tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6987137491090073694.post4507841590340226219..comments2023-06-06T08:38:48.961-07:00Comments on Mama Bean's World: What's Wrong with Clark County SchoolsMama Beanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18033217052870979294noreply@blogger.comBlogger28125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6987137491090073694.post-41189119987942611422018-08-25T10:02:20.822-07:002018-08-25T10:02:20.822-07:00I appreciate your article! I think I teach at the ...I appreciate your article! I think I teach at the school you referenced and I might have had your son in one of my larger classes last year (I might be reading between lines, but it reads pretty familiar!) Either way, thank you for writing this. It is so wonderful to hear from parents who recognize the struggles we have in CCSD. I love my school, I love my classes (50+ & all), but we have to start figuring out how to make the budgets work more efficiently. We have to recognize that teachers and parents need to be partners, not adversaries. Our kids need to see that coordination and united fronts to help them realize that education is an important step to their futures! Thank you, a million times, thank you. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6987137491090073694.post-84559661374969567682018-08-22T19:39:13.498-07:002018-08-22T19:39:13.498-07:00Mama Bean covered almost everything that we all th...Mama Bean covered almost everything that we all think about and are not able to change. the overly large classes do not allow good teacher individual student interaction. There are many students who wish to learn but there are an equal number who don't. Raises are now based on how well the students do. Have a class full of those who never come to school (and are not put out) or who come and literally do nothing no matter how hard you try, is disheartening The majority of teachers I know lament daily that for some reason the kids are just not interested. They feel they don't need to know this or that because they will either be working with their dad or a relative. Thank you Mama Bean for your very astute blog.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6987137491090073694.post-60919258986487081312018-08-21T22:48:45.847-07:002018-08-21T22:48:45.847-07:00There ARE only so many hours in the day 🤦♂️There ARE only so many hours in the day 🤦♂️Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6987137491090073694.post-23810750405484898092018-08-20T19:21:19.078-07:002018-08-20T19:21:19.078-07:00Thank you Mama Bean! You must be clairvoyant! I am...Thank you Mama Bean! You must be clairvoyant! I am a hard working veteran of 21 years in the CCSD trenches. The worst problem I face is the continual decline in the maturity level of high school students I teach. I dealing with some of the parents, unfortunately I can see why. It is disheartening and discouraging, but I soldier on. There are always some students who still care, and they make it all worthwhile. Thanks for sharing! Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6987137491090073694.post-81918359734384718672018-08-20T18:05:52.748-07:002018-08-20T18:05:52.748-07:00Amy- you hit the nail on the head! Some of the mo...Amy- you hit the nail on the head! Some of the most adamant, involved parents are the ones that have struggled for what they have. They understand that education is the key to a better future. <br /><br />I graduated from Cornell and every year we host a reception for the newly accepted students. They are all very different- some have parents who are doctors, others have housekeepers. The common factor were the parents. They were engaged. One woman worked two jobs at minimum wage so that her son wouldn't have to work and could attend the IB program at Valley. He took the bus for an hour each way. And there he stood next to a young man who attended boarding school. They had far more in common than not- they were both bright, funny, great kids. Different paths to get there, but they ended up at the same place.<br /><br />That's the beauty of education- it can be equalizer.<br /><br />But the parents that view schools as the enemy or teachers as an obstacle... I just don't get it.<br /><br />It has NOT been our experience in the least. Mama Beanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18033217052870979294noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6987137491090073694.post-89272017913624901772018-08-20T16:24:09.911-07:002018-08-20T16:24:09.911-07:00I teach at a Title One high school, but I teach ho...I teach at a Title One high school, but I teach honors English. Somr of my students'families are very poor, and many don't speak English. However, I have rarely encountered a parent who didn't fully support their child's education. In fact, most are adamant that their kids make the most of every opportunity to make a better life for themselves and their future children.<br /><br />Good and bad parents exist at all socioeconomic levels. This deficit is simply more visible with poor, minority, or non-native English speaking students. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14038210124582107554noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6987137491090073694.post-62166964745400084462018-08-20T08:07:33.161-07:002018-08-20T08:07:33.161-07:00My daughter was one of those 23 National Merit Sch...My daughter was one of those 23 National Merit Scholars. I know what school you are talking about. High test scores, high grades, hs sport, including team captain, club sport since she was 9 (6 days a week, 3 hours a day) and she still didn't get into her top choices. It's no joke what you need to do to compete with the rest of the country! And I've been saying for years that schools haven't changed, the family's priorities for education have. "You get out of your education what you put into it." But parents who don't value education (their choice) or aren't home to enforce education (not their choice, perhaps) have the biggest effect. That school with all the National Merits is a zoned school, not a CTA. They do an amazing job of raising up the zone kids, too.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6987137491090073694.post-64468095386790423432018-08-20T06:52:05.265-07:002018-08-20T06:52:05.265-07:00Agree completely! It's so overwhelming on top ...Agree completely! It's so overwhelming on top of everything we do in the classroom, creating our own materials from different sources.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6987137491090073694.post-72011086487615453752018-08-20T06:50:36.640-07:002018-08-20T06:50:36.640-07:00Thank you so much! As a teacher, I so appreciate y...Thank you so much! As a teacher, I so appreciate your words. Please keep spreading your message 😊Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6987137491090073694.post-43593921976674962472018-08-20T06:45:10.491-07:002018-08-20T06:45:10.491-07:00I started to read this fully expecting it to be a ...I started to read this fully expecting it to be a typical article/blog criticizing our district - and want to thank you for every word. It was a great way to start my week knowing there are people who do value and appreciate the work we do every day! Thank you!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6987137491090073694.post-39651706707304069302018-08-20T02:37:24.603-07:002018-08-20T02:37:24.603-07:00wow i am blown away first off you are amazing and ...wow i am blown away first off you are amazing and 2nd i clearly know the soltion for this you need to be the head of the school district or the head of banging parents heads together this is the best well explained thoughts about this i have ever read or heard MAMA BEAN your wisdom and insight into this is clearly the solurtion i thnk you are the solution I APPLAUAD YOU<br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05576746240170781812noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6987137491090073694.post-81330022763567650092018-08-20T01:45:58.196-07:002018-08-20T01:45:58.196-07:00Excellent article. There's one thing you forgo...Excellent article. There's one thing you forgot. The Common Core. CCSD treats it as if it is gold. First off it's a standard. CCSD has made it their curriculum. Schools (speaking for elementary only) have zero curriculum. Teachers interpret the standard and write a lesson from there. If you happen to be a first year teacher with no experience, the student loses out. Many teachers rely on Teachers Pay Teachers for their assignments or search the internet for hours on end to meet the standards. It doesn't matter id you have 15 kids or 40 kids in a room. If you don't have curriculum you really don't have much. That's just my opinion. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6987137491090073694.post-12666509008784110142018-08-19T23:35:03.142-07:002018-08-19T23:35:03.142-07:00Thank you for sharing your thoughts! I love this ...Thank you for sharing your thoughts! I love this City and care about our kids! Our schools and especially our TEACHERS can only do so much! It comes down to the children's home life and value the parents place in education! The sad truth is Vegas is one of very few cities where someone can take a few weeks/months training to be a dealer and strive to make a decent living. My kids are a product of CCSD school system and they are doing well. My daughter graduated from UNLV just passed her accreditation exam in the healthcare profession and has two more years to graduate with an advanced degree in a top ivy league school in the east coast. This is a testament to a very good public school system and hopefully and I believe, some good parenting.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6987137491090073694.post-48556335469150607112018-08-19T23:29:14.936-07:002018-08-19T23:29:14.936-07:00I am 75, when I was in school the worst thing that...I am 75, when I was in school the worst thing that could happen would be bringing a letter home from the teacher--my parents were American born to immigrant parents, the teacher was always RIGHT!! My grandparents thought the only way to improve your lot in life was to get an education--so they pushed their children, who in turn pushed their children. My two children were brought up to value education and respect their teachers-they both earned engineering degrees. Unfortunately that pattern did not filter down to my grandchildren--they were using computers when they were in preschool, when one came home and said she wasn't doing well because the teacher didn't like her, my daughter went and had her switched to another class-this was 2nd grade!! So I agree with many of the comments above-there is no longer respect for teachers or education. The parents feel like they send their kids to school and have no responsibility to teach them manners, respect or check their homework. I worked with a woman that found out 5 months before school's end that her daughter didn't have enough credits to graduate!! One of the other women asked why she hadn't gone on line to check on her daughter's progress--she said she expected the school to contact her if there was a problem!! I don't want to sound racist but this was a white mother in a supervisory position---not a poor woman holding down two jobs!! Until we get back to the basics and respect for each other, respect for teachers, a value of education there will not be a change in the system. As someone said - you can't fix stupid. And it isn't the kids that are stupid!Grandmanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6987137491090073694.post-507830467678089342018-08-19T21:48:12.833-07:002018-08-19T21:48:12.833-07:00Yes, Dear parents, if you don't, they won'...Yes, Dear parents, if you don't, they won't and we teachers can't. Education begins at home and is ongoing forever for all of us. Thank you Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10076503604441549600noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6987137491090073694.post-10909721152439374932018-08-19T18:23:38.809-07:002018-08-19T18:23:38.809-07:00Our oldest son has special needs. He had teachers ...Our oldest son has special needs. He had teachers who cared but couldn't help because of bad policy. The schools(he went to several) he attended had the programs he needed. The principals said no because it cost his school extra money. We had a meeting with the district official over special programs. We brought with us state representatives proving his need for help. The cowardly principal sat behind the district rep and didn't say a word. In short they said it's the principals decision and if you don't like it then sue us.<br />We moved to a district that has given our son more than ccsd ever offered and they were glad to do it. He is doing well now.<br />Keep up the good fight everyone.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6987137491090073694.post-48259637725351871022018-08-19T17:37:51.364-07:002018-08-19T17:37:51.364-07:00For the parents who are ignorant enough to believe...For the parents who are ignorant enough to believe it is solely the job of schools to educate your children, be advised that kids spend 86.68% of their actual time outside of a school building. If they are banking of the 13.32% of their time spent in schools to suffice, they need to accept the end results that are due to their own lack of effort. It’s just a weak cop out to blame the teachers. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6987137491090073694.post-16146436975925731642018-08-19T16:23:42.098-07:002018-08-19T16:23:42.098-07:00Thank you so much for writing this! I have been a...Thank you so much for writing this! I have been an educator for more than 15 years and I am so tired of the parents who actually believe they are not responsible for educating their child in any way. While I love kids, and I love to teach, I did not give birth to these children. My job is supposed to begin 30 minutes before the school day begins and end 30 minutes after the final bell rings. I knew that would not be the case, but I honestly never expected to be faced with parents and a system who fully believe these children are supposed to be the only thing I care about in my life. Apparently, I am supposed to give up my family for these children . I am supposed to give up my recreation time for these children. I am supposed to spend my hard-earned and barely sufficient paycheck on these children. And finally, I am not supposed to ever be upset about these ridiculous expectations or speak out against them, because I chose to be a teacher. Well, every one of these parents chose to have a child . But there is never an expectation that they raise them, teach them, feed them, clothe them properly. How is this the world we live in now? Parents everywhere need to get their crap together and recognize THEY brought these young lives into the world. THEY are responsible for supporting education. THEY are the missing component from education in the 21st century. I show up. I teach. I care. I will stand in front of a bullet if necessary. But I will no longer be treated as a servant to selfish parents/children. My life and the life of my family MUST take precedence over the outrageous expectations hoisted upon teachers. And yet, sadly, because of this very broken system in this very broken district, I cannot sign my name to this post for fear of retaliation for simply wanting my career to be just that...my career, not my entire life. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6987137491090073694.post-60572800378541128372018-08-19T16:03:45.127-07:002018-08-19T16:03:45.127-07:00Thank you for supporting our schools and your kids...Thank you for supporting our schools and your kids!<br />Common sense blog.<br />Brilliant!<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6987137491090073694.post-67906697951088265512018-08-19T15:27:22.369-07:002018-08-19T15:27:22.369-07:00The new problem is, now they are trying to "e...The new problem is, now they are trying to "equalize" everybody, so class sizes are rising even in the magnetschools, and programs cut of there aren't enough students I the class (45!!!). They to teach a theatre or photography class to 45 kids - impossible. So the good teachers are leaving.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6987137491090073694.post-12092493889184667432018-08-19T14:20:33.053-07:002018-08-19T14:20:33.053-07:00As an elementary school administrator, I thank you...As an elementary school administrator, I thank you. As a parent, I thank you. As an educator with over 30 years of experience, I thank you. <br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6987137491090073694.post-50248370030441899452018-08-19T12:14:05.819-07:002018-08-19T12:14:05.819-07:00I worked in CCSD for ten years. One of the biggest...I worked in CCSD for ten years. One of the biggest motivators for me to move out of state was the fact that the Las Vegas community doesn’t value education or being educated. Gregorio!https://www.blogger.com/profile/14498606754054323607noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6987137491090073694.post-64826492755851000972018-08-19T11:25:58.491-07:002018-08-19T11:25:58.491-07:00Wow- thank you everyone! This is really blowing u...Wow- thank you everyone! This is really blowing up and being shared all over!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> Mama Beanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18033217052870979294noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6987137491090073694.post-48484349912454783052018-08-19T10:40:33.731-07:002018-08-19T10:40:33.731-07:00I am a teacher in a public magnet high school in L...I am a teacher in a public magnet high school in Las Vegas(16th year in the district), over 20 years teaching total. I appreciate how open, honest and articulately you spoke. You touched on all the things that most of my colleagues think about everyday. We love our profession and we love our students, but we are bewildered by CCSD, parents and the public perception of us as educators and what our “job” is, regarding education. Thank you for speaking the truth and OUR truth. I appreciate you!!!<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6987137491090073694.post-18191048219502911172018-08-19T10:02:19.228-07:002018-08-19T10:02:19.228-07:00Thank you for writing this. I'm an educator in...Thank you for writing this. I'm an educator in the district and a parent of children who goes to CCSD schools. I agree with what you wrote, and I'm so glad you did. I hope people who read this take a stand and start doing what needs to be done to fix the problems, because it is the right thing to do to change this crisis around. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com