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Martinsville schools' test scores, graduation rates rise despite rising poverty rate

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Danny Stewart
Sunday, March 3, 2013: 5:14 am
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And that idiot Oakley said it couldn't be done because this was the 21st century. Congrats to Susie Lipps for stepping up and showing that it can be done.

nobodyimportant
Sunday, March 3, 2013: 12:01 pm
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It is good to see the graduation rates improving. The downturn in ISTEP scores may or may not be significant. Hopefully those graduating are also improving in the area of readiness for post-graduation.

I admit to not knowing who "Oakley" is, but I sincerely hope he or she doesn't deserve the "idiot" judgment.

Danny Stewart
Sunday, March 3, 2013: 10:36 pm
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Nobody,

Oakley is an educated idiot. I had a conversation with him a couple of years ago about the standards the taught us when I was in school. Well, Oakley answered that no teacher of the 21st century could live up to those standards.

Look, s lot of people like the guy, that's fine, but as far as I'm concerned, with that attitude, he doesn't need to be a teacher, especially a history teacher. I'm just glad my kids didn't go to the school he teaches at. From what I've seen, he's more worried about his union than anything else.

nobodyimportant
Tuesday, March 5, 2013: 12:13 am
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The standards for grammar must have been pretty low.

Danny Stewart
Tuesday, March 5, 2013: 8:04 am
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If that's true, then what does that say about teachers like Oakley that say a teacher of the 21st century couldn't possibly achieve those standards.

nobodyimportant
Tuesday, March 5, 2013: 8:27 am
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I was thinking of the grammar used on this blog by those of us in those earlier generations, but it seems to me that teachers don't achieve the standards contained in the article, the students do. I wasn't in the conversation with this teacher so I don't know the context. I suspect he may have been alluding to cultural changes in family systems that present classroom challenges today that were not as prevalent earlier, ie; higher rates of poverty, increasing numbers of single parent households, increased rates of tobacco, alcohol, and drug use, higher rates of poor health and obesity etc.

None of that should be an excuse, but thse factors and more play a role in the readiness of students to learn. Teachers do not have an isolated learning environment. I taught in the 60's. I can tell you with absolute certainty, I had it easy from the perspective of students and their readiness and willingness to learn. I can also tell you with the same absolute certainty that I would not teach today, but I am so appreciative of those who do.

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