If you were to find out what time these kids go to bed on school nights, you would see a large part of the problem. As for teachers, I think that teaching should be a well paid profession. In Schenectady we spend too much, way too much, on other staff. I would not want a teaching job. However, if teachers are to be a respected profession, you have to raise the standards. Did you ever hear of someone flunking out of teacher college because it was too hard? My father told me that once you entered school to be a teacher, it was practically guaranteed you would become one. You can be a high school dropout with no GED and still become a teacher. I'm not kidding.
That Judy Atchinson who used to blog for the Gazette had some ideas about what was wrong with the way we try to educate poor kids, and she, like Rachel, did not let the schools off the hook.

Quoted from Madam X

If you were to find out what time these kids go to bed on school nights, you would see a large part of the problem. As for teachers, I think that teaching should be a well paid profession. In Schenectady we spend too much, way too much, on other staff. I would not want a teaching job. However, if teachers are to be a respected profession, you have to raise the standards. Did you ever hear of someone flunking out of teacher college because it was too hard? My father told me that once you entered school to be a teacher, it was practically guaranteed you would become one. You can be a high school dropout with no GED and still become a teacher. I'm not kidding.
That Judy Atchinson who used to blog for the Gazette had some ideas about what was wrong with the way we try to educate poor kids, and she, like Rachel, did not let the schools off the hook.

I believe that too......you cant train a teacher it comes from INSIDE...you either have the gift or you dont...same with nursing....I'm sure the same with engineering(I dont build bridges for a reason)
then there are the 'fillers'....those who have enthusiasm but SUCK....the union protects them....I've seen it.....tenure for a sloppy relative....yup! my own 2 eyes tramp stamp and all....

Quoted from rachel72

I was waiting for the standardized cop out answer. It's the poor, it's the parents fault, etc...etc..

You believe that Woodlawn parents aren't involved? That's the most middle-of-the-middle class with some of the most active PTA parents, they ARE involved with their childrens education.

You're COMPLETELY off base here, there is something wrong with the teachers and the english program. Schenectady was the ONLY district with 5 elementary schools on this list and that's very disturbing because, at a very young age, these kids are behind the 8 ball.

My suggestion: make Schenectady a Union-free District. Go by each teachers performance in order to give healthcare, benefits, retirement, etc. It will weed out the leaches sticking around getting a paycheck and sending their kids to other, better districts.

I am NOT off base on the matter -- because I have witnessed the apathy of parents first-hand -- as a teacher and, in recent years, in my dealings with young couples who are parents.    

Eliminating the teachers unions will NOT improve public education  --- anyone who thinks so is thinking with his or her head up his or her rectum.


Many parents who live in affluent suburban school districts -- like Shen, which also had a school which made the list,  are disconnected from their childrens' lives.   We have allowed at least 2 generations of young people to become parents who are more interested in their own careers and material things than they are in their own childrens' well-being and education.

You need teachers who are well-educated and prepared .. and who care.   You need parents who see themselves as first THE PRIMARY OR FIRST EDUCATORS OF THEIR CHILDREN and then laters as partners with the school in the education of their children.   And you need school boards and administrators AND  STATE LEGISLATORS AND FEDERAL LEGISLATORS AND GOVERNORS AND PRESIDENTS  who are also committed to quality education and doing what is BEST for the childrens' education and NOT just what is politically expedient.

One of the things I am MOST upset with President Obama over -- is his decision to gut No Child Left Behind ----   No Child Left Behind was IMHO a great idea  .... EVERY CHILD SHOULD BE READING AT OR NEAR GRADE LEVEL.     Reading is the key which unlocks the door to a good education.     No Child Left Behind may not have been perfect .. and it certainly was never funded adequately  .. but to throw reading standards out and replace it with Obama's goal to have all children go to college ---- is in a word STUPID.     First, if our children can't read what the hell good is it for them to go to college ..... second, college is NOT for everyone.  Our country would stop wasting a lot of money -- if we accepted the reality that EVERY CHILD should be able to read, write and do basic math ... but ultimately some students would be better served going to a vocational high school and others better served by going to a college-prep academic high school.     That system worked in our country for over a century and produced many fine minds and laborers -- and made our country the prosperous nation that it was in the 20th Century.     Let's get back to basics .... mandate that every child should be able to read, write and do basic math  --- solve that problem and we will produce enough people in a VARIETY of occupations from doctors and lawyers and scientists to laborers and craftsman.

Quoted from DemocraticVoiceOfReason

I am NOT off base on the matter -- because I have witnessed the apathy of parents first-hand -- as a teacher and, in recent years, in my dealings with young couples who are parents.    

Eliminating the teachers unions will NOT improve public education  --- anyone who thinks so is thinking with his or her head up his or her rectum.


Many parents who live in affluent suburban school districts -- like Shen, which also had a school which made the list,  are disconnected from their childrens' lives.   We have allowed at least 2 generations of young people to become parents who are more interested in their own careers and material things than they are in their own childrens' well-being and education.

You need teachers who are well-educated and prepared .. and who care.   You need parents who see themselves as first THE PRIMARY OR FIRST EDUCATORS OF THEIR CHILDREN and then laters as partners with the school in the education of their children.   And you need school boards and administrators AND  STATE LEGISLATORS AND FEDERAL LEGISLATORS AND GOVERNORS AND PRESIDENTS  who are also committed to quality education and doing what is BEST for the childrens' education and NOT just what is politically expedient.

One of the things I am MOST upset with President Obama over -- is his decision to gut No Child Left Behind ----   No Child Left Behind was IMHO a great idea  .... EVERY CHILD SHOULD BE READING AT OR NEAR GRADE LEVEL.     Reading is the key which unlocks the door to a good education.     No Child Left Behind may not have been perfect .. and it certainly was never funded adequately  .. but to throw reading standards out and replace it with Obama's goal to have all children go to college ---- is in a word STUPID.     First, if our children can't read what the hell good is it for them to go to college ..... second, college is NOT for everyone.  Our country would stop wasting a lot of money -- if we accepted the reality that EVERY CHILD should be able to read, write and do basic math ... but ultimately some students would be better served going to a vocational high school and others better served by going to a college-prep academic high school.     That system worked in our country for over a century and produced many fine minds and laborers -- and made our country the prosperous nation that it was in the 20th Century.     Let's get back to basics .... mandate that every child should be able to read, write and do basic math  --- solve that problem and we will produce enough people in a VARIETY of occupations from doctors and lawyers and scientists to laborers and craftsman.

1/3 parent problem
1/3 government problem
1/3 union problem

the parent problem is ALWAYS compounded FIRST.....by tax pressures and the inequality of guaranteed government unions.....oh the F'EN DECK IS STACKED...GET OFF MY BACK YOU DORK A$$ MONKEY

Quoted from DemocraticVoiceOfReason

You need teachers who are well-educated and prepared .. and who care.   You need parents who see themselves as first THE PRIMARY OR FIRST EDUCATORS OF THEIR CHILDREN and then laters as partners with the school in the education of their children.   And you need school boards and administrators AND  STATE LEGISLATORS AND FEDERAL LEGISLATORS AND GOVERNORS AND PRESIDENTS  who are also committed to quality education and doing what is BEST for the childrens' education and NOT just what is politically expedient.

I do agree with you DV, it does take a partnership with parents and teachers to educate a child BUT there is a problem in the Schenectady School District regarding the Unions.

As you stated, it takes a teacher who us well educated and CARES...from my observations, many of the teachers, principals and admin ship their OWN children to get an education elsewhere...out of the Schenectady public schools.

The Union is in control in Schenectady and that needs to stop. The Union takes the cream from the top and leaves the skim for the school to get materials and educate the kids. It's robbing the kids of a decent education which is evident because the schools are on every 'needs improvement' list. Stop the Union and start educating the kids.

Remember when there were 2 good schools, Mont Pleasant and Linton, then they consolidated in one big problem school district and it's been going down hill ever since and the kids are the ones that are suffering.

IMHO --- there was only one GOOD SCHOOL in Schenectady -- Mont Pleasant ... Linton was "the swamp".

Actually - that whole situation when they merged into one high school was questionable.   Several million dollars were had been spent on Mont Pleasant building a new gymnasium and other improvements .. and although the building is 30 years older than Linton -- it was structurally a very sound building.

The Schenectady School Board -- at the time -- in all its "wisdom"  (being very, very sarcastic) decided to spend another several million dollars improving Linton and making that the central high school.    Mont Pleasant would have been the better site and would have saved money because most of the work was already done and paid for,   Unfortunately,  the school board then (and now) - like the city council - all live NORTH of State Street and don't think about anything south of State Street or if they do they look down there noses at it.

Linton High School was built on a swamp and had problems with portions of the building's slab sinking and cracking --   huge windows that kids could enter and leave through -- while attempting to skip class or buy drugs  or run off into the woods and make out.   Linton should have been bull dozed -- and the children of the school board and city council should have had to go across town to Mont Pleasant for high school ... and then maybe they would actually give a damn about the condition of the side of Schenectady south of State Street.

Quoted from Shadow

Remember when there were 2 good schools, Mont Pleasant and Linton, then they consolidated in one big problem school district and it's been going down hill ever since and the kids are the ones that are suffering.

Mt. Pleasant and Linton were the envy back in the day. They use to have their yearly football game every election day. Many of our relatives went to both of those schools. And although they were 'perceived' as rivals, they were all friends since most were all related. If not related, they made great friendships. Most that lasted through their adult life.

Once they consolidated......it all went to sh!t! In the long run, it became more expensive and grades began to plummet at an alarming rate.

It is strange that every thing that 'consolidates' in the city, ends up costing the taxpayer more with a substandard result.

Reading , riting, and rithmetic.....

understand the those 3 r's ....most parents can't help their children with homeowrk....teaching has changed
these kids print, can't write their own name...can;t spell....so how do you expect them to do well in English???

....and what happens?????  many  teachers do not have patience with the kids that are not at the top of
their class.

An experience at a local middle school and HS...teachers are allowed to talk down to the kids having a hard
time and call them retards, idiots," you are going to fail" using the famous f word.

They talk about their college experiences; sexual and drug related.....
They dress unprofessionally....and want to be friends instead of a role model...

So, while I have respect for education, I feel that the teachers are not true to their profession and the union
contract is more a priority and their dedication to teaching.

It seems that there is no respect on either part.....go back to the 50's ..along with the technology of today
might solve a lot of problems.....that's when going to the principal's office meant something....and go home to
face the consequences.

PS:  The character of education has changed...and from the time they are in pre-school, the kids are taught to
start  thinking about higher education....college...so when do they have time to be a kid and grow up naturally.

DVOR

HOW MANY HATS DO YOU WEAR ?????  


LEST YOU FORGET                      NOTT TERRACE HIGH SCHOOL

many graduates have made great achievements in their llives......a great school with great teachers....

GO BLUE DEVILS.

Nott Terrace High School was WAAAAAY before my time.

too bad sooooo sad....you would have learned something....

you have so many hats.....and no master of none....

Quoted from Patches

An experience at a local middle school and HS...teachers are allowed to talk down to the kids having a hard time and call them retards, idiots," you are going to fail" using the famous f word.

They talk about their college experiences; sexual and drug related.....
They dress unprofessionally....and want to be friends instead of a role model...

This is the calibur of many (and absolutely not ALL) of the teachers in the district. It needs a MAJOR rehabilitation! Once you lower the standards as a teacher, it trickles down to the students.

The Teachers Union makes iron clad contracts for those teachers which are ineffective, unprofessional and passive. The Union doesn't care if a teacher doesn't do their job - all they care about is that the teacher has benefits, retirement and a good salary. The Union is doing a HUGE diservice to every child in the district and to every taxpayer. Money is paying for teachers who are unable to teach students.

De-Unionize the schools and bring teachers in on their merits. The school would have the option to keep the good teachers and discard the bad ones.

Idiotic and ignorant remarks about Linton High School.
Bumblethru, the consolidation was pure social engineering under the guise of saving money. Your recollection of the way it was is accurate, as is
Shadow's. It was horrible to watch something good destroyed by people like horrible Linda Bellick and other phony liberal holier-than-thou types. They were on a holy crusade to save the children and bring integration to schools which had never been segregated. We went to busing at a time when even the guy who invented busing no longer believed in it. The business about declining enrollment and savings was all a big lie and cover up for their real motives. Do you see savings reflected in your tax bill? Where are they now, to claim credit for the wonderful, improved Schenectady schools they just had to have?
BTW, "the Linton area" was used as a selling point in real estate advertising back in the day. Usually being right next to a school devalues property somewhat, due to traffic, kids, etc. so it's a testimony to the quality of the school when it's otherwise.

the city and the schools are in free fall. And there is no where near enough money to sustain the incompetence any longer. The city has created such an over inflated budget/fees/entitlements, that nothing short of bankruptcy will cure all of it's ills.

The fire departments are using antiquated equipment. The cops are corrupt and ineffective. The school system is an embarrassment. (all of which are overpaid and costing the taxpayers a bundle for services 'not rendered')

GE's union used to run the politicos in the city. Now the fire/cops/school/csea unions are running them and killing the city. And the politicos are allowing it.

Sad!