I was sent a link for a recent article in the SF Gate about how 5th graders are getting less than an hour of science on a weekly basis.(link at bottom of post) There are some great points about how this will impact the future of the career choices down the road without an early understanding of the subject.
"Fewer than half of Bay Area fifth-graders (47 percent) scored at grade level or above on last spring's California Standards Test in science. (Only fifth-graders are tested in science at the elementary level.)"
Why is this the case in Bay Area High Schools? Supposedly, the teachers are spending all their time on meeting the requirements of the "No Child Left Behind Act".
I read this article about a week ago and thought about it as an issue. Yesterday, it dawned on me. When did the Act go into place? I knew it was passed during President G.W. (43rd) Bush's first term. My quick research found that it was enforceable July 1, 2002. Um.... My math equates 5 years or school terms ago. Where is the catch up with the fifth grade class? They shouldn't be in the fifth grade if they can't read and add!
I will add to this a comment Gov. Mike Huckabee said about the importance of having Art and Music taught in schools. It is important to open children's minds to art and music at a young age. It is also a way to keep artistically minded children in school with subjects that interest them and they can excel at because of their talents. Yes, he is a conservative Republican running for the Presidency. See, they all don't have horns.
I have a good friend that is teaching music and chorus at a high school in NY. She recently was bubbling about a student that is not well liked by other teachers because he causes trouble. However, he is a great kid in her class. Oh, did I mention the kid can sing? He was terrified to try out for the lead in their musical because he thought the panel of teachers would never give him the part. I look forward to cheering him on as he has one of the male leads.
Science, Art, Music, Reading/Grammar(English), Social Studies and Math... are very important. I will also add gym and a foreign language to the list. All should be taught and explored during elementary school.
I wonder if it is not the "No Child Left Behind Act" or more likely the issue of teachers not being allowed to control their classrooms. Teachers have been stripped of all of the tools to maintain order in the class room without fear of being fired or sued.
Parents learn this.... You aren't perfect and neither is your child. If a teacher risks their job to call your kid over the coals, chances are today they caught them red handed. Wake up... The coddling of the youth of this country is terrifying.
Stace, I don't think this was quite what you expected me to write. I would appreciate your comments....
Article link:
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2007/10/25/MNNKSVFOH.DTL
