quote:Essentially, I was saying that education in this country is becoming less comprehensive because schools are too focused on material that will be tested.
The opposite is also true. Mandated test material is often a wish list of topics (especially math) that can't be covered in 180 days. The teachers whiz through the material in order to "cover" it, but don't spend enough time going over the basics for long enough for kids to actually comprehend them.
I'm not trying to disprove the statement above, just pointing out that teachers don't have the flexibility to teach to the students needs, because they're busy trying to teach to the government's "wants."
Posts: 3735 | Registered: Mar 2002
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I agree with everything you said, Glenn. The government is giving a (very long) list of what students need to know - the whole "mile wide and an inch deep" idea. This, of course, pushes out the possibility of teaching points of interest that aren't on that list.
Posts: 3960 | Registered: Jul 2001
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Here is an idea. Along about fourth or fifth grade ( I use this period because that is about the age when I and, years later, my own kids could read at an adult level. Indeed, their reading skill was better than that of some of their teachers.)
So about then, toss the curriculum and the standardized tests out the window and just surround the students with lots and lots of books, newspapers, and internet access. Half the day they will do nothing but read and the other half of the day they will discuss what they have read. (Oh yeah, get rid or all school sports.)
Ok, maybe it’s not a great idea, but still . . . Posts: 631 | Registered: Oct 1999
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Samuel Bush, unfortunately there are many students who are still trying to master the basics of reading even in middle school. You and your kids are/were ahead of a lot of folks.
Posts: 3141 | Registered: Apr 2000
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