--- Bryon Daly <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > >From: Jan Coffey <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > > >Our education system use to place a lot of importance on logic, problem > >solving, and creativity. Give them the tools, test them on creativly > >applying > >those tools. This has now shifted to information retention, give them the > >data, test them on whether or not they remember the data. > > Do you have any references on this? When do you think this change in the > educational system occurred?
I am sure it would not be hard to find references on the memrization-empathic girl brain as apposed to the spacial relationship-problem solving boy brain as that is mentioned over and over in papers on learning disabilities. hmm. look in "how the mind works" don't remember the author. > >Where as a "boy" might understand the system and how it works and be able > >to > >use that understanding to solve a problem presented, the "girl" will > better > >remember what all the peices are called, how the system has been used, who > >created it, which other systems are simmilar and different. > > > >Ass a overly simple example (in the extreem): The "girl" will learn > >multiplication tables easily, and remember the information that > >multiplication takes addition and addition takes the successor function. > >Where as the "boy" will understand that addition is the application of the > >successor function and that multiplication is the application of addition, > >even if they can't remember what to call these things. They "boy" may not > >remember what 7*6 is, but will be able to discover the answer. The "girl" > >will know all of the data, but not be able to -find- the answer as easily. > > >So > >if she has learned that 7*6 is 42 she will have the answer, but not the > >answer to 146*23. > > So, by this, girls should in general be better at something like spelling > than > boys are? I wonder if spelling-bee results bear that out at all? would that realy be a good test? I found this becouse I just read it recently: http://www-news.uchicago.edu/releases/99/991117.spatial.shtml And this was the first hit from google http://www.livingbetter.org/livingbetter/articles/gender.html You can also find references which seem to disagree: http://educationreformbooks.net/youknow.htm "Recent studies have concluded that out of a total of four million subjects in over 100 published studies, that girls have a slight advantage in math during elementary and middle school. However, come High School, boys regain the advantage in the United States, which also happens when students are given some latitude in choosing their courses." By summing it up they are intnetionaly loosing the context and the meaning. By saying that firls have a slight advantage in math during elementary and middle school, they are not difierentiating between skill at mathmatics and scoring well in class. There is a significant difference. My friends son came home with a an algabra final on which he had recieved a D. We were all shocked becouse his math skills are quite impecable. e had recieved A's on all of his homework. As it turns out his teacher had made the test almost intierly of "Name this formula" or "Write down the * fromula" questions. Since the homework only counted for %10 he ended up with a D in the class. Odd really, the exact same thing happened to me in 7th grade. That was the year I vowed ever to take a math or science course from a Woman ever again if I could avoid it. Andrew will be holding the same standard. I like how this passage addmits that boys are better in high school (when classes have to really prepare you for college and can not focus on tivia instead of substance?) But they include a consolation that "this allso happens when students are given some latitude in choosing their courses." As if it had nothing at all to do with actual ability. Were the females in these high schools also not given the choice of courses? Anyway, the male - female differences are well documented. If these shallow references are not enough to convince you I am sure you can find more. Be carfull in reading what I oringinaly wrote on this subject most of it is opinion as can be noted by my use of the phrase "I suggest". ===== _________________________________________________ Jan William Coffey _________________________________________________ __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! SiteBuilder - Free, easy-to-use web site design software http://sitebuilder.yahoo.com _______________________________________________ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
