http://www.cnn.com/2011/US/01/26/florida.grading.parents/index.html?hpt=Sbin

This is about the most ridiculous thing I've seen in a while.
This was proposed by a Republican legislator.
So much for keeping the gub'met out of peoples lives.

Parents need to play a bigger part in their kids education but it looks like some are trying to find excuses for their own faults.

Sometimes parents play TOO big a part.
I've seen projects that my kid did BY HIMSELF when compared to SOME other kids projects, you KNOW there was NO way that a 10 year old kid could build it...it was probably all done by the mom or dad.

I'd be for this on ONE condition.. That tenure and the step system is eliminated and teachers are assessed by a combination of administrators and parents on a yearly basis, with Salary tied to rating.

welcome to CHINA.....

for a generation and 1/2 the 'responsibility' has been put on the socialist systems to do the jobs of the parents......and parents either stated
"I pay for that SERVICE"...misinterpreting their anger over the cost of public education and their need to work 50/60hours a week just to own a home
and pay taxes for that SERVICE......I cant say I disagree....but, it is VALUE for our taxes that we seek,,,,not just some pillow fluffing feel good,
keep it together, fluff and stuff that makes us feel good so we dont keep digging lies.......

Has to be a Rep legislator.  Reps want smaller gov't but they are busy getting into the personal lives of citizens.

Just goes to prove that there's an element of stupid in both parties.

Having a child in elementary school, I see a lot of other parents that really dont do a damn thing to help their kids.  I knew some 9 year olds that cant tie their shoes.  Ive seen second graders that cant spell their names right.  Kids going into kindergarten that dont know the ABCs or colors.  Then you have some older kids that dont bother with homework because no one at home will help them.  Ive seen kids that dont know how to bathe or dress.  They dont comb their hair or even brush their teeth.  I guess I was the bad mom that made goodies for my child's class and went on field trips and volunteered in the class at times.  There is no way my kid would go to school looking like a mess and not have her work done.  But I felt bad for some of her classmates that did.  

I know that some parents dont have the money for things.  I dont either.  But I always made sure her clothes were clean and that she was too.  I cant afford designer clothes for her or myself.  But shes neat and clean.  She gets enough to eat and she can take care of herself.  I teach her things she needs to know and I help her with her homework.  I dont do it for her.  I show her how to do it herself.  

Kids rely on adults to show them the way of life.  They follow the direction of the adults around them.  They live by example.  You cant rely on the teacher to teach them the basic things in life like tieing shoes or how to bathe and dress.  Thats the parents job.  By the time they start school, they should know how to write their names, all their colors and the ABCs.  

Maybe Im just "old school".  

Quoted from Gemini

Having a child in elementary school, I see a lot of other parents that really dont do a damn thing to help their kids.  I knew some 9 year olds that cant tie their shoes.  Ive seen second graders that cant spell their names right.  Kids going into kindergarten that dont know the ABCs or colors.  Then you have some older kids that dont bother with homework because no one at home will help them.  Ive seen kids that dont know how to bathe or dress.  They dont comb their hair or even brush their teeth.  I guess I was the bad mom that made goodies for my child's class and went on field trips and volunteered in the class at times.  There is no way my kid would go to school looking like a mess and not have her work done.  But I felt bad for some of her classmates that did.  

I know that some parents dont have the money for things.  I dont either.  But I always made sure her clothes were clean and that she was too.  I cant afford designer clothes for her or myself.  But shes neat and clean.  She gets enough to eat and she can take care of herself.  I teach her things she needs to know and I help her with her homework.  I dont do it for her.  I show her how to do it herself.  

Kids rely on adults to show them the way of life.  They follow the direction of the adults around them.  They live by example.  You cant rely on the teacher to teach them the basic things in life like tieing shoes or how to bathe and dress.  Thats the parents job.  By the time they start school, they should know how to write their names, all their colors and the ABCs.  

Maybe Im just "old school".  

And those neglectful parents will be the first ones blaming the schools and government for their child's lack of basic life skills.

Kudos to you Gemini for teaching your children. It is parents like you that will keep this country moving in a better, positive direction.

I thought it was every parents goal to have their child succeed.  To have everything they never had.  To be able to grow up and take care of themselves.  Am I wrong?  I dont push her to do sports or anything.  If she wants to do that, she decides.  She hates homework.  All kids do.  But I sit down and work her through it.  Ive explained to her that life only gets harder.  To be able to have this knowledge will make it easier.  She may not fully understand it now but this will only help her later on in life.  Good habits now are good habits later.  I dont want her to grow up not knowing how to live and take care of herself.  

Now if only I can get her to clean her room.  Ha ha ha...    

Quoted from Henry

Parents need to play a bigger part in their kids education but it looks like some are trying to find excuses for their own faults.

Hammer meet nail.  

This bill would only add more volatility to the issue of child learning.   It is also arrogance coming to the forefront.   This bill says that they did the math and civil servants are smart and therefore get to grade everyone else, the audacity.    

The trending of dual incomes to maintain a household is the fix here.   When I do the math I see the parents of our children spending less time with their children and more hours working.    Our schools have our children's attention for five of the seven days in a week.   Hopefully one of the parents in these households don't have to have a second job.   I will say sacrificing money over time with a child is imperative , but it may not be possible in some cases.    Add the ever increasing single parent homes and you can see this proposed grading system is going to spark some explosions.

The sooner government and unions start to understand the concept of doing more with less, the sooner we will be in a better place , IMHO.
I hope I haven't offended anyone.

I completely agree that parents have the responsibility to make sure their children are properly prepared for school, both material wise and emotionally. They should make sure that homework is done and help when needed.

BUT what I also see during the years with my two kids is the increased learning load required of them.
Teachers unions like NEA and NYSUT steadfastly refuse to increase the length of the class day or the school year, so this extra load of work is dumped on the kids AND their parents at home.
The reason summer break existed was to allow the children to help with the harvest...We no longer live in an agricultural society. Its time the teachers union realize what we are doing is no longer working and look to other regions of the world to see what is working.

Quoted from Gemini

I thought it was every parents goal to have their child succeed.  To have everything they never had.  To be able to grow up and take care of themselves.  Am I wrong?  I dont push her to do sports or anything.  If she wants to do that, she decides.  She hates homework.  All kids do.  But I sit down and work her through it.  Ive explained to her that life only gets harder.  To be able to have this knowledge will make it easier.  She may not fully understand it now but this will only help her later on in life.  Good habits now are good habits later.  I dont want her to grow up not knowing how to live and take care of herself.  

Now if only I can get her to clean her room.  Ha ha ha...    

or they were told not to have an abortion....just because one can have kids doesn't mean one should...and personal reflection
should be encouraged when having sex, getting married/not etc.....not all parents that have kids are parents and there for fail to have
goals for their kids because it was never a beginning in their eye just a consequence, ya know "my cross to bear crap".....

but I do agree that parenting is one job that never has protocols/regulations/systems etc......

AND IT'S NOT THE GOVERNMENT'S BUSINESS EITHER.....it's neighbor to neighbor...JMHO

Teachers are overworked and underpaid.  That's what we always hear, and now they have an additional responsibility?  And where will the supplies come from.  And, just like the kids report cards, who will make sure someone actually pays attention to the report cards when they come home.  If it's a report card for Mom and Dad, do you need to have Grandma and Grandpa's address on file to mail it to?

I know that I am responsible for my child's school supplies. And on the list are some classroom supplies to share for all the kids.  This includes tissues, paper towels on the roll (tubes later used for projects), pencils, scissors, glue, post-its....the list goes on and on.  

I havent read up on it but I think this parental report card would be something that is done to use at meetings for a child that isnt doing well or noticibly something going on at home.  Or something that is listed where the child is failing and listing things the parents can work on with helping.  I know my daughter's teacher sends notes home telling me that she didnt do well on a math test and what she needed work on.  I also get packets explaining how to do them.  

Im really not sure what good the report card for parents will do though.   Unless its sent to the social worker as well.  

Quoted from Gemini

I know that I am responsible for my child's school supplies. And on the list are some classroom supplies to share for all the kids.  This includes tissues, paper towels on the roll (tubes later used for projects), pencils, scissors, glue, post-its....the list goes on and on.  

I havent read up on it but I think this parental report card would be something that is done to use at meetings for a child that isnt doing well or noticibly something going on at home.  Or something that is listed where the child is failing and listing things the parents can work on with helping.  I know my daughter's teacher sends notes home telling me that she didnt do well on a math test and what she needed work on.  I also get packets explaining how to do them.  

Im really not sure what good the report card for parents will do though.   Unless its sent to the social worker as well.  

it's ockhams razor for the grading of the teachers.....simple