[desertgrandma]

Originally Posted by Rbneader

Well, when we stuff kids into rooms where they can't do anything active or really engaging, then teach them that 'real' reading means literary analysis, it's no wonder they don't like it.

Ahem. I can only assume you haven't spent much, if any time, in a classroom volunteering with different teachers for any length of time.

I don't know about the schools you have exprience with, but the schools Ive volunteered in for the last 6 years do NOT "stuff kids into rooms where they can't do anything active or really engaging, then teach them that 'real' reading means literary analysys". In my daughters 2nd grade room, for instance, every table had a basket of books for kids to read when they finished classwork, or had free time. Books were avaalbe in different levels, up to grade 5. All bought by my daughter. The kids loved being able to sort thru many different genres, and levels. She wasn't unique in this aspect, every class I walked thru had books avaialbe to their students.....

Plus, most US teachers aren't that good. Personal experience says that only about 3/4ths of them are really trying to teach, and of those who care most are young and in the process of getting burnt out. Bull Hockey. My daughter has been teaching 14 years. SIL 12. BFF 16. Grandaughters kinder teacher 13. Teammates all have many many years under their belt. All outstanding, all dedicated and sacrifice personal time to make sure their students excel......even if they don't want to.

Also, there's the twin whammies of US culture losing respect for education and many more broken homes. Teaching is hard enough with respectful and interested students. Trying to teach someone who's home is disrupted or broken is doubtless so much worse in so many ways.

How do you figure losing respect for education? Throwing money at districts doesn't ensure a good education. Making families as responsible for their students success as the teachers would go a long way towards accomplishing that, but we all know that will never happen.
Just in case you might be wondering how I can be so adament about my statements? This last school year, I spent between 4-6 hrs per day, 4-5 days per week, in classrooms. Strictly voluneering, copying, filing, reading with indivuals, doing whatever needed to be done. Mostly in the second grade where my daughter taught, but whenever my granddaughters 5th grade teacher needed anything, or any teammates did, I was there. I saw first hand exactly what a dedicated teacher does.......not just my daughter, almost all. I won't say every teacher was outstanding, yes some are poor.......but they are in the minority, not the majority.