Comments on: The World Of Possibilities: Public Education Reform http://www.toddseal.com/rodin/2006/01/the-world-of-possibilities-public-education-reform/ Challenge The Status Quo Tue, 06 Jan 2009 10:37:26 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: Angel http://www.toddseal.com/rodin/2006/01/the-world-of-possibilities-public-education-reform/comment-page-1/#comment-60 Angel Sat, 14 Jan 2006 01:33:00 +0000 http://www.toddseal.com/teaching/?p=49#comment-60 Liked the list, but I have reservations about the last item. Then again, I do understand the list is an ideal. Having said that, if a kid is simply a disruption and/or an actual risk (as in extreme discipline problem), I don't think a little sitdown with everybody involved is going to solve the situation. Sometimes, removal is warranted. <br /> <br /> Also, Mike makes an interesting observation about sports. Indeed, a few extra problems in schools might be solved if schools actually got their priorities straight and realized there are there to provide an actual education, not to be some football powerhouse (or insert your favorite sport). Liked the list, but I have reservations about the last item. Then again, I do understand the list is an ideal. Having said that, if a kid is simply a disruption and/or an actual risk (as in extreme discipline problem), I don’t think a little sitdown with everybody involved is going to solve the situation. Sometimes, removal is warranted.

Also, Mike makes an interesting observation about sports. Indeed, a few extra problems in schools might be solved if schools actually got their priorities straight and realized there are there to provide an actual education, not to be some football powerhouse (or insert your favorite sport).

]]> By: Todd http://www.toddseal.com/rodin/2006/01/the-world-of-possibilities-public-education-reform/comment-page-1/#comment-52 Todd Thu, 12 Jan 2006 23:17:00 +0000 http://www.toddseal.com/teaching/?p=49#comment-52 Wendy: I mean that to indicate that all conflicts between teachers and students are completely worked out, with either party appropriately apologizing and/or changing their behavior. I agree with you about that balance of power and in my dream world, that balance is shifted a bit, yet somehow still prevents teachers from being censured simply because a student wants to get back at the teacher for low performance on a test or something. See what I mean?<br /> <br /> As for kids who are not challenged, that's an interesting point. I think that all kids can be challenged as much as *they* want to be. If a teacher is poor, that doesn't mean that a student can't find challenges in the class. Lots of conversations on this topic revolve around a belief that the teacher is the only one who can provide the challenge and I just don't think that's true. Students who are not feeling challenged need to work with the teacher or the parent or the administration or themselves to find challenges worthy of their time. If we are to consider students as a part of the learning community, it's not up to the teacher to provide that challenge 100% of the time. Maybe the teacher just needs to focus on providing a stimulating environment for the majority of the class. What do you think? Wendy: I mean that to indicate that all conflicts between teachers and students are completely worked out, with either party appropriately apologizing and/or changing their behavior. I agree with you about that balance of power and in my dream world, that balance is shifted a bit, yet somehow still prevents teachers from being censured simply because a student wants to get back at the teacher for low performance on a test or something. See what I mean?

As for kids who are not challenged, that’s an interesting point. I think that all kids can be challenged as much as *they* want to be. If a teacher is poor, that doesn’t mean that a student can’t find challenges in the class. Lots of conversations on this topic revolve around a belief that the teacher is the only one who can provide the challenge and I just don’t think that’s true. Students who are not feeling challenged need to work with the teacher or the parent or the administration or themselves to find challenges worthy of their time. If we are to consider students as a part of the learning community, it’s not up to the teacher to provide that challenge 100% of the time. Maybe the teacher just needs to focus on providing a stimulating environment for the majority of the class. What do you think?

]]> By: wendy http://www.toddseal.com/rodin/2006/01/the-world-of-possibilities-public-education-reform/comment-page-1/#comment-57 wendy Thu, 12 Jan 2006 05:51:00 +0000 http://www.toddseal.com/teaching/?p=49#comment-57 I would have left well enough alone, but for your what do I think.<br /> <br /> I think we're risking the best and brightest with policy (like that of my state, Massachusetts) that gives resources to the bottom nearly without limit, and then doles out the remainder. Legislatives mandates fund SpEd first, before every other kind of program. Legislative mandates for gifted and talented don't exist. The best brains are left to fend for themselves. I'm concerned about what that means for the future of our society. That sounds melodramatic, but I mean it.<br /> A 10 year old might not work too hard to find a challenge worthy of her time. I would have left well enough alone, but for your what do I think.

I think we’re risking the best and brightest with policy (like that of my state, Massachusetts) that gives resources to the bottom nearly without limit, and then doles out the remainder. Legislatives mandates fund SpEd first, before every other kind of program. Legislative mandates for gifted and talented don’t exist. The best brains are left to fend for themselves. I’m concerned about what that means for the future of our society. That sounds melodramatic, but I mean it.
A 10 year old might not work too hard to find a challenge worthy of her time.

]]> By: wendy http://www.toddseal.com/rodin/2006/01/the-world-of-possibilities-public-education-reform/comment-page-1/#comment-51 wendy Wed, 11 Jan 2006 17:52:00 +0000 http://www.toddseal.com/teaching/?p=49#comment-51 Interesting points. It's good to hear you trying to puzzle out solutions. I'm a homeschooler, directed over by the Carnival of Education. I'm mostly concerned about your last point, in which no child is ever removed from a classroom due to conflict with the teacher. The power balance in the classroom is grossly unfair, and people do have biases. I don't think children should be forced to be at the mercy of someone who is biased against him.<br /> Also, I wonder what your ideas would be on providing for challenges for kids who just aren't challenged in the classroom. Interesting points. It’s good to hear you trying to puzzle out solutions. I’m a homeschooler, directed over by the Carnival of Education. I’m mostly concerned about your last point, in which no child is ever removed from a classroom due to conflict with the teacher. The power balance in the classroom is grossly unfair, and people do have biases. I don’t think children should be forced to be at the mercy of someone who is biased against him.
Also, I wonder what your ideas would be on providing for challenges for kids who just aren’t challenged in the classroom.

]]> By: Mike http://www.toddseal.com/rodin/2006/01/the-world-of-possibilities-public-education-reform/comment-page-1/#comment-50 Mike Wed, 11 Jan 2006 07:58:00 +0000 http://www.toddseal.com/teaching/?p=49#comment-50 Three more suggestions:<br /> <br /> (1) Once the classroom door closes, there will be no interruptions of any kind (bonafide emergencies excepted).<br /> <br /> (2) Sports will be extracurricular activites with no school day time devoted to practice or any other aspect of sports.<br /> <br /> (3) All extracurricular activities will be recognized as and treated as a distant second in importance to academics and will not, under any circumstances, displace academics in any way. Nor will a penny be spent on extracurricular activities unless every teacher has everything they need first.<br /> <br /> Talk about pie-in-the-sky ideas, no? Three more suggestions:

(1) Once the classroom door closes, there will be no interruptions of any kind (bonafide emergencies excepted).

(2) Sports will be extracurricular activites with no school day time devoted to practice or any other aspect of sports.

(3) All extracurricular activities will be recognized as and treated as a distant second in importance to academics and will not, under any circumstances, displace academics in any way. Nor will a penny be spent on extracurricular activities unless every teacher has everything they need first.

Talk about pie-in-the-sky ideas, no?

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