actually the first day I’ve even let anyone know my blog exists! I started it a few months back, abandoned it, then just decided a few days ago to go ahead with it.

Sooo……comments, suggestions, different points of view welcome.

]]> By: Bookworm http://bookwormroom.wordpress.com/2007/12/19/the-problem-with-american-education/#comment-105502 Bookworm Wed, 02 Jan 2008 03:39:07 +0000 http://bookwormroom.wordpress.com/2007/12/19/the-problem-with-american-education/#comment-105502 Tauna, you might want to look at the series of posts I did detailing my experiences as a parent at one of the most prestigious public schools in America. (Click on "education" in my categories sidebar and it will bring up those posts.) From a parents' perspective, so much of what Williams said is true. The kids in my community are not "hurting" economically or socially, but they are often the victims of a terrible curriculum, bizarre educational experiments, wasteful political ideology, jargon, cant, and poor teachers who are protected from being fired by strong unions. There are certainly good teachers out there -- and my kids are lucky enough to have them this year -- but even they gripe about the way in which the system is set up to undermine their efforts. And as for the bad teachers, well, they seem to have set up that system. Tauna, you might want to look at the series of posts I did detailing my experiences as a parent at one of the most prestigious public schools in America. (Click on “education” in my categories sidebar and it will bring up those posts.) From a parents’ perspective, so much of what Williams said is true. The kids in my community are not “hurting” economically or socially, but they are often the victims of a terrible curriculum, bizarre educational experiments, wasteful political ideology, jargon, cant, and poor teachers who are protected from being fired by strong unions. There are certainly good teachers out there — and my kids are lucky enough to have them this year — but even they gripe about the way in which the system is set up to undermine their efforts. And as for the bad teachers, well, they seem to have set up that system.

]]> By: Tauna Rogers http://bookwormroom.wordpress.com/2007/12/19/the-problem-with-american-education/#comment-105499 Tauna Rogers Wed, 02 Jan 2008 03:33:15 +0000 http://bookwormroom.wordpress.com/2007/12/19/the-problem-with-american-education/#comment-105499 What Walter Williams has to say about public school teachers is not true. His article is but one of many hundreds of pieces of disinformation disseminated relentlessly about our nation's public schools and teachers. This is about ideology, not truth. For starters, take a look here. http://www.aplacetorespond.blogspot.com/ What Walter Williams has to say about public school teachers is not true.

His article is but one of many hundreds of pieces of disinformation disseminated relentlessly about our nation’s public schools and teachers.

This is about ideology, not truth.

For starters, take a look here. http://www.aplacetorespond.blogspot.com/

]]> By: Bookworm http://bookwormroom.wordpress.com/2007/12/19/the-problem-with-american-education/#comment-105496 Bookworm Wed, 02 Jan 2008 03:18:08 +0000 http://bookwormroom.wordpress.com/2007/12/19/the-problem-with-american-education/#comment-105496 Tamara: I can imagine that you often feel as if you're on a tightrope without a net. English grammar is sometimes mystifying, and it's hard to convince students that you do something one way or another "just because." I got grammar at my father's knee, but even I make some mistakes (although most mistakes at this blog result from lousy proof-reading, not lousy grammar). I can recommend a couple of books to make you feel more confident about your writing skills. First, although I've never been a big fan, most people swear by Strunk's & White's <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/redirect.html?ie=UTF8&location=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FElements-Style-Fourth-William-Strunk%2Fdp%2F0205313426%3Fie%3DUTF8%26s%3Dbooks%26qid%3D1199243556%26sr%3D1-2&tag=bookwormroom-20&linkCode=ur2&camp=1789&creative=9325" rel="nofollow">The Elements of Style</a></i>. The other big that I love, even though it's written for lawyers, is Bryan Garner's <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/redirect.html?ie=UTF8&location=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FWinning-Brief-Persuasive-Briefing-Appellate%2Fdp%2F019517075X%3Fie%3DUTF8%26s%3Dbooks%26qid%3D1199243433%26sr%3D8-2&tag=bookwormroom-20&linkCode=ur2&camp=1789&creative=9325" rel="nofollow">The Winning Brief: 100 Tips for Persuasive Briefing in Trial and Appellate Courts</a></i>, which offers the best ideas I've ever seen for writing lucidly. Even though it's examples often take place in the legal context, anyone wishing to learn more about good writing can benefit from reading Garner's book. The other thing, of course, is to read, read, read. A lot of books, nowadays, use grammar that I consider incorrect (split infinitives, misused words, mixed-up pronouns, dangling and misplaced modifiers), but they're still right more often than not. Additionally, certain classic books will ensure that you write like a pro. One of the best semi-modern stylists is <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/redirect.html?ie=UTF8&location=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fs%3Furl%3Dsearch-alias%253Dstripbooks%26field-keywords%3Ddorothy%2Bsayers%26x%3D0%26y%3D0&tag=bookwormroom-20&linkCode=ur2&camp=1789&creative=9325" rel="nofollow">Dorothy Sayers</a>, who wrote the wonderful Peter Wimsey murder mysteries. My favorite stylist is <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/redirect.html?ie=UTF8&location=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fs%3Furl%3Dsearch-alias%253Dstripbooks%26field-keywords%3Djane%2Bausten%26x%3D0%26y%3D0&tag=bookwormroom-20&linkCode=ur2&camp=1789&creative=9325" rel="nofollow">Jane Austen</a>, whose prose, although a little antiquated, is always impeccable. I know from family members who work in the LAUSD, and who have kids there (or who pulled their kids out of there), that its a tough bailiwick. I wish you much luck during your teaching career. The one thing I can tell is that, because you care, even if your grammar needs a little work, your students are benefiting from your presence. Tamara: I can imagine that you often feel as if you’re on a tightrope without a net. English grammar is sometimes mystifying, and it’s hard to convince students that you do something one way or another “just because.” I got grammar at my father’s knee, but even I make some mistakes (although most mistakes at this blog result from lousy proof-reading, not lousy grammar).

I can recommend a couple of books to make you feel more confident about your writing skills. First, although I’ve never been a big fan, most people swear by Strunk’s & White’s The Elements of Style. The other big that I love, even though it’s written for lawyers, is Bryan Garner’s The Winning Brief: 100 Tips for Persuasive Briefing in Trial and Appellate Courts, which offers the best ideas I’ve ever seen for writing lucidly. Even though it’s examples often take place in the legal context, anyone wishing to learn more about good writing can benefit from reading Garner’s book.

The other thing, of course, is to read, read, read. A lot of books, nowadays, use grammar that I consider incorrect (split infinitives, misused words, mixed-up pronouns, dangling and misplaced modifiers), but they’re still right more often than not. Additionally, certain classic books will ensure that you write like a pro. One of the best semi-modern stylists is Dorothy Sayers, who wrote the wonderful Peter Wimsey murder mysteries. My favorite stylist is Jane Austen, whose prose, although a little antiquated, is always impeccable.

I know from family members who work in the LAUSD, and who have kids there (or who pulled their kids out of there), that its a tough bailiwick. I wish you much luck during your teaching career. The one thing I can tell is that, because you care, even if your grammar needs a little work, your students are benefiting from your presence.

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