As If I Needed Another Sign
By DW Davis
@DWDavis (25797)
United States
June 5, 2017 4:05pm CST
I got back my students scores on their end-of-grade math test today. I was expecting the scores to be decent, not spectacular, but decent. I was sorely disappointed. It would not be an exaggeration to say the scores were catastrophic.
I didn't really need another sign to tell me it was time to get out of middle school and public school, but this one hit me like a ton of bricks. I guess it goes to prove you really cannot make a silk purse out of a sow's ear, spin straw into gold, or teach 7th grade math to students with 3rd grade skills, no matter how hard you try.
My only solace is I was planning to leave anyway. I've already drafted my resignation letter. In 3 1/2 days I will see the last of my public school students.
15 people like this
17 responses
@rebelann (117199)
• El Paso, Texas
5 Jun 17
What a shame. The public school system needs to be revised especially since it's the publics tax dollars that pay for it. I hear far too much about schools offering sports, arts and other such things which would be great if the parents of those kids interested actually had to pay for all that themselves, but when I hear that kids in 7th grade haven't the skills needed to pass 7th grade math then something has to give or else our government needs to stop taxing the public to pay for free education. Odd, their education is only free to them.
1 person likes this
@rebelann (117199)
• El Paso, Texas
7 Jun 17
I think the idea of education has gone way beyond real education @DWDavis that has to change. It's come to my attention that a lot of what I should have known fresh out of school was not taught, namely things like writing skills, math skills and the sciences.
Parents should provide the funds for sports or the arts if they feel their kids should be involved in those.
1 person likes this
@PainsOnSlate (21845)
• Canada
14 Jun 17
My sister taught in a middle school. She could hardly wait for retirement, It wasn't the kids, it was the system that drove her crazy Glad you see you are taking the steps to get the hell out of there.
1 person likes this
@DWDavis (25797)
• United States
14 Jun 17
Here in NC, the system is rigged against the teachers and the students in favor of the politicians and the bureaucrats. Combine that with the attitudes and habits too many of these kids learn in the 'hood and in their extremely dysfunctional homes, and teachers spend most of their time dealing with issues of every stripe and hardly get to teach. I'm ready to be in a place where I can actually teach.
1 person likes this
@DWDavis (25797)
• United States
14 Jun 17
@PainsOnSlate I signed the contract yesterday to teach 4th grade at a local parochial school.
1 person likes this
@PainsOnSlate (21845)
• Canada
14 Jun 17
@DWDavis I can understand that, I hope you get that chance to teach in the new school.
1 person likes this
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
7 Jun 17
Do you have a plan for next year?
1 person likes this
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
10 Jun 17
@DWDavis oh that sounds much nicer!
1 person likes this
@Marilynda1225 (91013)
• United States
5 Jun 17
Sad that you'll be leaving the public school system but it seems as if its meant to be. Wishing you the best of luck in your next phase of life
1 person likes this
@DWDavis (25797)
• United States
8 Jun 17
@Marilynda1225 Sadly, from all reports, it will only get worse in coming years. The elementary schools tell us the students coming up to 6th grade next year make the thuggish crowd we have this year look like choir members. In one of the elementary schools alone 18 5th graders are facing criminal charges for their behavior.
@Marilynda1225 (91013)
• United States
7 Jun 17
@DWDavis wishing you lots of luck in your new venture. I know from previous posts that teaching in the public school there was very difficult and violent at times
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (128828)
• Gainesville, Florida
7 Jun 17
Do you have a plan for what's next in your career? Or would this essentially be a retirement? Was just thinking about how much camping you could do now if you didn't have to go to work every day!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (128828)
• Gainesville, Florida
7 Jun 17
@DWDavis Awesome! I hope everything works out well for you in your new venture!
1 person likes this
@hereandthere (45628)
• Philippines
6 Jun 17
as others have said, you did your best. you were a dedicated teacher. i feel sorry for those who really want to learn and graduate.
1 person likes this
@DWDavis (25797)
• United States
7 Jun 17
I asked the students today if they'd really tried and worked out each problem. Almost every one of them admitted they had only written down one or two to work out and the rest they took their best guess on. They said the reading teacher told them they could trust their instincts if they read the passage, read the question, read the answers, and took their best guess. It worked for the reading test. Not so much on the math test.
1 person likes this
@TiarasOceanView (70020)
• United States
5 Jun 17
You did your utmost with them DW, I for sure know this about you.
Yes and that saying is drummed into me from my Irish Mama..you definitely can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear.
I will be glad to know when you start your new teaching position.
I feel you though, it must be very disappointing.
1 person likes this
@TiarasOceanView (70020)
• United States
7 Jun 17
@DWDavis Well that is a credit to you then that those students know that you cared for them and tried to help them.So nice that the student told you so as well..very touching that DW. They will remember you.
1 person likes this
@DWDavis (25797)
• United States
7 Jun 17
The irony is, the kids were telling me today that it wasn't my fault the scores were so low. They took ownership in admitting they could have done better but they didn't think it mattered. One boy was nearly in tears telling me I'm the best math teacher he's ever had and he learned more from me this year than he ever had. He wished he could take the test over and prove it.
2 people like this
@Deepizzaguy (122070)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
7 Jun 17
I can just see the right wing hosts of the websites saying that the public school system in our nation will hatch another generation of young adults who will rely on government assistance to make ends meet instead of learning skills to earn a living.
1 person likes this
@DWDavis (25797)
• United States
7 Jun 17
They will probably say just that, but will never admit they are the ones who have undermined the teachers and led to the worst teacher shortage in US History.
Though it is the left that pushed social promotion and participation grades so these students could move up without learning the curriculum.
1 person likes this
@Deepizzaguy (122070)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
7 Jun 17
@DWDavis I see your point.
1 person likes this
@JohnRoberts (109841)
• Los Angeles, California
5 Jun 17
It's time to move on to something more gratifying.
1 person likes this
@thislittlepennyearns (68211)
• Defuniak Springs, Florida
5 Jun 17
Are you still planning on going to a private school to teach.
I'm sorry that this year with your public school kids went so sour.
Try to make it through the last of the school year.
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (208751)
• United States
6 Jun 17
Oh that is sad! It is never good to leave on a bad note, but you have to do, what you have to do.
1 person likes this
@lillywriter (1143)
• Lithuania
5 Jun 17
Catastrophic scores do not mean catastrophy of life. Good luck
1 person likes this
@Poppylicious (11134)
• United Kingdom
5 Jun 17
I know the time is right for you to leave, but the fact they're losing such a good teacher is a real shame.
1 person likes this
