Tuning Into Orange County Schools
Orange County Schools in California released state tests scores with the announcement that scores had risen for the fifth straight year in a row. That means that 52% of students tested for English in grades 2-11 passed with a grade of proficient or above. 51% in math. Did you read that correctly? 52% and 51% passing means progress to the OrangeCounty Schools. If you’re a parent with children in the Orange County Public Schools this should concern your greatly! The scary thing is that statewide percentages are at 43% and 41%. California Schools are currently failing ourchildren.
So what’s a parent to do? Funding is an issue. Teaching the state’s huge immigrant population is an issue. The needs of special needs students are an issue. And no one has a really great answer. But as a parent, there is something that you can do. It’s a drastic measure that could impact the entire population of the OrangeCounty Schools. But it’s not an easy fix. In fact, a lot of the Orange County Schools’ families will have serious pains from making this move. But it’s that important. Parents of Orange County Schools- I challenge you to turn off your television during the school week.
Withdrawal Pains in the Orange County Schools. or the small percentage of you who are still reading, don’t throw the remote at your screen quite yet. Television drains energy. It doesn’t matter if your Orange County Schools students are seniors or kindergarteners. When they’re watching television they’re not: interacting with friends and family, getting exercise, fully attending to homework, or using their brains. When children watch television they: get inappropriate messages from shows and commercials, get into a habit of inactivity, eat more junk food, and tend to become grumpier and fussier. All of these factors are seen in poor test scores and behavior in the OrangeCounty Schools.
Most Orange County Schools parents feel overwhelmed and exhausted at the end of the day. Television can be a relaxing escape. But think for a moment about how busy your family is already with homework, dinner, and activities at the end of the day. What if TV was no longer a factor? How would your family spend that time? Would OrangeCounty Schools’ children get to bed earlier and get more sleep if they weren’t up so late watching television? Would you have to time to read to them more? Take a walk together? Play a card game?
Tags: Education, Orange County, Schools