The governor signed a bill today that declares February 6 as Ronald Reagan Day in California.
And I'm delighted to note that we have established a commission to plan Ronald Reagan Centenniel events. Whew. Just when I thought the state was in a budget crisis, is forcing state workers to take 3 days off a month without pay, is getting ready to issue I-O-Us instead of actually paying bills, and has just laid off thousands of teachers, shoving more students into every classroom (did you know Kindergarten classes are now 30-1? Thirty. Tiny. Children. One. Teacher.). Whew. It is a relief to see we have our attention and our money focused on something this vital.
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Just a note. A bunch of kids come in to kindergarten already with a sense of phoenemic awareness -- that is, they understand that letters represents sounds we make with our mouths, and that these sounds make words, and we can learn to read and write those sounds when we learn to write letters. And then, they can grip a big fat pencil in their weak little hands and make it happen. Maybe write a few words, write their names, perhaps a phrase. But a bunch come in without even the tiniest little inkling that this relationship between sounds, letters, pencils, paper, words, and meaning even exists. Some still wet their pants. Some cry, and then vomit because they've been swallowing their tears and whatever else they've licked off their upper lips. They pick their noses. They will touch you, and they are very short. If you sit down and are eye level, they are likely to lean on you, sling an across your back, absent-mindedly pinch your arm fat. An acquaintance who teaches kindergarten in Long Beach was slapped across the face by a defiant child.
ReplyDeleteSo if you know anyone who teaches K-3, you should buy them lunch and tell them thank you. Those teachers are working on the front lines, and their jobs just became much, much more difficult.
PLUS! There's talk of teaching kindergarten kids how to take a bubble-in exam. Not a test of content, but a test of process. Learn the process of reading answers ABCD, and coloring in the bubble -- in kindergarten! Preparing them to start taking standardized tests in the 1st and 2nd grade.
I have an idea. Why don't we just give parents a CD, and ask them to play the CD while their children sleep so the kids can learn proper test taking behavior while sleeping?
Excuse me. I have to go scream into a pillow. Be back later.
Wow. I am appalled by some of the comments people made on that site.
ReplyDeleteAs for the Ronald Reagan Day, I am delighted to see this, as I sure you predicted.
I can understand you're upset since you work in a field directly affected by the ongoing economic recession, but still... Would you feel differently if it was Barbara Boxer or Diana Feinstein having a day dedicated to them?
Nope, wouldn't feel differently. Believe it's Diane with-an-e, by the way. Diana (uh) was the Princess.
ReplyDeleteDidn't read the comments. Are people being mean? To heck with negative people, I say! Log off and go kick a ball around.