Video: The obligatory “parents humiliate son by making him wear his report card” clip
posted at 4:15 pm on February 10, 2009 by Allahpundit
Actually, that’s just phase one. Phase two is dragging him on “Fox & Friends” to make sure America knows just how much he “sucks” at Algebra. I wonder why the kid’s having trouble focusing.
Prediction: Roughly 98% of viewers will find this awesomely awesome, even though they’d never dream of subjecting their own kids to a fate so cruel. Free Tre! And get him a tutor!
Blowback
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You are the only one that thinks its “obligatory” Allah.
Maxx on February 10, 2009 at 4:17 PM
as an educator I believe there are better methods then the grade version of the scarlet letter, of course we don’t know the full story.
rob verdi on February 10, 2009 at 4:19 PM
My parents made me eat mine one year.
Lesson learned – I can promise you that.
jake-the-goose on February 10, 2009 at 4:20 PM
No problem with it, different approaches work for different people and public shaming seems to have worked here.
I only wish we could do this with our politicians, maybe add the opportunity to pelt them with rotten veggies.
Bishop on February 10, 2009 at 4:21 PM
He got “E”s.
kill me
Abby Adams on February 10, 2009 at 4:21 PM
What exactly is an “E”? I.m guessing by his parents reaction it doesn’t stand for excellent.
Tommy_G on February 10, 2009 at 4:22 PM
What in the world is an E ?
Kelligan on February 10, 2009 at 4:23 PM
If Tre was goofing off at school and playing video games instead of studying, then that’s one thing. If the kid doesn’t get algebra, then that’s a completely different thing.
BTW, even if he was goofing off and not focusing, then it works just as well to put him on restrictions and make him study for a few hours each day and finish all his homework. Cheap publicity stunt on the parents’ part to get on TV.
Illinidiva on February 10, 2009 at 4:23 PM
E is the grade school version of an F.
Illinidiva on February 10, 2009 at 4:24 PM
“Fathers don’t exasperate your children”
common sensineer on February 10, 2009 at 4:24 PM
Really what? Give examples and show your work. Points will be taken off for improper capitalization.
Tommy_G on February 10, 2009 at 4:24 PM
An E? What, they don’t give Fs anymore?
Thats as bad as Lafayette Parish Schools. They encourage teachers not to use red ink because its hurts feelings.
Bullcrap. I don’t think its cruel at all, I think people coddle their kids too much. If I brought home an F, that was my ass. I’d rather stand outside with a sign that said I got an F than have to deal with my father when I got home.
Lay-Z on February 10, 2009 at 4:24 PM
he has very good parents. They care about how he is doing in school. I bet he doesnt realize it yet, but his parents are doing the right thing.
ousoonerfan15 on February 10, 2009 at 4:25 PM
I don’t know about you, but all it took was the riot act being read by my father, starting around fourth grade, to always keep me fearing poor grades.
MadisonConservative on February 10, 2009 at 4:25 PM
I agree – not obligatory.
I don’t think it’s awesomely awesome, but I do think we freak out at this sort of thing because it’s practically illegal to shame in our society anymore…
hence, people who want the government pay their mortgages and credit card bills.
Topsecretk9 on February 10, 2009 at 4:25 PM
Well, I did make my daughter take algebra II three times before she got a B in it, and let my son fail US Government because I wouldn’t ask his teacher–my colleague–to take his term paper late. So I’m pretty ruthless as a parent.
But not this ruthless.
(only barely, though)
Bob's Kid on February 10, 2009 at 4:25 PM
Awesomely awesome indeed, Allahpundit.
jimmy the notable on February 10, 2009 at 4:26 PM
All my parents did after I discovered the distracting wonders of girls my sophmore year and my grades started to slip was to take away everything I enjoyed in life and doubled my chores. I believe my father’s exact words were “I’m going to make your life a living hell.” It was As and Bs from there on out.
justfinethanks on February 10, 2009 at 4:27 PM
I’d have done it to my daughter. It’s not cruel at all. He was doing the homework at home, but not turning it in at class. Whether that was carelessness – just forgot – or a matter of peer pressure and not wanting to “act white” by getting good grades (yes, some kids actually do say that) they tried everything else they could to get him to pass and he just refused. Drastic action was needed, and it will probably work – by Tre’s own admission.
Laura on February 10, 2009 at 4:27 PM
An “E” is the same as the “F” that we grew up with.
Kim Priestap on February 10, 2009 at 4:28 PM
I’m pretty sure this qualifies as torture under our new administration’s definition.
Y-not on February 10, 2009 at 4:29 PM
Maybe the kid can go to Obama’s next town hall meeting and ask the Pres to do his homework for him.
Quisp on February 10, 2009 at 4:29 PM
The “E” means not that the child has failed, but that the child has achieved well below the expected level.
Yes, I shiite you not. The child isn’t failing, they are just not achieving excellence. Stupid.
Bishop on February 10, 2009 at 4:29 PM
They “Teenagers” are aware of their peers, they could careless what their family thinks. This isn’t too harsh, he was happy to let everyone else do all the work, check out the check list, teachers, parents, and then doctors they had him tested. This kid knew he was manipulating the adults. Good for them. If all he cares is what his peers think, then give them something to think about. Academics are important SEE “How Obama Got Elected” most importantly Civic Classes.
Dr Evil on February 10, 2009 at 4:29 PM
Social workers to step in and save this poor child in 3..2..1..
portlandon on February 10, 2009 at 4:29 PM
He has two parents who care more than if he just trudges through school. They want to make sure he gets good grades and becomes successful. There are a lot of children who should be so lucky.
There was another story not too long ago about a father who made his son, who had shoplifted or vandalized, walk the street with a sign telling the world what he had done. He was humiliated. You can bet your butt he won’t be a second-time offender.
amerpundit on February 10, 2009 at 4:29 PM
Bah, as an exteacher grades are what is needed. I’ve seen the no-grade classes, with the feel good BS “grades” They don’t work and the kids have no motivation to achieve. That isn’t saying grades get every kid motivated, but does actually give a real statement about their knowledge.
Tim Burton on February 10, 2009 at 4:29 PM
WOW, a Mom AND a Dad together? The kid’s a dunce, but the parents (PLURAL) are teaching consequences.
marklmail on February 10, 2009 at 4:30 PM
Forgot the link:
http://www.det.nt.gov.au/education/programs_initiatives/schools_assistance_act/docs/guide_grades_school_rpts.pdf
Bishop on February 10, 2009 at 4:30 PM
Back in my days in skool, we had a system like this:
E – Excellent
S
M
I
F
snickelfritz on February 10, 2009 at 4:31 PM
I was wondering about that when I was watching it, thinking maybe somehow I’m seeing things. An E, for the love of all that’s holy.
Defector01 on February 10, 2009 at 4:31 PM
To everyone confused by the “E”… my school had E’s. I went to a progressive public school district (yes, that means what you think it means) in Maryland in the 70′s.
I also had a year of the check system. That really blew chunks.
Y-not on February 10, 2009 at 4:31 PM
The parents said this was not the first thing they tried. So, from this point forward, they should sleep with one eye open.
Sue on February 10, 2009 at 4:32 PM
I graduated in 88 and we didn’t have F’s either. We had E’s. Not that it mattered. Failure was Failure no matter what grade you attached to it.
My son has a recurring problem with not turning in his work, usually at the beginning of the school year. I see the homework when he does it but he won’t turn it in. I don’t understand that concept. If I’ve worked on something, goshdarnit I want credit for it!
CookeyD on February 10, 2009 at 4:33 PM
I have no problem with this. A little temporary humiliation to shame him into not being a failure the rest of his life? All kids should be so lucky.
theotherKate on February 10, 2009 at 4:34 PM
Bishop,
They can tell you it doesn’t mean fail, but the kids know it does. Just listen to this boy say “E means I failed”. The feel good words help the adults, not the children.
Sue on February 10, 2009 at 4:34 PM
Mixed feelings.
On the one hand, I am an ardent believer in the Michael Corleone school of family business: Never take sides with anyone against the family in public. Reserve all criticism for private.
On the other hand, if the parents knew this was an otherwise bright kid who just appeared to be backsliding and was not trending towards the state pen, maybe you give him a short sharp shock like the parents did, then offer him a hand back up after the point is made.
I would never knock a kid down like that without also helping them back up. And I definitely would not take the extra step of shaming my kid on national cable TV.
Mike D. on February 10, 2009 at 4:35 PM
Daughter unit from my family would have rather laid down in highway traffic than do the Algebra work. She hated it and it hated her.
hawkdriver on February 10, 2009 at 4:36 PM
If i would have said sucks in front of my parents, i would have woke up on the floor, with a handprint on the side of my head.
MDWNJ on February 10, 2009 at 4:36 PM
Does the bottom of the sign say “My future = shaky”?
That’s funny. And no, I don’t think I’d do that to my kids. But hopefully my kids will get A’s in something other than PE.
BadgerHawk on February 10, 2009 at 4:36 PM
Where I went to school, an E ( for Exemplary) had to do with behavior (nothing to do with grades which were A-D & F) and the highest you could get.
herrevery on February 10, 2009 at 4:38 PM
An “E”?
Sounds like some of that libtard nonsense about not using red ink.
Glenn Jericho on February 10, 2009 at 4:38 PM
Yeah, well, for contrast, I was there one afternoon when parents I know discovered quite by accident that their daughter wasn’t going to get a diploma at the end of her senior year in high school that week end. Wasn’t going to be allowed to participate in the graduation ceremony because she wasn’t going to graduate. Of course, said parents blamed the school system for not telling them sooner.
Skandia Recluse on February 10, 2009 at 4:39 PM
No offense to the educator on this thread, but in my experience this sort of thing comes out of the need to justify the courses in education theory that teachers take in order to get promoted. You’d like to think that a teacher would be rewarded for boning up on his or her knowledge of their subject, but the teachers I’ve known all say that they get more credit for taking educational theory courses than they do for demonstrating mastery of their subject. Great system.
Y-not on February 10, 2009 at 4:39 PM
It is so awesome!!!
One day, perhaps soon, he will thank them appropriately. Hopefully, they will be asleep at the time.
Kasper Hauser on February 10, 2009 at 4:39 PM
I think this is an effective parenting technique if the reason for his poor grades were goofing off, laziness, ect. However, as someone who has always struggled with math myself, what this kid may really need is a tutor. The cause of problem has a direct correlation to what the proper solution should be. I hope the parents in this instance are sure this isnt a learning related problem, if it is, they should be embarrassed by their behavior, not their son.
nswider on February 10, 2009 at 4:39 PM
They can tell you it doesn’t mean fail, but the kids know it does. Just listen to this boy say “E means I failed”. The feel good words help the adults, not the children.
Sue on February 10, 2009 at 4:34 PM
Which goes to show just how stupid the feel-good measures taken in schools are, changing the letters doesn’t make a difference.
If the kids are seeing E’s as fails, then perhaps there is a glimmer of hope, regardless of the stupid moves made by wimpy school administrators.
Bishop on February 10, 2009 at 4:40 PM
My wife is a touchy feely Liberal, and so far, at least with our son, he’s doing okay. He goes to a decent Catholic school with small class size and he’s a smart kid, if a bit lazy. She was a product of public schools (me Catholic schools) and after touring our local school was horrified at how bad it seemed, and elected for the Catholic school. That’s saying something because we live in a high income area in upper Bergen County NJ, where the public schools are supposed to be “good”.
—-
Growing up me was another story. My parents ruled with an iron fist and I FEARED getting bad grades. I feared it….
I can say thought hat all of that fear didn’t turn me into a rocket scientist. Food for thought.
worlok on February 10, 2009 at 4:42 PM
Yes they do.
baldilocks on February 10, 2009 at 4:43 PM
Bishop,
Kids aren’t really stupid, they just act that way sometimes.
Sue on February 10, 2009 at 4:43 PM
If the kid was just goofing off, then taking away his X-Box would have probably done more good than this stunt.
Illinidiva on February 10, 2009 at 4:44 PM
I am so trying to remember the football player who recently told the story about his high school days when he was not doing as well as his mother thought he should. She began showing up in his classes and sitting there making sure he was paying attention. He said he made sure he kept his grades high in college because he knew she would show up again if he didn’t. Anyone remember who it is?
Sue on February 10, 2009 at 4:45 PM
LOL, Wtf??
nickj116 on February 10, 2009 at 4:47 PM
Allah, don’t have kids, please. Maybe you should point out that this punishment is perhaps better than that boy’s Dad beating the holy dog crap out of him.
Maybe they can’t afford a tutor? What would you suggest? Maybe they should tell him that God doesn’t exist and he’ll immediately become smart like all you Atheists!
leetpriest on February 10, 2009 at 4:47 PM
Can’t know for sure but from what the parents said, they ruled out everything else before they attempted this, including doctor visits.
Sue on February 10, 2009 at 4:48 PM
Being smart is not cool and getting good grades is worse.
My mom taught at an urban “problem” school. A few times I went to help her with special projects or programs, and the kids in these things were the “nerdy” and “good” kids. They also would flinch and cower like beaten dogs at loud noises and lots of them had nervous stutters (an abnormal proportion). Some of the sweetest kids I’ve ever met though.
herrevery on February 10, 2009 at 4:49 PM
According the video, one major problem was that Tre would not turn in his homework, which his parents were making sure was completed/helping him do at home. Since the homework was completed, and the disconnect was that he could not or would not turn it in, then I think shame was a perfectly appropriate response.
Laura on February 10, 2009 at 4:50 PM
Awful. And that silly woman praising them.
Tzetzes on February 10, 2009 at 4:52 PM
nswider: Agreed.
These well-meaning parents have publicly humiliated the son, but may have done nothing to address underlying issues. They need to better define their objectives, I’d guess that they are more interested in seeing their son succeed in school thanthey are in shaming him.
Does he need a tutor? Is he taking the appropriate classes? Does he need help with note-taking, has he been taught study skills that work for the way he learns?
Kids are sometimes in their teens before they’re diagnosed with dyslexia or other problems. The testing used by public schools to detect learning issues is usually pretty superficial, so even having had diagnostic testing doesn’t mean that problems have been addressed.
A kid who is dyslexic doesn’t know that letters and words don’t jump around the page when other people write. A kid with a hearing problem may not know that he can’t hear what others do. And all the grown-ups have assumed that there is no underlying problem, so it’s never occurred to them to ask.
obladioblada on February 10, 2009 at 4:53 PM
I am not sure this is the right method, but kudos for the parents for caring so much.
This kid will do all right, not because of this foolish punishment, and he knows it was foolish, but because someone cared enough to push him.
The real story,is they love their son, and want him to succeed, that being different is okay. Be ostracized is okay, but being a loser is not okay.
right2bright on February 10, 2009 at 4:54 PM
What’s an E?
Mommypundit on February 10, 2009 at 4:56 PM
Listen to it again…he did the work, and it was satisfactory, he just didn’t turn it in…he doesn’t need a tutor to show him how to turn in his homework, he needed discipline.
right2bright on February 10, 2009 at 4:56 PM
Why in the freaking world did they change it if the stigma is the same? What is WRONG with ABCDF? Is E the sort of fail?
Mommypundit on February 10, 2009 at 4:58 PM
I’m more concerned with how awkward they made the family look by squishing them on that tiny couch like that… The parents not so much, but the poor teenager smushed in between them on a love seat sized sofa is as humiliating as wearing that sign, IMO.
RightWinged on February 10, 2009 at 4:58 PM
I think you really have to be careful using that approach on kids. He looks like he can handle it, but that kind of public humiliation could have the opposite effect on some kids. I have mixed emotions about that kind of approach.
jonezee on February 10, 2009 at 5:02 PM
I think it is hard to predict (how our parents’ attitudes toward grades impacts our performance in school or how much we actually learn)… although if I were you I’d worry about your son’s “laziness” as that will really catch up with him in college and later in life.
My parents, particularly my mom, took a serious interest in our schooling — it was always the topic at dinner each night and it most definitely paid off when the schools we attended made mistakes. I was never afraid of bad grades, but I never got them. Our reward for good grades on our report cards were Kennedy half dollar pieces awarded for each “A” (we couldn’t spend them, but saved them in special piggy banks). My sister had learning disabilities which went undiagnosed by her elementary school (this was in the late 60s) so she had bad grades, but fortunately my parents understood why and stepped in when the teachers were giving up. They did both always act like it was to be expected that we would have professions when we grew up. We both from graduated college.
Having said that, my husband’s parents were very laissez-faire with both him and his sister. She was something of a hippy and not that great at school (she became a teacher, ironic huh?), but he excelled in college and beyond. He’s one of the smartest people I’ve ever met and did extremely well in school and on tests (perfect SATs, for example), but honestly his dad gave him a thermos for his birthday when we first got married and he headed off to start his first job. It just wasn’t in the realm of his parents’ experiences or expectations that their son would have a profession and not a job.
Although I’m the one with the doctorate, I think my husband is more of a life-long learner than I am. I studied science for work, but he is an avid reader and is constantly learning.
I assume much of how we approach learning is innate, but I would say that both my husband and I had the advantage of not having the distractions of lots of material “things” growing up. We were either playing outside or doing homework, and later working part-time jobs. The observation someone made earlier about taking away the kid’s Xbox is spot-on.
Y-not on February 10, 2009 at 5:02 PM
I understand why that appears reasonable, but may not address the kid’s problems. ADD may be over-diagnosed, but it does exist, and it would contribute to this problem. A dyslexic pattern contributes to this. It’s characteristic of kids with Aspergers/high functioning autism. If he hit his head on the playground when he was 4 years old, the concussion/traumatic brain injury could be at the root of it.
Kids usually want to please and succeed, when they’re not succeeding, questions need the asked. The fact that he has loving, involved parents who worked on the homework with him, yet he didn’t turn it in is a flag that something may be wrong. It’s a lot easier to help a kid learn effective academic skills if you know what you’re working with.
These parents love their son, are actively involved with him and have his best interests at heart. I hope he has a teacher or counselor who can help them work it out.
obladioblada on February 10, 2009 at 5:04 PM
What do you teach, gym? It’s “than” not “then.”
Youngs98 on February 10, 2009 at 5:07 PM
Typos happen. Rob’s comment has substance.
obladioblada on February 10, 2009 at 5:09 PM
Meh. In 10 years if he puts in an “E” for effort in life he’ll either starve, wind up homeless, or kick back on the system and enjoy McGriddles. All his parents are doing is putting the boots to him while they still have a chance to save his life. Bless their boots.
blankminde on February 10, 2009 at 5:09 PM
Actually, an “E” grade has been around for a long time. It is, as mentioned earlier, the equivalent of an “F” in many public grade schools. I was in the elementary grades in the early 60s and went to Catholic schools, we didn’t have letter grades in grammar school, we had the actual percentage like 80, 95, etc. My pals in public school had the letter grades and the “E” was the failing grade.
D2Boston on February 10, 2009 at 5:11 PM
What do you teach, gym? It’s “than” not “then.”
Youngs98 on February 10, 2009 at 5:07 PM
Spelling Police not welcome here.
Bishop on February 10, 2009 at 5:12 PM
This is the problem.
tgillian on February 10, 2009 at 5:13 PM
Perhaps you’re misinterpreting his comment. He did not say that grades are bad.
You may recall the reference to the Scarlet Letter from your high school reading. The scarlet letter refers to the emblem of shame used for public humiliation.
Being opposed to public humiliation is not a bad thing.
obladioblada on February 10, 2009 at 5:21 PM
Good job. The kid is lucky he didn’t get caught smoking too or they could have made him smoke his report card.
Shame is not the only leverage they’re using. The real leverage is the threat of future shaming.
The “shaky” future dig is great. It reminds the kid that his future is a direct product of his own actions. His parents’ caring won’t get him there without his diligent attention to requirements set forth by his school district and teachers.
The Race Card on February 10, 2009 at 5:23 PM
+1
funky chicken on February 10, 2009 at 5:24 PM
Hey, great idea! How about if we make Obama smoke the “stimulus” bill?
Y-not on February 10, 2009 at 5:25 PM
Don’t most schools administer some sort of screening tests on their students in order to determine if they are eligible for special education funds? This kid is not that young — I’d think he’d have been identified as a special ed needs student by now.
Y-not on February 10, 2009 at 5:30 PM
the 11 year old genius girl on Fox & Friends this morning said it best, “we need to set the expectations higher, then you’ll get better results”…essentially.
Too bad we’ll continue with the socialist dumbing down of Amerikkka.
kirkill on February 10, 2009 at 5:32 PM
Perhaps that’s why the average adult, many HA readers included, cannot correctly discern between “you’re” and “your.”
Teachers’ errors teach errors.
Sure we all make typos and are occasional victims of lax language resulting from too many damn keystrokes. Often, poor grammar and spelling are the result of pure laziness.
Here’s your sign.
The Race Card on February 10, 2009 at 5:33 PM
Best idea I’ve heard today.
My collie says:
CyberCipher on February 10, 2009 at 5:33 PM
Why in the freaking world did they change it if the stigma is the same? What is WRONG with ABCDF? Is E the sort of fail?
Mommypundit on February 10, 2009 at 4:58 PM
It’s kind of like “flunking lite”. Less calories, no more bloating.
milwife88 on February 10, 2009 at 5:35 PM
Clearly, they were smoking much stronger stuff during it’s drafting.
The Race Card on February 10, 2009 at 5:35 PM
Can we make Pelosi wear congress’s approval rating? We should stamp it on her forehead.
Um, if that’s the only thing she is wearing, I’ll pass.
milwife88 on February 10, 2009 at 5:37 PM
I call them Grammar Trolls, and the thing is, while many can’t tell the difference between the two homonyms, I’d be willing to bet that most typos here are just the product of tying to fast. Pointing that out, especially when the errors are obvious, doesn’t help anyone and only gives you an inflated sense of importance.
I only do it to a person who calls someone else stupid or who corrects someone else, but even then, it’s just a cheap insult.
Esthier on February 10, 2009 at 5:39 PM
Can we make Pelosi wear congress’s approval rating? We should stamp it on her forehead.
nor on February 10, 2009 at 5:52 PM
The schools do superficial screening and testing. If parents have a sense that something isn’t quite right, they usually have to spend their own money to have thorough testing done. The full battery of diagnostic tests is expensive and schools do not generally provide them. A lot of parents see that the school’s screening indicates no problem and don’t know enough about the area to look further, how could they?
A lot of kids slip through and the problem is only diagnosed in junior high or high school, when the academic expectations are higher and they just can’t keep up. The whole time the kids have sensed that something was wrong, but they just assumed that they were stupid. No one knew enough to ask the right questions.
I know several PhDs who are dyslexic. Their disorder has never been diagnosed and letters and words still jump around the page for them. They generally struggled a great deal in school, but eventually developed skills to compensate for their problems. But school was pure misery for awhile.
obladioblada on February 10, 2009 at 5:52 PM
ROFLMAO
I would love to see that.
nor on February 10, 2009 at 5:53 PM
A bit O/T, but I’ve noticed that although I rarely make spelling errors when I write for work, I do make mistakes when I type comments on blogs. Mostly they are phonetic spelling errors. I assume it is because of the “conversational” nature of blog comments — there’s more “sounding out” of the text I compose (in my head), hence more “there/their,” “your/you’re,” etc types of mistakes.
Has anyone else experienced this phenomenon?
Someone should do a study…
;-)
Y-not on February 10, 2009 at 5:54 PM
I hear you. My sister has dyslexia with numbers. It went undiagnosed for quite a while and the teachers just labeled her a bad kid. Fortunately, my parents knew to take her to the Kennedy-Krieger clinic.
I’m just surprised that with the incentive of tapping federal dollars for special ed programs, the school had not plunked a special ed label on this kid… which makes me wonder if he warranted it.
Y-not on February 10, 2009 at 5:59 PM
I have no idea how to motivate my kids in school, I never got anything but A’s so my parents never got involved with my education.
hanzblinx on February 10, 2009 at 6:00 PM
I love self-inflicted instant-karma. I owe BuyDanish an apology for some overtly prickified outburst I made toward her the other day. It wasn’t spelling related, but I was totally wrong. Same deal, different dumbass. (me)
Anyway, I’ve been teaching my daughter to read and now I’ve become hyper-conscious of annunciation and pronunciation. I must be careful not to make “dr” sound like “j” and “tr” like “ch.” I was bad before, but now with her sassy reminders…good grief.
I’m just passing the humble stick to the next man.
The Race Card on February 10, 2009 at 6:01 PM
I’ve gotten that impression.
Good for her. Sounds like you’re raising her properly.
I get what you’re saying, but it seems in another generation or so, language will probably evolve anyway. When the kids of today who speak so quickly and easily in texts come of age, their perception of spelling and correct grammar will likely make a serious impact.
I’d like to say it bothers me, but I fight regularly to correct my own spelling and only know enough to know when I don’t know it. Which wouldn’t be too bad if I didn’t proof for a living.
Esthier on February 10, 2009 at 6:07 PM
I’ve noticed that people who refer to themselves as “educators” instead of teachers tend to exhibit poor writing skills. Improper capitalization, improper punctuation, run-on sentence — yep, stereotype confirmed. I realize blogs, like email, are less formal than written communication, but it undermines your credibility as an “educator” to leave simple mistakes uncorrected. Sadly, you’re no worse than some of my children’s teachers. I’ve been known to send back their letters corrected in red ink.
doppelganglander on February 10, 2009 at 6:10 PM
You’re on to something with the impact of these conversations we hold in our head and the impact of “hearing” so much of our literal thought process. I’ve been noticing this for the past decade. The problem is that as more aspects of our lives become digitized, we become more lax in our linguistic strictures in more areas of our lives.
If I had half an original bone in my flesh factory I would have coined a term by now instead of just talking crap about it.
The Race Card on February 10, 2009 at 6:12 PM
That’s always fun.
What about your fake-rap-alias, Wordspill?
The Race Card on February 10, 2009 at 6:14 PM
As an educator you are responsible for the problem, not to mention the method of fixing it. These parents had to take matters into their own hands courtesy of an unmotivated son and a school system that failed to fix the problem. Good for them, they should try homeschooling if they really want their son to succeed.
serenity on February 10, 2009 at 6:16 PM
A lot of kids with these types of problems are not covered by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), although they have some rights under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. Section 504 carries no funding.
A lot of teachers hate, I mean actively hate 504 kids because they are normal, mainstream students but require some extra effort on the part of the teacher. For instance, they may have to provide students with their own (the teachers’) class notes, but the teachers don’t actually have a lesson plan or notes to work from.
Funding is only provided for students covered by IDEA. However, the funding is not unlimited per-student funding, there are caps. The school districts with which I’m familiar have no incentive to jimmy the system by adding kids to the special ed rolls. They do have financial incentives to minimize testing costs and the types of tests they provide catch the majority of students with disabilities. However, disabilities that are not as obvious go undiagnosed and the kids are labeled as bad or lazy. Some of them become bad and lazy; even their best efforts prove to be futile, so why make the effort?
obladioblada on February 10, 2009 at 6:20 PM
I corrected a few of my own teachers when I was in school, but arguably, it wasn’t my smartest move. Just make sure your kids have all their ducks in a row, so to speak. Teachers who make mistakes tend to hate being called on it.
Esthier on February 10, 2009 at 6:23 PM
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