1-I've talked before about how children with special needs are really kind of looked over in the Spanish public school system, and how they are disciplined in an unacceptable way in my opinion. Well I found out that they're taken out of the classroom and given special help with language (Spanish) and math, only those two classes. For all the other classes they are treated as any other member of the class and expected to keep up and stay on pace, otherwise they fail. It's not fair to them, the rest of the class, or the teachers. The teachers usually end up babysitting or yelling at them for not understanding/keeping up and everyone just gets frustrated.
2- I've also mentioned that the kids go to the pool to swim for 2 hours a week every Wednesday. The students are charged a one time fee of 15euros to cover the cost of the lifeguards, etc at the indoor, heated pool. The private buses they use for transportation all day long (because only one grade level can be in the pool at a time so they shuttle people back & forth) are paid for by the city. Yes, the city. Yet somehow Spain can't find ways to cut funds to try and help with this economic crisis. I understand that going to the pool is fun I love going to the pool, especially if I get to miss class to do it! However, I have an economics degree and seeing this situation is ridiculous. It's like there's a blanket on the couch and your cold but you can't figure out how you could be warmer. Once your economy is back, fine, use city money to let kids skip school and go to the pool, but don't do it now and complain you can't find ways to cut money.
3- Last fall I gave an English class to a few teachers every Wednesday afternoon. In January though, they all got too busy so I've had my Wednesday afternoons free for the past few months. Since those are part of my hours, however, I've been recruited back. Not for teachers though, to help kids prepare for their English exams at the end of the year. Good idea! until you know the details. These English tests have absolutely 0 impact on the kids. It doesn't determine their grade in any way/shape/form, they don't get scholarships, they aren't even placed in the high level English class next year for taking the exam. The school chooses the smartest English students to take a test given by the Ministry of Education (it's an official test like Cambridge or Oxford). Their test scores then reflect the school's standing. It's all just to evaluate how the school is doing (not the kids). The kids get a certificate that says they took the exam, but even if they fail the exam they still get the certificate- just an enticement really. So the school sent home forms to the parents explaining that there would be help offered to prepare for these exams (why anyone would sign up to prepare for test that has no bearing on them whatsoever is beyond me, but anyways). The letter stated help would be offered from 4-6 every Wednesday. I only work 4-5, but there is a volunteer who's an exchange student from the US at the university here in Alcala and she's there 4-6. The logical thing would be to focus on fluidity with the grammar they know (it's just an oral test). However, we spend 10minutes with each child doing practice exercises. Practice exercises are good, but 10minutes probably isn't going to do anything. I guess if they came every Wednesday until May when the exams are it would total about 40 or 50min of extra practice (we have a long break in April where there are no classes) that could be beneficial. But seriously, what parent would bring their child back to school for 10min and then go back home, all for an exam whose outcome has no bearing on the child. Oh well, at least it doesn't affect me at all either! [side note- the 6th grade exam does matter because it determines if a child gets into a bilingual high school or not. However, the exams change every year and are different for every level so you can't study for the 6th grade exam until you're in 6th grade. However, the extra help letter was sent to the 4th graders, so I'm helping them for the 4th grade exam- the logical thing would be for me to help the 6th graders who are actually the only ones affected by taking the exam]
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