"Las Notas Hay Que Sudarlas"

This interesting article titled "Las Notas Hay Que Sudarlas", brings forth a debate that has caused many arguments in this year. Is it really good for the students to be evaluated in this new way? This is terribly hard to answer. In my case I went to private schools up to 9th grade so I know what it is to be evaluated in this way. Thn when I went to the public school system in 10th grade, the evaluation was diferent therefore I had better grades. Don't get me wrong; I had good grades in the private school but the grades just boosted up in the public school. My mom says it was just easier classes in the public schools but I differed because I believe that it was just the evaluating by points (4-0). I graduated with a 4.00 grade average when, otherwise, in a private school I wouldn't have. The truth is my grades weren't supposed to be all A's so in a way I feel that the private school would have been more fair in that sense. Another thing is that the students now have to get used to this system whether they like it or not and this will help them be prepared to go to the University and already know what to expect. I believe that it is the best way to evaluate because it shows what grades the students really have. Many students are faling because of this but it is because they are used to lay back in the past system, now it makes them decide if they want to pass or not. If they really do want to pass, they must work for it like the others do.

"Usefulness of Education Research Questioned"

The article "Usefulness of Education Research Questioned" enfasizes on the supposed irrelevance research on education has on the United States government. It is clear to see that they have, once again, proven that their attention is not on the people or the quality of students' education, but on their own pleasure and "good looking numbers." It is alarming how they have research results right in their faces, yet they decide to ignore them completely. It doesn't seem normal for me to see that the research says public school students are doing better that private schools students and the government will prefer to send public school students to private schools. I don't even know how in the world they would do that. Abut NCLB, this is an obvious intent of the government to control and manipulate education as they seem to do very well. NCLB doesn't seem like a very good idea to me because it focuses too much on numbers and not on the important things like quality of education and learning.

"El Plan Bilingue"

The article "El Plan Bilingue" once again reassures what we already know: once a political party wins the elctions, they will accomodate education to their convenience and political ideas. This is of great concern to us puerto ricans because our students spend 12 years of their lives taking clases in our schools, which means that they can see various political changes throughout those years. The question is: should our education sistem be bilingual? I believe that bilingual schools are a good idea. The problem is that students need consistency, and that doesn't seem to be a word in the "political dictionary". They seem to just care about aquiring followers and votes and winning elections but they seem to forget about the children, the futur of our beloved country. Another situation with bilingual schools is the resistance of our people to the english language. This is extremely upsetting considering all the advantages that knowing a second language will bring. I just hope that people open their eyes and change their closed mentality and try to do something to make better citizens in the future.

La Bestia de Hato Rey

When I read articles like thes, I must be angry and glad at the same time. I'm angry at what is happening with the Department of Education of Puerto Rico these days. I am also glad to see that people, like the author of this article, have stand up to the problem and have decided to make Puerto Rico see that we have been bling for a long time.
So this is the Department that holds our children's education in their hands, how horrible! We know of these events and what do we do? Nothing. Saldly, we all sit and watch are children receive a mediocre, and sometimes poor, education when we should be trying to get the reoganization that the Department of Education so urgently needs. I believe that all Puerto Rico can unite and accomplish great thing, but only if we leave all the corruption behind and we think, not of ourselves but, of our children's future.

"LaS nOtAs HaY qUe SuDarLAs"

I agree and disagree with this new method of evaluating our students. I disagree because students that were used to getting good grades will now lower their grades and not because they don’t study hard enough, but because of the way they are being evaluated. There are very intelligent students that might get frustrated when they see their new average and this can lower their motivation towards their studies and this is a big problem that many students have always had and now with this new method, students will be more unmotivated. Not only students will have to sweat to get good grades, but teachers will have to sweat to get the students motivation and will have to make some kind of change on their teaching methods and tests. Something I don’t find relevant mentioned in this article is that it is said that this method will help reduce school and community problems. How? I think that there are more important things happening in schools, like drop outs, violence, schools without the necessary materials, children not receiving the special attentions they need and even worse problems that affect our children that the government should be paying more attention to and acting upon instead of just mentioning it in the news and not doing anything about it. In the part I agree is that although students will have to really work hard to get good grades, this will prepare them for when they start their university studies. This method truly proves student’s intelligence and will teach them that to get what you truly want in life you have to work hard. But as I said, this depends on how motivated the students are. Also, with the evaluating method used before, students just took it easy the first semester and didn’t worry too much of studying and getting good grades because they would increase their average the second semester. Now, students will have to get good grades form the beginning. I just think that this is a subject that the government is giving too much importance to when we should all, teachers, parents and society, be more united then ever to solve more important situations that truly affect our students.

Las Notas hay que sudarlas

I don’t see why there are so many complaints about that situation. I think that's the best way to measure the students' performance. It is actually more accurate than the other method...
If we want to hear a lie about our children’s performance, then we can use the other method. But since I want to see the reality behind all of this, I rather see the real percentage, even if I don’t like the outcome.
Why I think it’s more accurate? Check this out: The following will be a hypothetical case of the score of one student in one class.

Test No 1 [A =4] [A= 100]
Test No 2 [A =4] [A =90 ]<< Same grades in both >>
Test No 3 [A =4] [A =93 ]
Test No 4 [B =3] [B =89 ]
Test No 5 [B =3] [B =85 ]
Test No 6 [B =3] [B =80 ]
-------------- ----------------
[6 /21] [539]
--------------- -----------------
[21/6=3.50] [539/600=.89]
Final Score [3.50 = A] [.89 = B]

Now imagine that those grades will be the same grades for the other classes. This is what we’re going to have:
Final Grade class 1 [3.5 = A = 4] [.89 = B ]
Final Grade class 2 [3.5 = A = 4] [.89 = B ]
Final Grade class 3 [3.5 = A = 4] [.89 = B ]
Final Grade class 4 [3.5 = A = 4] [.89 = B ]
Final Grade class 5 [3.5 = A = 4] [.89 = B ]
-------------- ------------------
Final Score [5/20 = 4.00 = A ] [445/500 = .89 = B]

There’s the difference: A student that was said to be an A student (4.00) now is a B student (.89). But the reality behind this, is that that students was never an A student, he/she was living in a lie, the sad reality was, that he/she actually was a B student.

So, analyzing this, I want to see the real performance of my son. I don’t want to believe he is something that he really isn’t. My reaction, ha! Still asking: I’m glad that method is finally applied in PR.

Aneliese Hernandez

Usefulness of edution research questioned

I really do not understand why Margaret Spelling with the president are changing students from public schools to private. Didn't they say in July that children from public schools got better scores thant the ones in private schools? What is the point of making a research and ignoring the results!

As for the AERA, I think they are loosing their time by making education better but not solving the problems that cause a bad education. The article says that many researchers agree that they can make researches but not as effective they would want it to be beacause of the limitations they have to go inside a classroom. What is the point of preparing conferences on how to improve education if they do not know what are the problems! How is it possible to make a research of public and private schools education if they can not get inside the classrooms?

Another thing I can complain is the lack of funds given to educational researchers. If they do not have the money to do good researches, it will be impossible to figure out how to improve the educational system and to train teachers to do the same.

"Las notas hay que sudarlas"

I think that the title of the article is literally describing what our students will have to do to get good grades or just the grades they need to pass to the next level. I agree that this is a good method to lift high our educational standards. The problem here is: Will the students be in the disposition to "sweat" their grades? Will all the teachers care if their students will pass or not to the next level?
I believe that the DE of PR did not think about this before implementing the new grading method. We all know that there are students that do not care to be "left behind", and that there are also teachers that don't care to "left behind" students. This will bring a lot of problems in the public schools. We are going to see a lot of students failing. The worst part of this is that not every parent cares and helps their child or children in the educational process. I know that the repercussions are going to be really big, but this is the DE. It shouln't impress us, right?

Xiomy

"La notas hay que sudarlas"

It’s incredible to read this article. I believe this new way to grade students using percents will decrease motivation. Why? Because those students that get 90 summed up to another 90 will be an 89% percent. They will feel that although they tried they did not succeed. So they really have to “sudar las notas”. But although I don’t agree with it, I believe it will help the students work hard and be prepared for college if they feel like doing so.

Also, I believe it will make education in Puerto Rico be more reliable in the matter that the students will have to be more applied in order to receive a good grade in a class. But on the other hand some students are a bit slower than others and they will be affected. Only focusing on grades is not going to help education be better since there are other problems that affect it for example: students not feeling motivation, or help from their parents, social problems that affect them between others. What will happen when students start failing and dropping out because of this new way of grading? But this is really not their fault it’s the governments fault. They want to take over education believing they know what is happening when they have never been in a classroom observing how true life is in one for a student and a teacher. Lets have them go to a classroom and observe how real life is in one. That way they really will see what they have to assist and will give ideas that will help education instead of un helping it and making it harder for students and teachers to succeed.

"El Plan Bilingüe"

This idea of preparing teachers in math and science to give their classes in english is a bad idea. The first thing is that they have to find bilingual math or science teachers, or prepare them first in the english language and then prepare them in the material of education they are going to teach. In the other hand, Puerto Rico is not a good nation to establish this method. We know as future english teachers that puertorican students are not motivated in learning english. Most of them do not know english! I can't imagine our students taking their science and math classes in english. This would be a disaster! It is really a bad idea!

Xiomara Machado

El Plan Bilingüe

“El plan bilingüe” will be implemented by Fortuño as part as his future aspiration to the government chair. According to him, bilingual education will help to reform and promote bilingualism in the Department of Education. Although it will be a political issue, since in congress implementing English in Puerto Rico is necessary for it to become a federal state. And a hard task to find teachers certified in other subjects in Puerto Rico in the English language. Also, implanting this plan will be a hard task in a country where English is taught as a second language.

Implanting bilingual education in Puerto Rico is a political issue. Since, English is seen as a way to convert Puerto Rico into the 51st state. One of the biggest debates of converting Puerto Rico into a Federal State is the impact of the total incorporation of the United States and the official use of Spanish. Although congressmen point out that English should be reinforced mainly in education and not for the island to become a federal state. The bilingual plan according to what Fortuño expressed in an interview would be implemented as an announcement of his future aspiration to become governor of Puerto Rico, as a plan if he wins. The bilingual plan would take about twelve years to build in a student from 1st grade up to 12th grade. Fortuño pointed out this idea after Newt Gingrich expressed that for Puerto Rico to become a state it needs a government that functions in English. Although Fortuño clarified that he did not point this plan out to help Puerto Rico become a federal state, but as a plan for his aspiration to become governor. But we know better than that!

"Las Notas Hay que Sudarlas"

As for the article "Las Notas Hay que Sudarlas" I actually agree with it when it says that the public system changing the way they grade the students is going through a correct path. I studied in a private school and the way they graded us is the way that is being done now in public schools as well, and no matter what we had to struggle as much as possible in order to succeed, and at the end when you know that you achieved your goal you feel satisfied and accomplished. I think this new way of grading the students will somehow open their eyes so they can notice that they cant lay back and do nothing and expect to pass the class, now they have to get up and work hard in order to succeed academically because if they dont, they fail, its as simple as that. I know that students also depend on their parents as motivation and encouragement to keep on going, but many times we see how the parents of the students are the ones actually holding them back, sometimes parents are the ones who tell their students that they shouldnt study and they wont do anything good in life. As future teachers we need to get to know our students, know where they are coming from, because if we get a situation like the one I just explained, as teachers we need to be the motivation for that student, encouraging that student to study and participate in order to succeed. As future teachers we need to help our students as much as possible, letting them know that your not only the teacher but also a friend that they can trust and go to, as a teacher we also need to produce that desire of achieving goals in our students, letting them know straight forward that if they dont work hard and study, they wont pass the class, letting them know that if they truly want to pass they have to give 100% because as a teacher I am a facilitator, but I wont pass the student if I know he or she is giving me 0%. Im the type of person that just as the title of the article says, in order to get the grade you have to sweat, which means that you have to work hard for it, and I believe that in order to get what you want in life you have to work hard for it, never giving up, and that is something that as future teachers we truly have to teach our students about.

Usefulness of Education Research Questioned

Hello all its Juan Luis. According to the "Usefulness of Education Research questioned" article, I agree with my classmates when they say that education cant be taken over the government and politicians, those people dont even know what is happening in the schools. The department of education needs people that are true educators and have the desire and motivation to work with all the situations that happen. As for the law of No Child Left Behind I sincerely think it simply holds back the schools and students to keep succeeding, its great that it wants everyone to be at a same level of knowledge and all that, but we are not robots, we are human beings, and we learn in different ways, some learn faster while others slower and that is just something that NCLB cant see. I also dont understand why they would want the students that are doing well on the public schools changed to the private schools, those students should stay where they are because they are the ones that can serve as examples and motivation for the rest of the students, the schools can even use them to help the other students suceed academically as well. Due to this we see how the government cannot take over the Department of Education since I bet that once those politcians graduated from high school they havent stepped into a classroom ever since.

"El Plan Bilingue"

Hello all its Juan Luis, my reaction towards the article of "El Plan Bilingue" would be that I actually agree with Joraida. I think that English should be taught in Puerto Rico as a second language, since our native and primary language has been and should always be Spanish. English is a great language that opens the door towards many opportunities in life but we should never forget about our roots. And aside from English I encourage everyone to learn many other languages since through this way we can communicate and understand people from other countries that have cultures different from ours. I think that as long as English is being taught as a second language and the teachers get to motivate and encourage the students to take the classes, they will be able to learn. I studied in a private school where the only class in English was English, the rest were all in Spanish, but our English teacher was so good, that she is like a role model to me, she would do many types of creative activities where we would learn while having fun, and she would even have us do essays of 2 or 3 pages long and we would never complain because the way she gave us the material and subjects was an interesting and appealing way. We would also do many activities like roleplay and mini dramas, as well as write poetry and other types of group activities. I guess thats one of the major factors that influenced me to become a English teacher, since she inspired me so much in her way of teaching. So I guess that there is no need to have bilingual schools in Puerto Rico, because in my opinion it depends on how the teacher is with his or her students, because if the teacher doesnt encourage or motivate their students to learn that second language, they will simply never care about learning it. The teacher needs to be a friend of the students, but also let them know that they have to respect him or her. He or she should find new ways of giving the class, catching the interest in the students and encouraging them to keep assisting class.

"Las notas hay que sudarlas"

The Department of Education just keeps pushing and pushing, until the education is going to be a total mess. With this way of calculating the test scores, the students are not going to get better, just worse. I ask myself, "What about the students who have slower learning abilities or get nervous and do lousy in tests even though they know the material; or the students who do great in presentations because they learn better that way??

To me, it's like the Department of Education is a scientist and the students are the guinea pigs; they keep experimenting with them to see if something positive comes from it. All of these changes just creates a lack of interest in teachers, students and the parents, because the grading will so strict, that the teacher cannot offer a point or two for their hard work. Where is the justice in that?

Article "Las notas hay que sudarlas"

With the "No Child Left Behind" mandate, it is not surprising that the manner of calculating notes would be affected. I remember mentioning in the take home test that there would be a great deal of pressure on the teachers and on the students because of this educational reform, and we are seeing it in print. The strict method of classification will cause this pressure and the result will be a greater lack of interest on behalf of the students, hence, more dropouts. This sort of change does not inspire a student to try harder and will tie the teacher's hands when it comes to adding extra points for attendance or hard work. One of the letters (cartas circulares) we received at the beginning of the semester stated that there will be no points added for these factors and the grade will given on test scores, period!

I agree wholeheartedly that the eduational system has to change, and parents and teachers must work side by side to ensure this, but the reality is another. I work on a daily basis with young children whose parents I've yet to meet. Furthermore, they complain constantly that one teacher or another is always out - so how can they learn the material in order to score well on the tests, and where is the support system they need? In my opinion, this is a viscious circle where the ones getting dizzy are the students.