Why are some kids so useless?

[PaSucks]

I thought MD9 killed hobos. Or was it dentists?

[Tippster]

I hate teachers who don't realize they're merely glorified babysitters. If I wanted your whiny assed opinion on my perfect kid I would come to the goddamn Parent/Teacher conference, douchebag! Now leave me alone, I'm too busy for this crap.

[GoldMember]

I hate teachers who don't realize they're merely glorified babysitters. If I wanted your whiny assed opinion on my perfect kid I would come to the goddamn Parent/Teacher conference, douchebag! Now leave me alone, I'm too busy for this crap.

Yeah! Don't you know we're solving the world's problems here at TGR??

[Mex]

These do end up flunking. My class at least. Parents surprisingly don't care. Since I teach juniors and seniors in high school the kids are pretty much who they are and parents are rarely involved at all.

I used to work in an alternative high school. I think some of these kids would be better suited in that type of school. Unfortunately, it's okay for us to have kids failining, but it's not okay to send them to a school that's better for them. That affects our budget b/c our budget is based on enrollment.

The school I work at is an Alternative setting geared towards trades rather than academics. The pace is slower and the material in the classes is not as difficult. Kids have all kinds of exceptions and differentiated instruction. There are essentially no deadlines and no homework. And this kid still can't get 'er done. I totally understand the square pegs in round holes but I mean, come on, when does this kid have to take some initiative and ownership of his own future. I mean really, you can't carry a pencil to class? You can't show up one day a week on time? Classes aren't that hard, there is help and resources around every corner, essentially the whole school is modified.
I also agree that moving a kid on to the next level without passing the previous level isn't working. If a kid can't read at a Grade 8 level, why move him to Grade 9 and expect him to read at a Grade 9 level? Is that not setting him up for failure? I guess psychologists would argue it would dimish his self-esteem and he would become bed wetter.
And if I call the parents of my students it's like I'm interrupting them and wasting their time. Some parents just don't care. I think they think I've got nothing better to do than to call and bug them.

[marshalolson]

he is exercising agency - the culturally confined ability to act. culutre places constraint on the freedom associated with action.

it is our culure that allows this behavior and thus it is our culture that is worthless. IMHO.