[Krimel] I would say that my kids learned a portion of the values both of you mentioned. Each learned something different, each in her kind.
[Arlo] Now don't you go getting all "thinking" on us. In Platt's dichotomous world, that's forbidden. Two options, "value of the individual" in private schools, "Marxist collectivism" in the public. If I start funnin' with that (as my granddaddy used to say), don't bring reasonable discourse into it. [Krimel] Public schools have a host of problems but lack of funding contributes to all of them. [Arlo] I think our biggest problem with education stems from an unarticulated philosophy... "why do we educate?" Once we know why we do, we can start working on solutions. Until then, it's just ad hoc band-aids, a parade of fads, and the usually, boring cliches about "government" schools. But yes, funding (particularly funding in "the arts") continues to be a big problem across the board. But its not all about funding. I'd say most of it derives from a lack of overall vision. It also stems from a dissolution of community integration, failure of parents to involve, and the "teach to the test" mentality of "No Child". Some other gripes (in brief), adherence to "grade levels" (such as 5th grade, 6th grade, etc), adherence to the clock, non-integration of subjects, lecture-based learning, splitting vocational students from "college prep" students, inability to discipline as needed, and overall grading policies. [Krimel] Certainly there are plenty of problems but it is possible to get a good public education. The issue should be how to make that true for more students. In general public education is locally controlled. Each school district has its own elected officials and taxation authority. So the success or failure of schools is largely a local concern strongly influenced but not always determined by federal or state laws or policies. While I think current federal policies do encourage teaching to tests and some of the other evils you mention. I fear these kinds of problems will wax and wane. Educators are always pursuing new and better teaching methods some work, some don't, but hopefully local control allow lots of experiments and best practices have a chance to immerge. Or one might say the most successful memes reveal themselves and grow. If this is not happening that is perhaps the biggest problem. Moq_Discuss mailing list Listinfo, Unsubscribing etc. http://lists.moqtalk.org/listinfo.cgi/moq_discuss-moqtalk.org Archives: http://lists.moqtalk.org/pipermail/moq_discuss-moqtalk.org/ http://moq.org.uk/pipermail/moq_discuss_archive/
