Posted by 2ndGradeGMaw on November 18, 2020, 12:57 pm
I am new to posting here. I have read this message board for a very long time. I find it very enjoyable and definitely full of information. So please go a little easy on me after reading what I have to say.
I just returned from Chicago where I visited my son and daughter in law and two of my grandchildren (2nd and 3rd grade). I cannot describe my complete shock after watching my grandchildren participating in Chicago's version of remote learning. They were up dressed, fed and ready to go by 8:45, logging onto their computers by 8:55 is required. At that time their teacher would be live remote, she would take roll and they would commence their day by reciting the Pledge of Allegiance, and she is ready to teach for the ENTIRE DAY. From 9 am till 3 pm. Lunch break was from 11:30 till noon.
They were instructed by the teacher, taught by the teacher, as they worked through their multiple workbooks and subjects. The teacher would have them hold up their work to make sure they were understanding whatever math problem or English question they were working on. She was very interactive with the many children participating.
Then in would come the music teacher, and she would teach a new song or they would work on a song they had already been taught. It was adorable to watch these children singing along with their teacher all via their computers. She also gave lessons on how to read music, she did an excellent job.
They even had a P.E. teacher who came in mid-day to run them through a series of exercises. Nothing crazy, but definitely something to wake them up after lunch and to get their blood pumping.
The teacher would return and start back on their lessons. The last forty five minutes of the day they would break up into smaller groups, still supervised by the teacher, who would pop in and out of their mini group meeting.
And lastly, the teacher would close for the day and then archive the entire day's lessons should anyone want to go back and watch the lessons again.
The reason I was taken aback by this remote learning in Chicago is because it is a FAR cry from what my grandchild is getting here in Granite City. The difference is unbelievable and very disappointing.
Class, if you can call it that, begins at ten thirty, with about thirty to forty five minutes of interaction with the teacher. And this happens once, maybe twice a week. Occasionally the meeting/class will last an hour. There is no working in tangent during instruction, the students are left to work through xeroxed copies of work books with their parents or by themselves after the live feed ends.
There is no music instruction. There is no P.E. instruction, at least there hasn't been until this week where the P.E. teacher sends an email telling the parents he has uploaded a video from Youtube.com. None of the parents, let alone the students, are able to locate this video, and the P.E. teacher does not answer his school email.
As a grandparent, and a taxpayer, I expected a little more organization and instruction with a little more teeth. If every student K-5 is receiving this same kind of instruction, and I use that term loosely, these children are going to be in big trouble.
I'll close this out with one final thought, how lucky is the P.E. instructor who gets to browse through YouTube and post a video (only one so far) that no one can find, and yet still earns his full salary?
We are going into ten months of this pandemic, I know it's uncharted territory for the teachers, for all of us, but that is more than ample time to come up with something a little more substantial than what these students are receiving. Someone needs to observe what is going on in Chicago, they could teach our district a lesson.
Maybe im wrong but i doubt all of Chicago is as on top of things as you described. I find it hard to believe that Lori Lightfoot would even allow the Pledge of Allegiance to be recited, much less having the kids stand while doing so. Isnt that considered hate speech yet?
Having said that, i have been told that the remote learning here is pretty much a joke, although my sample size is only about 8, it was unanimous. Maybe people think that good news is right around the corner and simply have not put a total effort into this way of teaching. Maybe its a matter of cost, and this part of the state just doesnt have the funds. All things considered, id still rather the kids be right here in Granite City than that crime riddled snake pit, Chicago. John Kerry as Climate Czar? Only Democrats could pick a guy with 6 houses, 12 cars, 2 yachts and a private jet, to tell you that YOU should take the bus to stop pollution.
It is no secret that the Granite system fails its students. Why not take this remote teaching and make it be handled by one of the many highly rated private sector companies like Ghegg. The teachers, administrators and janitors could then be terminated not only saving considerable daily salary demands but also solve future pension problems as well. The empty school buildings could then be donated to some warehouse company instead of building them with assorted incentives that cost the taxpayers day by day. Property taxes would drastically be reduced, the kids would get a good education, there would be no demands for cash to build new warehouses to give away and most of all the little angels would be at home with their loving parents all day who want to be with them because its all about the children.
With a little bit of tweaking you're plan may have some potential. Im not saying it isnt rough around the edges in some areas, but its a brilliant rough draft.
With a Biden presidency most everyone is going to be unemployed anyway even after the pandemic is over, so it really doesnt matter. I dont want to send the school assets to Siberia, they deserve better. Maybe they can work for the state and help people transition from working and towards being state dependents. Our teachers education should not be wasted and that would be a very challenging task that many could not handle. And of course we can make sure our pension system is not further assaulted in the process.
Granite Cities students are not any dumber than the students in any other school district, and most of them are normal or as close to normal as could be expected. None of this is on them.
Im not sure whats in your proposal that would entice this Governor to sign on, but im sure you will have that information in you're final draft. The bottom line is i really dont care how all of this plays out just as long as we leave the kids alone. All in all its just another brick in Pritzkers wall.John Kerry as Climate Czar? Only Democrats could pick a guy with 6 houses, 12 cars, 2 yachts and a private jet, to tell you that YOU should take the bus to stop pollution.
GMA, understand River hates the school system and is only being sarcastic when he talks about firing all the staff and selling off the buildings. LOL>
Your post has merit. I've heard similar from my neighbors who have young children. I do know the school district bought some type of notebook or laptop for every student to use while at home so availability of equipment has been met.
However, I know that many of those may have ended up at our local pawn shop or even yard sale so the parent could support their boozing and drug habit.
Speaking of those parents, I would imagine your Chicago relative is very well engaged and supportive of your grandkids education. That's not so much the case here. While mom is home awaiting her stimulus check, junior is allowed to sleep in since there's no bus schedule to be met.
You can bet that many of the parents here can't begin to assist their kids with remote classwork because they never have with in person learning.
As to your points about music and P.E. teachers? That's an awesome question that needs to be addressed by our superintendent.
What are the Phys Ed coaches doing right now at all grade levels? If not teaching P.E., are they being used as classroom substitutes?
Remote music is a total waste of time. Singing Jack and Jill went up the hill into a computer screen is absurd and teaches nothing.
Let's also talk about driver instruction at the high school? I see their cars on the streets. Are students behind the wheel or are the instructors heading to Jack in the Box for tacos?
My kids have thankfully been out of school for a while and not had to deal with this type of sub standard learning. If they were still in school, I would be on the phone with the superintendent or board members and ask these questions.
Oh and I would have had kids back in school by now as well.
Welcome to GCG. It gets a little rough but you can handle it. Most of us are just playing head games when we argue. LOL they did not fail, because they did what their country asked of them....
Spot on Opie, I have a ton of teachers in my family that would much rather be in the classroom. Seems that what has happen in some districts when schools opened. Many staff got COVID and there were not enough subs to fill in for them. I am told that online teaching is not easy for teachers either. I do think those who have great parents will do fine..others will not. I am sure it is not an easy decision for the school board when it comes to opening schools..also each district has its own issues with class size,space etc... I do not have an easy answer as to which is right...
Posted by Dave Williams on November 19, 2020, 6:53 pm, in reply to "ton of teachers/?"
There are some real whales that work at the school district.The policy of the American government is to leave their citizens free, neither restraining nor aiding them in their pursuits. -Thomas Jefferson
MillGirl, you made a good point about the space available. As many schools that have closed in our town the last ten years, I wonder if there is even room to maintain the "social distance" rule.
they did not fail, because they did what their country asked of them....
the usual politicians over grabbed the private sector companies that paid the taxes that supported public services in Granite City so they left. However be happy the same parasite leaders are still there in Granite providing a great role model for the free state army types in Granite that will continue to provide votes for the usuals in Granite. However as shown by the last election Granite Democrats and their welfare supported voters no longer control Madison County Politics. Now out of a job Gibbons will have to erat breakfast with his Granite police Lieutenant wife on a daily basis now. Good riddance to bad trash