Thursday, October 17, 2013

I Need to Vent!


My last doll post showed Adele in a conference with parents, discussing her third grade class.  A prior post showed her discussing Tyler with Vanessa, and his recent poor performance.  Well the Tyler post was inspired by poor school performance by the real Tyler in my life.  Even though he has tutoring several times a week, he is still getting poor progress reports.  I decided to step in and help.  Yesterday, I went to sit with him and try to get an overview of all the classes and where they are so far.

Now, this is where my headache starts.....  He doesn't have any books.  Why?  Because here in GA, (and probably in other states, too) all the text book access is on-line.  HUH?  Well, what about the child who doesn't have a computer or internet access at home?  Surely that child can have access to a book?  I am being told, NO.  Really?  How asinine is that?  So that child that doesn't have this access, has to learn it all at school, or else?  The teachers realize that some students don't have the access, so how do they try to accommodate this?  By not assigning homework?  HUH?  Again totally asinine!

Right now, Tyler doesn't have internet access at home, because they are in transition and moving to another place.  But he does have a dad who makes sure he gets to the library on a regular basis.  Personally, I doubt that Tyler is going on-line to look at those textbooks, while he is there.  If he was, maybe his grades would be better.  But now, for me, or any other outside tutor, we are a disadvantage.  We really need books in hand to be the most effective.

And what about the poor families that can't afford $50+ per month for internet access, and who don't find ways for their kids to get to the library?  I am so sick of these systems that are put in place that put the less fortunate kids at a disadvantage.  These systems set the kids up for failure and that's just not right.  There has to be back-ups in place to accommodate all the kids.  Not just the ones who can afford a computer and internet.

I will say that what is on-line is really nice, and well thought out.  So kudos to them for achieving that.  But shame on them for not considering all the students.  These are public schools and all the kids deserve the best chance possible!

So now, I am on a mission to get some answers.  Wish me luck!  Does anyone have any Tylenol?

36 comments:

  1. I think it's completly idiotic that all of a sudden they decide to transistion everything online, without having the option to use regular old print textbooks. That's happended over here in VA too, and what makes it worse is that online textbooks are really hit or miss (in my opinion). Too many people using them, server is down. Internet running slow? It goes down. I would be fine if they at least had print textbooks avalible. I hope you figure out something for Tyler. Good luck!

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    1. Verona - Wow, it's like that in VA, too? That is my hometown, and I was hoping they weren't following these guidelines. What part of VA are you in?

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    2. What a coincidence! Alexandria. Fairfax to be precise. It's pretty suprising that they are doing it here, considering this is supposed to be one of the best school districts. Yeah, they won't shell out money for hard textbooks, but every teacher is allowed a brand new I-Pad? *shakes head*

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    3. Verona,
      Books are consumable... children lose them. Parents don't want to pay for lost books etc. which make them a headache. It takes one to two whole days to both dispense and collect. Electrical devices are good until they become outdated. Administrators can communicate with teachers at any time and teachers can actually cut some of their workload down. Less paper...lots of reasons. I have even seen several teachers give out their cell # so students can text them as needed. I personally don't think students should be carrying all of those gigantic books around on their backs everyday. But still believe everyone should have equal access to a "Free And Appropriate" education.

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    4. Grandmommy - Books should be available to the kids that don't have a computer and/or internet access. Have a classroom set, and let the kids have a set at home. That way they don't have to lug then back and forth to school every day. They definitely need the books. It's 2am, and I just spent from 8pm - 11pm working with Tyler on his on-line math assignments. I'm going to have to wake him at 5am to redo some problems that he got incorrect. He has to be to school at 6:30am. If he had books at home, it would not have happened like this. Neither one of his parents have internet access, so he gets shuffled around to different places so he can get his homework done. CRAZINESS! Give the kids a textbook!

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  2. The digital divide has existed since computers became available for personal use. Would you believe that in some schools students actually have classroom assignments that require a device with internet? Fortunately students can pair up there.
    All the schools needs are a few voices complaining at the next district meeting. Good Luck!

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    1. Grandmommy - As soon as I figure out a few good avenues, I will be voicing my discontent.

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  3. This makes me so sick. I can understand the system's good points, but I feel like the fact that it doesn't work to everyone's advantage isn't fair. Students without access to internet shouldn't be punished!

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    1. Alura - It really is unfair, and I can't believe there hasn't been an outcry. I did hear from a few parents, who said they've been fighting with teachers about this for a couple of years.They need to go higher than teachers.

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  4. Can you buy used books from Amazon or other sources? Surely the school can give you the info to actually purchase a comparable used book!

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    1. Presto - I was thinking the same thing. I just looked on Amazon, and the Algebra book is $78 and up. So if you add up the cost for each of the books, you are looking at $300 - $500. Tell that to a parent who can't afford to get internet.

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  5. Sadly, most libraries have a limit to the amount of time that you could be on line on their computers while there. I recently purchased a tablet from BL for about 100.00. Now when I go to the library I can get on line (they have free WIFI) and download books on the tablet and then take it home with me and read the book. He may be able to do it that way.

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    1. Ms. Leo - I haven't seen a way to download the textbok and homework assignments from the site. And again that doesn't address the parents that don't have computers at home. And what about the parents with multiple kids in school. Do you buy them all their own computer, so they can access their textbooks?

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  6. Grandmommy - One other thing I forgot to address in the post, is about what all this exposure to the computer screens is doing to our kids eyes? No one is taking any of that into account. My cousin is also talking to me about how laptops affect the sperm and egg counts. Too much unknown there. Lugging books home daily never hurt me, and I carried two book bags.

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  7. Trying to keep up with the digital age is going to make us all dumber and we keep inventing things that will eventually make us obsolete and more dependent on technology.

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    1. Muff - It already has made us dumber. Social media alone is killing the fine art of writing. I cringe every time I read an email from a young person. They don't realize that all the shortcuts used on social media, do not apply when you are writing other places. Some of them honestly do not know the difference. They will wonder why they are having trouble finding a job, later.

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  8. I am so glad this hasn't happened in Australia yet although there is a trend towards more and more work being done on computer (specifically laptops) . I am also curious as to why he has to be at school so very early? No-one begins school here before 9am although many schools have before-school programs (which include breakfast) for kids who need to be there earlier due to parent's work schedules.

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    1. Carrickters - On the surface I can see why they felt this was a good plan, but they didn't go deep enough and figure out the potential ramifications. Tyler's school start at 7am. He gets there at 6:30 to have breakfast and attend the early morning tutoring session. You would think with all this "extra help" he's getting, he would be doing well in school. Maybe if he had some books, and was able to study at home from his books, he wouldn't need so much extra help, that doesn't seem to be helping anyway.

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  9. An educational system is flawed that expects every child to have access to a computer. If they want to eliminate textbooks, fine, but give the children computers and free internet service who cannot afford this; or allow the children time during school to access the online text books.

    It appears they are setting up the disadvantaged children for failure in hopes that this will lead them into the penal industry, which is a lucrative business of cheap labor in the US. It's the new slavery.

    dbg

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    1. DBG - It really does seem like some ulterior motives happening here. Otherwise, someone would have had to consider the effect this could have on the less fortunate student. Even the ramifications for the student who does have the computer access, is far too great in my opinion.

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  10. Italian schools stiil have paper books, but the governement here is thinking to introduce the online method. They should read your post

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    1. Sergio - I hope for the kids sake, the Italian schools keep their paper books. It's going to be a sad day when we phase out all the hand held books.

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  11. Hello from Spain: in my country, children have the books on paper. The government provides grants to buy books. Public schools also give free books to children. On the internet almost not studied anything. There are many families who do not have computer ... Your can ask an older child Tyler's books? In my country they give older children the books that do not use to small ... Keep in touch

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    1. Marta - That's exactly how it used to be here, too. An older child won't have the books either. We never got to keep the books. We always had to give them back to the school at the end of the year.

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  12. That is a messed up system! I know that some school districts offer both and some that offer only the textbook online also provide the students with tablets so they can access the books (downloaded to the tablet for use at home). Our district was going to do the tablets, but did not get the state funding. Only some of the classes have the hard copy textbooks. For those that don't, the kids have a reference room where that can go and print the parts of the book needed for the current lesson. You might want to check if they offer something like this.

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    1. Phyllis - Thanks for the info. It's nice to see your schools have provided back up solutions. I spoke to a teacher that I know, and they weren't aware of any other options. I will keep asking.

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  13. Here in Spain the kids are given the books as a loan, and they have to care for them and give them back at the end of the year. I think it is a great idea so that families who cannot pay for them can be sure their children have access to textbooks. I didn't know about online books in your state, and I'm as surprised as you, as a teacher I think it's totally unfair!!

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    1. Rossetti - That's the way it is for the areas that aren't doing the on-line book thing. The kids borrow the books and turn them in. Hopefully, Spain won't be venturing into this any time soon.

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  14. How sad! Like you said, not everyone has internet service at home or regular access to the library. And because the library computers are in great demand, you have to wait in line for your turn. What's more, these kids are moved onto the next grade....ready or not!

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    1. Debbie - It is very sad. Every time I think about it, I get ticked all over again.

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  15. It seems incredible and completely inconsiderate! I wish you luck and hope they give you some solution.

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    1. Farbield - It really is inconsiderate. I've been told by a teacher in another district that he should be able to check a book out. They said it isn't made known to the parents, because there is only a limited amount of books and they don't want too many parents trying to get the books. I'm trying to see if that applies to Tyler's school, too. No answer yet.

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  16. I think that's just crazy. I mean, I know I spend way too much time online already, don't give me an excuse to spend more. This hasn't happened to me, since I'm homeschooled, but I can honestly say that I would not like this if I was public schooled.

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    1. Isabel - Most kids are already spending too much time on an electronic device; phone, game, computer, etc. Books are becoming obsolete and it saddens me. Nice to hear an opinion of a person who is still in school.

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  17. While I think this is a "cool" concept, it's certainly not for everybody - every community. I personally don't think my son would be able to concentrate doing school work from a device. There's a series of books he likes. I asked him over the summer if he would want the paper book or I could download them on my iPad. He said he would rather have the paper book. Additionally a lot of young parents these days have their only internet connect from their cellphones. Having a cellphone is expensive enough. Leave this digital stuff to private schools.

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    1. Kenya - There are some cool parts about it. Like the on line tutorials available for each lesson. But you are right, not all kids are going to learn best this way. I wonder if there was anyone voicing the downside of this at the school board meetings. Tyler's dad mentioned sitting in McDs parking lot, so his son can access his work from the tablet with their free Wi-Fi access. Personally, I would be fighting it through the schools, but he's not that kind of person.

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