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This comment was posted on the Class Size link today:
"They are finally combining an upper grade to create a 3rd kindergarten. The teachers are mad and chatty about it. They seem to be pointing fingers at one another blaming one another and are giving a lot of push back."
- Hiring enough teachers to prevent crowded classes seems like a great way to improve the learning environment. Instead, it seems like school budgets are cut to save money that is then spent to try to improve the poor learning environment that results from the cuts.
Re: the celebratory music, etc. that accompanied the announcement, it would be more appropriate to celebrate after success is actually achieved. It feels like this type of celebration is staged to make it harder for people to raise concerns.
Yes we all know that early learning is important. But, overcrowded upper elementary classes is leading to serious discipline issues. Remember in college when you learned about experiments in psychology with too many animals in a box? They get violent. Older students need physical space for an optimum leaning environment.
Perry High School and Westinghouse Fight! Last night the two teams fist fought in the middle of the South Stadium field. Pittsburgh Public School Police Officers and Security Officers had to get the situation under control. Many Officers were hit and without them it would had been students severely hurt! No City of Pittsburgh Officers were called or present. The fight was down right ugly! Many parents have it on film. Good Job Pittsburgh Public School Public Safety! Good Job!
if you want to improve the learning environment it is very simple-1. reduce class sizes 2. hold students and parents accountable, have parenting workshops that are mandated. 3. let teachers teach, not just manage behaviors all day every day 4. have mental health experts in each building on a regular basis to deal with the children in crisis.5. require a working contact number for attendance at schools. That is just the beginning, but I'm sure $8 million could help with this.
6 comments:
This comment was posted on the Class Size link today:
"They are finally combining an upper grade to create a 3rd kindergarten. The teachers are mad and chatty about it. They seem to be pointing fingers at one another blaming one another and are giving a lot of push back."
- Hiring enough teachers to prevent crowded classes seems like a great way to improve the learning environment. Instead, it seems like school budgets are cut to save money that is then spent to try to improve the poor learning environment that results from the cuts.
Re: the celebratory music, etc. that accompanied the announcement, it would be more appropriate to celebrate after success is actually achieved. It feels like this type of celebration is staged to make it harder for people to raise concerns.
Yes we all know that early learning is important. But, overcrowded upper elementary classes is leading to serious discipline issues. Remember in college when you learned about experiments in psychology with too many animals in a box? They get violent. Older students need physical space for an optimum leaning environment.
isn't the adding of a class just the result of the October leveling process?
Can someone explain the leveling steps taken recently at the school?
Perry High School and Westinghouse Fight!
Last night the two teams fist fought in the middle of the South Stadium field. Pittsburgh Public School Police Officers and Security Officers had to get the situation under control. Many Officers were hit and without them it would had been students severely hurt! No City of Pittsburgh Officers were called or present. The fight was down right ugly! Many parents have it on film. Good Job Pittsburgh Public School Public Safety! Good Job!
if you want to improve the learning environment it is very simple-1. reduce class sizes 2. hold students and parents accountable, have parenting workshops that are mandated. 3. let teachers teach, not just manage behaviors all day every day 4. have mental health experts in each building on a regular basis to deal with the children in crisis.5. require a working contact number for attendance at schools.
That is just the beginning, but I'm sure $8 million could help with this.
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