Quoting Mati Palm-Leis <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>: > Mati: Who said anything about being a formal teacher? Be a volunteer for an > hour or two a week in an elementary school for a semester. This is one way. > This evening I was reading ZZM for about the 20th time. Pirsig writes "But > to tear down a factory or revolt against the government or to avoid repair > of a motorcycle because it is a system is to attack the effects rather than > the causes; and as long as the attack is upon the effects only, no change is > possible." It is one thing to talk about change, I am talking about making a > small change that could make a difference in the system.
What do suggest I do that would "make a difference in the system?" > Platt: > Changing the world is a big order. But, you have my ideas along that line > for what they worth. Take what you want and leave the rest. But be assured I > will never try to force my ideas on you or anyone else, unlike some in this > forum. > > Mati: Ideas are ok, credibility of those idea I believe requires a bit of > engagement. Not just talking but the action of experience to keep those > ideas sharp and real. Right. The experience of successful schools out to imitated or at least tried by the less successful ones. > Platt: > So what then are "special needs" children? > > Mati: > They are so diverse I could not even start to describe them. The challenge > is to create a system that meets the need of all children. Though I have > been no supporter of Bush's educational policies I my admit No Child Left > Behind was a stroke of political genius. It has forced educational systems > to refocus efforts to not make any excuses about the need to educate all > students to their potential. It doesn't let anyone say it is ok to let > "Johnny be bad" or "Sammy be slow" slip through the cracks. But that being > said as an educational policy it lack a willingness to invest in the > solutions needed to meet this goal. Do you mean the schools need more money from taxes to perform better? > Platt: > Fair to the kids who would learn more if they weren't held back by > the slow learners. > > Mati: Remember No Child Left Behind, this includes slow learners. There are > only so many resources available and they must be focused where the need is > the greatest. But agreed this must be done in such a way as not to overload > the system with challenges that might be too great to sustain all at once. > > Platt: > Any rules you think are holding you and others back from providing quality > education. > > Mati: What is holding back education is all the burdens that have been > heaped on it. Rules for the most part are not the problem with the exception > of funding rules. I don't have a problem with doing a job well, but there > are times I look at what is expected of school and I scratch my head and > wonder how am I going to pull that off. Our systems in society like so many > things become so complicated. There is a benefit in one sense but a burden > in another. A tune up 20 years ago costed me $150 now it costs me $500 on a > basic US vehicle. I am not asking for a barrel full of money but if you have > an expectation for a service such as remedial education for every student > that comes to us with deficits in their learning it is going to cost. This > is where you as a volunteer might defray the overall burden to the system. > Granted it is a drop in the bucket but I bet you still pick up a penny on > the ground even if it is only worth a measly penny. I think you've answered my question above. > Platt: > What do good schools do that can't be made to happen everywhere? > > Mati: > That could be said of the communities that those schools exist in as well. I would suggest it's harder to change an entire community than a school. Are there no good schools in poor neighborhoods? > Platt: > I take my hat off to your parents, and their parents. Many today don't > realize that wealth comes from work, not redistributions of wealth from > government. > > Mati: But that realization only comes from the reflection of experiences > that lead to that conclusion. > > > Mati: Ahhh dear Platt there are times I can hear the echoes of my father > in > > your voice. > > Platt: > A wise man, no doubt. :-) > > Mati: > My fathers wisdom was overshadowed at times with his unwillingness in that > he too talk the talk but failed to walk the walk anymore as a retired > person. I loved him dearly, yet I failed to reach a sense of greater > contribution and understanding in life recent years. In his retirement he > felt a sense that he made his contribution and really owed no more and that > was a personal disappointment for me. That is downside of setting high > standards for your kids and in that they might set some for you. But that > being said, the contribution he made in his lifetime was more than most and > that is the consolation prize I accept with honor in his remembrance. > > Platt: > Not sure what your point is. Are you suggesting we have to be compassionate > because many parent's aren't? > > Mati: If not us, then who? Parents held responsible for their children's welfare instead of being let off the hook. For example, fines for not showing up at parent-teachers meetings. > Platt: Or that being rich is evil? > > Mati: Only when being rich is an excuse for not caring for those less > fortunate and failing to make a difference when you can. Let's keep in mind the problems created in doing for others what they should do for themselves. > Platt: > Or the kids themselves aren't responsible for their behavior? > > Mati: > It is hard to expect that for kids to be responsible for their behavior when > we as a society/community fail to be responsible for them to begin with. You > get what you give. I don't follow you. > Platt: > Like you, I concentrate my efforts on my own kids, and my grandchildren. > > Mati: Now you are sounding too much like my father and I fear that might be > the same cop out he gave me. Well, you have your philosophy of how best to deal with life and your father and I have mine. Each can justify his views. That's what makes life interesting. Regards, Platt ------------------------------------------------- This mail sent through IMP: http://horde.org/imp/ 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/
