They are born dumb kids. It’s genetics. It’s nature over nurture. And no amount of schooling can completely overcome a person’s intellectual limitations.

---snip---

All I can say is thank god you aren't teaching anymore. We don't need people with this kind of attitude in the classroom, period. And yet, you'll be the first to scream "stop blaming the teachers!" Yeah, because you're such an empowering influence. Christ.

It really makes me sad to think about all the kids you probably tossed to the side, labeling them as "stupid" and therefore "unteachable."

You owe society an apology.

!

You would agree there are people who lack intelligence, yes?

-----snip---

No, actually I wouldn't. And yes, I've worked in a classroom; with the kids that BCPSS couldn't/wouldn't handle. Did I want to drop the elbow on some of my kids from time to time? Of course. But I was always careful to remember that each was intelligent in their own way...it was my job to harness that...to figure it out. Call it "warm and fuzzy", but for 5 years that was my operating principle.

You may not have tossed anyone to the side in a literal, or even concious manner, but I find it hard to accept that someone with your philosophy could have been anything but counter-productive in the classroom. Maybe I'm wrong...I hope so.

Anyway, I think if you're hoping to lead a serious discussion on a charged topic (like you did yesterday) you'd do well to chose language that doesn't contaminate the rest of your arguement/point. Just a suggestion.

I think you're an entertaining writer...but maybe reign in the schtick a little bit. It sounds like you have an interesting perspective...let's just hear that.

!

Well, I'm not going to critique your writing style any further...and I didn't mean to come like a snot in doing so. Besides, I'm less than qualified...most of the time it's a victory just to articulate my thoughts somewhat clearly.

Like I said, I usually enjoy your writing...more than I'm typically willing to admit actually. I just think you stepped on your own feet a little this time.

Until next time

!

I went to school with M.M. McDermott and while I am enjoying reading this series remain quite annoyed with those responding blaming the childs upbringing for poor education.

I went to Poly. I grew up in a bad part of the city. Seeing folks get shot, stabbed, beat up etc outside was a normal occurrence. My education has nothing to do with the geographical location of my upbringing or how much money my parents had.
I maintained an almost 4.0 average while in school I went on to go to college. I am now a working professional with a good career.

Plenty of my former classmates also grew up in bad parts of the city. They too turned out well.
Could the outcome have been different if we had to share the classroom with below average students at our magnet school? Quite possibly. But because my classmates and I were driven about education, we trudged through it together.

I remember the day I went from my middle school (Robert Poole) to take the entrance exam for Poly. I was nervous as hell that I would freeze up and fail and then be carted off to Mervo or Northern or some other awful school in the area. The entrance exam was hard, but I aced it despite my worries. I'm glad I did and I count my time spent at Poly as an awesome educational experience. Being able to take classes at Hopkins while in high school gave me a fast understanding of college academics and really helped me adjust my freshman year of college.

I still think the entrance exam and a required gpa average should be enforced in these magnet schools.

Both of my parents were high school dropouts.

In fact, most of my immediate family are high school dropouts. I was the first one to go to college and when I told my family that I was planning to go to college and where, an uncle started to rant about how it didn't matter and I wouldn't amount to "nothing" anyway.

I'm not going to say it wasn't a supportive environment, but it definitely was not focused on academia.

After watching me go to college, my mom got her GED. I went to a magnet school because it was what I wanted to do. My nerdiness is definitely not inherited or genetic.

My nerdiness is definitely not inherited or genetic.

Actually, smart parents or dumb parents are not the best indicator of a child's intelligence. As one Nobel Prize winner put it (paraphrasing here) Why are you asking for my semen? All it produced were two guitar playing lay abouts, you should be talking to my father, (who worked in some low skill job).

i am not going to read your comments because it will probably make me mad, but lead paint and poor education budget has a big part of these issues.

how does a big-city educational budget go into deficit while there aren't enough books for students? where is this money?

i was blessed to go to a private school (in baltimore city) and i paid college level prices for books.

this has gone on for decades and now people are wondering why kids are so ****ed up??? chip mason has made the budget of our school system per year in bonuses.

it's not the kid's fault, it's intrinsic, institutional incompetence on every level that has us wondering WTF?.

ps- both of my parents are not too bright and i'm ****in' brilliant and i know brilliant parents who have dim kids. what is done on both sides is the key.