Posts by fadedtrucker8

Is it just me, or does it feel like every single high school athlete is being treated like a massive celebrity before they've even finished puberty? The hype cycles for these top prospects are getting exhausting to follow. Does anyone else feel like the "prestige" of certain schools is being totally manufactured by the media?

Rachel Jones8 said:Finished first grade already?
Think they'll have them in the next three, too?
So, what kind of group are we talking about here? Like half a class?
Three hours a week for everyone?
One group for an hour, another for an hour, then everyone together for one more? Makes sense, right?
Did everyone really have three hours a week to spare?
I mean, if high school only gives us two hours a week... and only English and math get any more than that? Seems a little sketchy, doesn't it?

Of course that matters, but honestly, isn't it also kind of a big deal whether you only get one year of computer science for two hours a week, or if you actually get four or eight years of it?

They seem to be divided into groups—two hours split between halves, plus one hour where everyone attends together. I am certain they have it for sophomore year, but I haven't looked into the curriculum for the upperclassmen yet.

Nicholas King said:Honestly, I don't think the total number of hours even matters—it's more about the quality of the instruction and what they're actually doing during those hours.

The basics—Word, Excel, knowing how to handle computer hardware, and so on.

So, my son tells me they only get about three hours of computer science a week at his school—apparently, it’s just one two-hour group session and then everyone together once more per week.

Rachel Jones8 said:Honestly, I'm not totally sure what the deal is with schools lately... but here's what Google says about freshman year.
Just two hours of tech class in the first year, and that's it. If you didn't take electives back in middle school, you probably aren't learning much here.

And look, my son is training to be a chef, and he actually avoided taking computer science in middle school because it would have dragged down his GPA... he had a particularly strict teacher... yet now in high school, he has an A and knows more than his peers 🤷 simply because the current coursework is far too easy for him.

Rachel Jones8 said:When I said computer class, I meant actually getting hands-on with a PC.
I'm guessing you didn't just graduate high school yesterday, right? 🤷

My own relationship with computers really started on the job back when we first got them in '92. Honestly, I’d rather not even mention how we had maybe three machines shared between forty people back in the late eighties 😂—our school computer classes were almost laughable at the time.

And frankly, I don't miss those old classes. I consider myself tech-literate simply because I'm curious; I can handle Word, Excel, and PowerPoint at work, and I know how to convert video files and such... mostly because I actually take an interest in how things work.

Rachel Jones8 said:You really think so?
Even if the facilities suck and the teaching quality isn't always great—do you seriously think it's okay for an 18-year-old to graduate in this country without having taken a single computer science class? 😕

Even culinary students have computer science as a mandatory course in high school; I suppose they expect to one day manage refrigerators via an android app..

🤣 I find it somewhat ridiculous... I truly have nothing against computer science itself, but I do take issue with assigning PowerPoint presentations as homework to third graders in elementary school.

Rachel Jones8 said:It's just wrong to assign homework on Google Classroom if the kid isn't even taking a tech class.
And let's face it, computer science isn't even a required course in most schools.

As I recall, computer science is only offered as an elective starting in fifth grade, at least here in our local school district...

Grace Kern3 said:Personally, I think it’s just way easier for parents to DIY the project themselves rather than actually putting in the effort to sit down and help their kid do it on their own. Maybe I'm being an idealist here, but I see it as a chance for parents to actually bond with their kids—though it seems like unless there's some "complicated" homework involved, they rarely bother finding the time.

Edit: It's the exact same thing as when parents write the book reports, essays, or solve math problems for them, so I don't get why posters specifically are such a huge deal.

We worked on a poster with our son until he eventually just collapsed from exhaustion... but honestly, topics regarding American involvement in World War I are hardly appropriate material for fourth graders... period.

That is precisely the point, much like assigning PowerPoint presentations to third graders...

They should really provide assignments that are age-appropriate...

As parents, we have little choice but to step in and help so our children can maintain good grades. Sending a child to school with nothing but an excuse that the curriculum isn't suitable wouldn't exactly produce any positive results.

Rachel Jones8 said:The real issue is when they show up without any homework done because they honestly don't get what it means... like, did they never actually teach them how to do this?🤷

Sure, everyone has used a USB drive or an external hard drive at school before, but there is a line between being tech-savvy and this level of excess, which is frankly excessive 🙂 and, naturally, they didn't just figure it out on their own.

It reminds me of that massive poster project from a few years back in fourth grade... the topic was the United States in World War I.

I mean, honestly... my husband and I were up until nearly one in the morning printing things and gluing everything together.

brightheron64 said:I honestly have no idea where you're getting that from. My daughter just finished fourth grade, and there hasn't been a single mention of computer science, let alone making PowerPoints...

She won't even touch actual tech classes until middle school, though I don't think she'll struggle much once she gets there, since her dad is a software engineer and she's basically been glued to a computer since she was two years old... 🤣

Well, in our local elementary school, the kids actually had to put together a PowerPoint presentation back in 3rd grade... the topic was basically a recap of everything they learned in American history throughout the year.🙄

That's quite a bit.

brightheron64 said:But where is the actual challenge in that? Once you truly grasp the mechanics of multiplication and division, it doesn't really matter if you're working with 100, 1,000, or 100,000,000... because in that third scenario, you're still just dealing with single-digit multipliers anyway.

As for the required reading, that all comes down to whether the kid actually enjoys reading, rather than how many pages are in the book.
My little one is such a bookworm that he's constantly reading the novels meant for his older sister, who's already in eighth grade...

and then asking third graders to put together a PowerPoint presentation...

honestly, isn't that a bit much to expect from a teacher...

not everyone is capable of doing that on their own... my brothers did all mine...🙄 just like everyone else..

wanderinggardener12 said:Is this an actual challenge for you, or just for some third grader?

I finished middle school quite some time ago, haha.

I suppose mastering multiplication and division up to 1,000 might be a stretch, along with reading 100-page novels or perhaps putting together a PowerPoint presentation.😉

wanderinggardener12 said:It feels to me like you're already looking back from third grade, which is why you think first grade is such a "piece of cake." Anyone who actually grew up knows that for a six-year-old, starting first grade is just as massive an undertaking as a high school senior facing graduation at eighteen.

Most kids find it boring because they walk into first grade already knowing how to read, write, and do basic math..🤷

Third grade, however, seems to present a genuine challenge. 😉

You're acting like it’s some kind of high-stakes crisis... honestly, this is child's play. I guess about 90% of them end up with honors... and then God help us when they actually hit the real world. Of course, all the parents will be beaming with pride. Hahaha 🤣

Kate Cox2 said:Isn't this actually illegal? Leaving such a young child by themselves? 🤔

Or is this strictly a thing in Vicksburg and a few other parts of Europe?

It is illegal, I suppose...

But what choice do you really have if your work hours are 8:30 to 4:30 and after-school care is only offered for first graders? If you aren't in a financial position to hire private childcare for a seven-year-old because the local school district isn't able to provide extended care for second graders, you're stuck.😕

Chloe Gomez6 said:To be honest, I’m pretty nervous about her being out on the road. We don't really rely on public transit, and she isn't typically walking around by herself much. Because of that, I've started sending her to the local corner store alone just so she can get some practice navigating traffic before school starts.

Also, that feels like way too long of a stretch. There's a big difference between her being home alone for thirty minutes versus being gone from 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM. That seems excessive to me. I never leave her alone for that kind of duration; usually, it's just while I run a quick errand to the grocery store.

It’s not that I don't think she could handle it—she definitely could. It's just that since we haven't practiced this, I'm worried.

I suppose I am in the same boat.
Well, I suppose there will be older brothers around, so they won't exactly be left home alone.

Anthony White8 said:Alright, fine... one more for the kindergarteners. But honestly? I'm wondering what happens when they hit second or third grade. What does that even look like? I’m worried kids won't actually learn *how* to study this way. Might end up being a massive headache for them once they hit the higher grades...🤷

I suppose around here, after-school care is strictly limited to the first grade. 🙄

Anthony White8 said:Honestly, I can barely wrap my head around the idea of 25 kids crammed into one room trying to learn stuff all at once🤷...you need actual focus to learn anything...

Well, the after-school program isn't really about traditional instruction; they just finish their homework and then head outside to play or engage in other activities..

rustydrifter10 said:In our school, the only ones lugging books home every day are the kids reading the classics, not the ones stuck with those massive all-day textbooks.🙂

I suppose things vary quite a bit from one school to another. 🙄