Posts by Sarah James4

Jesse Flores842 said:I honestly can’t shake the image of a kid getting a bad grade and then immediately handing that failing paper right back to the teacher...

Sure, having extra cash wasn't strictly necessary—so what? It seems to me that the kids themselves were the ones driving the whole push for the field trip, though I'm certainly not suggesting we should just cater to their every whim.
This entire debate wouldn't even be happening if it weren't for the current budget crunch.
I completely get where you're coming from.

I'm looking over your last post now.
Look, forgive me if I sound blunt, but you shouldn't let a minor hiccup turn into an "it's all about being a good mom" situation—because, let's be honest, that's exactly what it is.
You could have easily tracked her down in the teachers' lounge this morning or just given her a quick call.

Maybe the actual point of her move was just to put a little something in the kid's pocket $6.75 when they head out somewhere 🤷 whether it was a planned outing or just a spontaneous thing (especially since you mentioned you've always had nothing but great experiences with her).
Please, don't take this as a personal attack, but in a way, I find myself agreeing with mirotta.
The teacher didn't just hand the kid money; she essentially gave him a small loan.

Money is lent when someone asks for it. I didn't see anything saying the kid grabbed her sleeve and begged for $10.

casuallynx8 said:It isn't quite like that—they don't have Sales Tax at the federal level, but they certainly have it at the state level.

Furthermore, if our goal is to remain integrated within the EU, maintaining a system comparable to Sales Tax is essentially non-negotiable.

And that sales tax averages out to what... maybe around 10%... a bit more here, a bit less there...🙂

Sure, you can't function without Sales Tax, but it doesn't have to be 23%.😢

School starts at 8:00. Kids are at roll call by 7:45, and classes wrap up by 2:30.
Students work in groups during class. They usually sit four to a desk.

Individual work is encouraged too. I mentioned that no system is perfect, including the one we chose. My kid is happy and actually loves school, though. That was our main goal when picking this place.

Sorry, I wasn't expecting much. I thought we were just comparing notes, but you seem pretty defensive for some reason.
It’s a bit silly to ask a question and then get upset by the answer.

The American education system has enough issues without me pointing them out or commenting on quality. I'm just sharing my own experience and what my child goes through in this specific school system.

You feel entitled to criticize the American and British systems—even hinting they're inferior—while simultaneously trying to shut me up if I say anything about how things work here.

I already shared my thoughts on the system in an earlier post. There's really no point in debating this further.

Education and these debates always get heated. I'm going to bow out now. 🙂

As for computer science... I'm not sure🤷, but I think it's essential since we use it every single day. It's true that kids sometimes know more than their teachers... but there are certain tech fundamentals you just have to learn. In high school, students take the AP Computer Science exams.

edit...
I forgot to mention one thing... take geography, for example. For a recent assignment, the task was to use the internet to find five key facts about a famous global landmark. She chose the Great Wall of China. Students have to decide for themselves how to filter and process information without overcomplicating things. Things like when it was built, its length, who constructed it, and so on.

placidorca16 said:As far as I'm concerned, religious studies doesn't belong in the curriculum either, but that's beside the point. Regarding computer science, it's usually an elective—like religious studies—starting around 3rd or 4th grade in most American elementary schools, though plenty of kids skip it because they already know more than what's being taught, making it pretty boring. Whether it should be mandatory from 1st grade or just starting in 3rd is definitely up for debate.

I’m curious—are history and geography mandatory from 1st grade at that international school (which I assume is here in the States)?

just like hauling around backpacks full of books. It seems absolutely nothing has changed—thirty years ago, they promised us we'd finally get lockers and actually do our homework at school.😁😂🤣

In my kid's school, they bring their books on Monday and take them home on Friday. Most homework is done during school hours anyway. If someone doesn't want to lug a backpack home, they don't have to. We choose to bring it home—we want to stay in the loop with their progress and work.

schools practice selective streaming and I'm all for it.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Streaming_(education)

To pull that off, schools would need way more funding than they currently get in America—and honestly, that method doesn't guarantee any better results than other teaching styles.

History and geography start right in first grade at our school. It's just how we do things here in the States.

Haven't seen any books at home besides those workbooks.The Bond book. It's a classic. Mother Language and English. She needs to handle those on her own. We have a 25-minute window. Our teachers suggested we track the time—25 minutes is the goal, though they said it's fine to go longer if she needs it. We just need to jot down the timing and any specific tasks she struggled with on a piece of paper. Then, we'll leave that note in the folder for the teacher to check when grading the worksheets.

They carry around these little handheld organizers with all their daily projects and assignments tucked inside. Austin Chavez5 was always a whiz at mental math—you know, that style where you barely need a pencil or paper. Reading, too. Spelling matters. It really does. i Just finished that Bond book. Solid read. Definitely worth the time. English homework took an hour and a half. For the older kids, they'll be doing their assignments at school since after-school programs are running until 5:00 PM. Classes wrap up at 2:30 PM now.

The schedule stays clear all week. You know exactly when, why, and how much studying or testing happens. No nasty surprises. It’s all about hitting those goals and building solid habits. We use a planner where kids log their daily assignments. They always know what's due. There's no forgetting things. If work doesn't get done, it's just laziness, a lack of time, or something unexpected popping up.

She hands out math and English assignments at the start of the week. Last time, it was subtracting 19 from a three-digit number plus ten vocabulary words. By Thursday, there’s a spelling quiz on those words and a math test covering about ten different problems.

Streaming is just one way to do it, much like how averaging works. Neither method is perfect. I personally prefer the first option.🙂 I always know exactly how my kid is doing. I can see right away where they're crushing it and where we need to put in more work.
The school uses mobile streaming. It means if a kid shows progress, they move up to the next group. They don't just stay stuck in one spot. It keeps them focused on their own growth and seeing that hard work actually pays off. There’s plenty of positive reinforcement around here.🙂

Pushing kids toward an average standard—where some are naturally gifted and others struggle with certain subjects—just doesn't work. From what I've seen here in the States, those who don't pick things up quickly get left at the bottom without any real help. They basically get forgotten, shoved into summer school, or left entirely to their parents, who then have to scramble for private tutors. Meanwhile, the high achievers just end up frustrated by a one-size-fits-all curriculum.

placidorca16 said:In regular American public schools, a second language is usually an elective—starting anywhere from 1st grade to 4th. Computer science is also an elective, typically popping up in 3rd or 4th grade, but rarely in 1st. Religion classes are electives starting in 1st grade too. It feels weird that at this specific academy, computer science is mandatory right from 1st grade if we're supposedly following the same national curriculum. Some public schools that offer electives starting in 1st grade end up having the exact same number of subjects as this academy.

Some elementary schools also follow what you'd call a "classical curriculum"—Latin starting in 5th grade, Greek in 7th. That’s still part of the standard US system, just for certain schools.

Anyway, regarding the mountain of books, workbooks, and whatnot—most schools have supplies for every subject (plus music and art), and most subjects come with multiple books (workbooks, problem sets, textbooks, etc.) starting from 1st grade. My son, for instance, has four books for English in 3rd grade (two textbooks and two workbooks) plus required reading. For math, he has three (textbook, workbook, and a problem set). Science and English each have two books plus three CDs for English. So, most subjects involve a ton of books—which are supposed to be helpful teaching aids, not obstacles. Another thing is that these things are heavy to lug around every day; honestly, it works best in those schools where kids bring their bags on Monday and take them home on Friday. Of course, that’s not an option everywhere.

It surprises me that computer science isn't mandatory... my daughter goes to a British international school here in the States, and computer science is required. It's alongside math, history, geography, English, science, art, PE, swimming, creative writing, calligraphy, Spanish, French, and Arabic.
I won't even comment on religious studies in schools.🙄

Nor will I comment on hauling heavy backpacks. Nothing has really changed. Thirty years ago, they promised us lockers and told us we'd finish homework at school.😁😂🤣

The school practices selective streaming and I'm happy with it.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Streaming_(education)

Kate Cox2 said:I couldn't agree more—honestly, I think one book per month is actually quite reasonable..🤷

Mine goes through one book every two days (about 60-65 total). Fewer pages in first grade, but every single day. They read daily. Moving into second grade now, age 6. First grade starts at 5.

Grades are descriptive here. We have weekly language and reading tests... again, no letter grades, just the number of correct vs. incorrect answers. It makes it easy to see if they actually get the lesson or not.

amberfox4 said:Personally, I find the whole situation quite acceptable, if only to prevent children from lower-income families from developing deep-seated insecurities caused by their wealthier peers—kids who are often poorly raised and under the impression that they possess greater inherent value simply because their parents insist on dressing them in designer labels for school. This is precisely why I maintain that our own childhoods were far healthier in this regard; back then, the concept of material wealth was virtually non-existent to us, nor did it hold any significant weight, as there was no constant emphasis placed on the socioeconomic disparities between students. As for what happens privately, outside the confines of the classroom, people should be free to dress however they please, but the school itself ought to function primarily as an educational and developmental institution.

Uniform or not... kids (and adults too) will always find ways to show off... it's just human nature...🙂

A uniform itself doesn't primarily exist to bridge social gaps. It's more about showing belonging to a group, a school, or a community. It's for organization, discipline, and building work habits. Everything else follows after that.🙂

Even some of the most bloated counties and towns... have the best parks... but since they lack daycare centers or the budget for new ones... or even paying staff... it doesn't matter. That's entirely on the people living in those cities. It's exactly my point... if parents don't feel the need to change things... we shouldn't tell the next generation to just deal with it and suck it up.🙂

I can't say for sure if kids today are spoiled or not. I just know my generation was called spoiled because we wanted boomboxes and cassette tapes instead of old record players.😁Back then, a Pony bike wasn't cool; it was all about the BMX. I could go on forever.

As for the lack of AC in schools... that’s just a reflection of our national standards.

Personally, I think these kids are doing the right thing. Of course, they get labeled as spoiled automatically because they're pointing out the reality of our society and its standards. Nobody likes being told the truth. It’s not surprising. And let's face it, change is hard. Real change comes slow. Sometimes entire generations pass before anything actually shifts.

And naturally, the media jumped on that too.

All those comments from grandmas, grandpas, or parents saying "we managed," well, so can they... to me, that just shows a lack of empathy and twisted values. It’s a way to downplay what these kids are going through and the working conditions for everyone—not just students, but teachers and professors too. This has been happening in America for decades. Then people wonder why our education system is struggling. This is just the tip of the iceberg. Back in high school, we were told we were spoiled whenever we complained about the heat or the fact that there was no heating half the time because the district didn't have the budget for fuel. We'd hear how everyone else just dealt with it while the wood stoves were running.😁But even then, some of those teachers would admit they were freezing, and it was obvious they didn't want to be teaching in a cold classroom either.

Instead of trying to give the next generation the best possible start, we send them this message that they haven't "earned" having AC installed in their schools. It’s basically: "Screw you, we survived without it, so you will too." That’s our investment in the future. These same young people will one day raise their own children. That’s what our societal values look like today. It’s crazy when you think about it.

🙂

Jason Campbell7 said:What kind of school has a garbage principal who won't let kids dress how they want? Back in the old days, we showed up to school however we felt, but now they're trying to apply these "modern" pedagogical trends fueled by some sort of hypocritical moralizing... it's gross.

Back during the old era, my old elementary school had strict dress codes. Girls weren't allowed to wear short pants at all. It was always knee-length skirts paired with white crew socks or tights. We wore blue jumpers and standard black sandals from brands like Crocs or similar. And once you left school, you had to wear that orange scarf around your neck.😛😳😁

For gym class in the lower grades, we wore dark colored leotards, usually with short sleeves. In the higher grades, it was red, blue, or white shorts—the kind that look like briefs—and a mandatory white t-shirt. Boys wore blue or black shorts and a white t-shirt.

Anthony Kim18 said:Hold on a second. Where do you get the right to defend someone smoking in a cafe or a public space right next to you and your kid? If it really bothers you that much, why go to places where smoking is allowed?

I was talking about someone in my own home...🙂 not cafes... nobody smokes at my place and everyone who knows me respects that...

Until cigarette prices go up and we see more laws and education campaigns, nothing is going to change. It’s just a fact. In the West, smokers are basically treated like second-class citizens. That isn't how things work here yet.

The cheapest packs should be at least $6 or $7. I can barely remember all the brands anymore—Columbo, Benson, Walter... I don't even know what else is out there.😬

northernsailor said:I’m definitely contributing my fair share to that 40% margin, haha (honestly, I feel like I'm fifteen again 😍).
That said, if someone actually bothered to run a study, I suspect the percentage of people smoking for over 20 years would be significantly higher 😕.
It isn't as if I have an odor problem—no one has ever been polite enough to mention it—and my hands are as clean as white linen (maybe it's because I wash them with the intensity of someone struggling with OCD, haha)...

Cheers 🙂

It isn't really about which generation smokes more... it's about how young kids are starting. And our numbers are pretty devastating...😎

The only real fix is licensing the places that sell cigarettes and alcohol. That gives us leverage if laws get broken. We also need much tighter inspections. That's an area where the US could definitely improve things overall.

I think besides my husband and me, everyone else smokes... but they know the rules when I'm home. I quit once I got pregnant... and he stopped when his health started declining...

I have zero issues telling someone to stop smoking near me or my kid, especially indoors. Honestly, I’ll gladly get into an argument about it😈 , because they're going to get a piece of my mind if they don't😬 😍

It’s definitely worth having a discussion about this😁. We might learn something new or finally clear up some old misconceptions. I know there are always those wild conspiracy theories floating around claiming that...🤣

It’s been ages since I left the maternity ward😬 , and there’s zero chance I’m heading back anytime soon😁 , but I’ve always found this topic interesting......

Anyway, here’s what I’ve dug up so far regarding those Department of Health guidelines......

They mention these specific containers in the text, though all I ever saw were just little cysts scattered around the unit....😬 Do those containers actually exist?😁

Sorry if this has already been covered, I don't hang out in this sub much...🙂

Copying a question from another thread here... so...

Legal stuff

After seeing a recent discussion, I'm curious about how the placenta is regulated here in the US.

Is it actually illegal to sell or donate a placenta?

And what happens if a mother wants her placenta—for whatever personal reason—to just be disposed of by the hospital?

Honestly, I don't know anything at all about this topic.

Thanks for any info you can share...🙂

😬 :klap: 😂 😂 😂 😂 You really cracked me up!!!!