<p>What state did you teach in? We’re up in WA. </p>
<p>“I still believe that they do not teach strictly to tests.”</p>
<p>This isn’t being said outwardly, it is being done through the gradual elimination of subjects or removal of time for arts, etc… IF the time for a subjecty disappears and is replaced by something that the student will be state tested on, you could claim it is coincidence.
I’m sure most teachers still try to bring their own skills to the classroom. Teaching is an art form. While everybody thinks they can teach, few really can. </p>
<p>“Our schools value small class size”</p>
<p>Every school district should be so lucky. It really does make a difference.</p>
<p>I live in Vermont. I also feel the arts are valued in our school system. </p>
<p>Also, the state assessments for each student include writing portfolios and have for years. </p>
<p>Small class sizes is part of the philosophy or mission in our elem school. </p>
<p>I’m not touting our school system (though our elem school is top rate). Our middle school sucks and our HS is OK. Just commenting on some things you brought up and also mostly on the elem level. I was a teacher at our local elem school for a long time before I had kids. I volunteered there all the years they went, weekly in the classrooms, have subbed there ever since and my hubby was on the school board past when my kids attended. I only wish our MS and HS were like our elem school. :D</p>
<p>I’m wondering in these schools that eliminated birthday cupcakes, what they do at school events like open houses and plays and concerts when refreshments are served? Here parents donate baked items to be sold at intermission, etc. I have never heard, “no cupcakes or cookies allowed!”</p>
<p>LOL soozie
I really get sick of the bake sales
At Ds previous school they always had bake sales for fundraisers at evening theatre productions. Since of the kids ( and volunteers) had perhaps been there since school started in the morning, and were starving, I often wished they had something besides cookies and cake to offer.</p>
<p>I also volunteer at the polls on election day at the local elementary school who takes advantage of the traffic to have a highly successful bake sale.
But even though I am there from 6 am till 10 pm, and am pretty hungry- I don’t care for chocolate on a routine basis, and most everything they sell is chocolate.
How much imagination does it take to come up with choc chip cookies?
How about some apple cake or even a plain roll for a change :D?</p>
<p>emeraldkitty - I run bakesales and don’t like chocolate sweets either. I feel your pain. Unfortunately the choc. chip cookie buisness is not Nearly as lucrative (sp?)</p>