School, I don't get it...

**pop goes the weasel** · 02-01-2010, 03:34 PM

Maybe I'm just old or something but our local high school is in danger of turning into a charter because they are failing the state mandatory testing. Now what I don't get is this. Last week they had a snow day on the day they had a pep rally so they didn't have it obviously. Today they were told that if 90% of the kids show up at a test the school is giving, (not PSSA) then they will have a pep rally at the end of that week. Now I don't have anything against pep rallies and such stuff but this sounds like they are rewarding the kids for coming to school which they have to do anyway. Shouldn't they be focusing on how to improve the grades and get the school back to where it was which was above standard last year? Like I said maybe I'm just old. If they fail again the kids won't be happy, dress codes and such will be enforced. Just needed to vent. Thanks

**MomToTwoBoys** · 02-01-2010, 05:55 PM

I have a firm belief that kids need to enjoy the atmosphere that they're put into for learning. If you don't make it seem at least a little fun, then the kids won't want to come at all (unless they're addicted to school like I was).

That being said, I think that rewarding and bribing children to come for something that they're required to come to (by state and federal law) is improper.

If my children had teachers that were bribing them into coming to school, I don't think I'd be a happy mother. I'm all for making learning fun, but it should be done during instruction. This means that the teacher should have a bigger responsibility to ensure that the kids are both enjoying themselves and love what they're learning.

I'm glad both of my boys' teachers are extremely proactive with making learning both fun and challenging now, instead of waiting until the negative results come in.