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Lindsey Wilkinson

Children in Room E4: Are Today's Youth Less Creative & Imaginative? - 6 views

www.msnbc.msn.com/...outh-less-creative-imaginative

shared by Lindsey Wilkinson on 15 Mar 12 - No Cached
  • Lindsey Wilkinson on 15 Mar 12
     
    In this section of the book, a central theme is how the curriculum being taught is limited by standardized testing in schools. In several instances, the teacher is limited in her lessons and the students answers are limited in their creativity because of the need to focus on standardized testing. The article we chose discusses creativity and imagination in current students and explores the idea that creativity is dwindling. Page 197: "But butterflies had been off the official schedule in the past few years. Each fall, Ms. Luddy imagined suburban elementary school students rambling around apple orchards on field trips, picking fruit, creaking about on hayrides. Her kids couldn't do that, not with all the mandatory test practice." ^Reflects limits in curriculum due to standardized testing Page 235: "Now can anyone tell me what a journey is, in your own words. Is a journey just a trip? Or is it something more? Can you think of examples of journeys?" "The CMT!" Jeremy yelled. "That's like something we work at a little at a time ^Reflects limits in student response due to standardized testing
  • ...8 more comments...
  • Alee Douglass on 16 Mar 12
     
    I think that the article supports the quotes chosen from the text. I found the quote "Teachers don't spend a lot of time exploring unexpected ideas because they might not be sure where it will lead, Beghetto said. As a result, "out-of-the-box" thinking gets discouraged. Beghetto is not blaming teachers, who may even feel as though they cannot teach creativity. But teaching to prepare for tests and teaching to develop creativity are not mutually exclusive, Beghetto said. Teachers should recognize that unexpected answers may still lead to meaningful conversation and learning in a classroom." I believe that this quote expressly depicts the problem with standardized testing. The article states that there is less play in classrooms, and I find this to be too true. When I go into classrooms, I think one of the main reasons teachers have to get kids on task and stop them from side conversations, is because they do not get enough time to really interact with one another. Even in the form of group art projects, the children could explore new creative activities. However, the strict curriculum that teachers must stick to humbles all attempts at this. The quote from the text about butterflies shows this problem. I am not sure, but I feel as though if standardized testing is so important, it should continue, but perhaps the 180 days that kids are in school should be extended. That way, there will be time to learn what is needed for the test, but also time for other important lessons.
  • Amanda Rose on 17 Mar 12
     
    Although the recurrent discussion about the effects of standardized testing continually progress with negative opinions from educators, officials increasingly stress the importance of such examinations. Consequently, today's youth are losing factors of creativity and imagination. "The current focus on testing in schools, and the idea that there is only one right answer to a question, may be hampering development of creativity among kids, Beghetto said. "There's not much room for unexpected, novel, divergent thought," he said. In fact, it is such unexpected, novel, divergent thought that leads to new discoveries. Just as students need an active outlet such as recess to channel energy, children need the opportunity to be creative and foster imaginative play. Not only is standardized testing putting a damper on the ability of teachers to allow students creative freedom, funding decreases have forced officials to cut back on structured creative outlets such as music and art, in order to allot more money for the expenses that accompany testing. At this point, it might be up to parents to support their children's creativity, including swapping creative play for some of the hours spent on electronics.
  • Elise Costa on 19 Mar 12
     
    Pointing fingers is always easy for any issue that arises. In regards to lack of creativity, teaching to the test seems like an easy culprit. This is not a reflection of the teachers ability to teach or ability to help the children explore their creativity (or lack thereof). Mandating yearly exams has consequences. Teachers have been threatened with their salaries being determined based on how their students perform on standardized tests; therefore, the teachers feel it necessary to teach to the test. When creating these policies, the policy-makers do not realize what they are actually talking away from the child. Children want to please their teacher. This is best described when Beghetto says "the interaction between students and teachers has become one of 'intellectual hide and seek.' The students try to match what they think the teacher wants to hear." I do not think the students are becoming any lazier or that we are breeding less creative children. Games like dress up, mom/daughter, doctor/nurse, pretending to be your favorite pop band, are all necessary for the children to build creativity and get out all their energy.
  • mnconnin on 19 Mar 12
     
    "The current focus on testing in schools, and the idea that there is only one right answer to a question, may be hampering development of creativity among kids" It is upsetting to hear that due to the No Child Left Behind Act we are actually taking a lot away from our children. These tests were initally used to measure the mastery of skills to make sure all students receive an equal education. I personally believe the idea of standardized testing has gone too far, especially when it begins to take a toll on our students' creative ability. Furthermore, I was not entirely stunned by this article. Outside of standardized testing I feel there are many other factors affecting creative ability. Video games, TV shows and busy schedules have begun to consume all Americans, even the youngest ones. I think children really need to spend more time outside, more time with other children and have a less intense schedule to really get their creative juices flowing. With that said, the education system even wants to take away recess during the school day. This will be yet another factor contributing to less creative minds amongst our future leaders.
  • Caitlyn Cozart on 21 Mar 12
     
    I agree with most of this article. This is an article that has many interesting comments and assumtions. For example, in the article, Beghetto states, "I think there should be a variety of ways to assess what students know and how they know it." I agree with this statement. I feel that testing today is not a correct way of determining children's "intelligence". I agree that children today need to work on their creativity. They need to be allowed to find their creativity that helps them build character. I think that taking away recess is one of the worst things you could do for children. They need that time to be themselves and not have to be who they are in the classroom. This will increase the lack of creativity children have today.
  • Lindsey Wilkinson on 21 Mar 12
     
    Although I find the article and interesting one and a great read, I do wonder if the way we find and measure creativity is entirely effective. It seems that testing for creativity is a very difficult and subjective test and I question its validity. I also wonder if the standard of creativity or the perceptions of creativity has changed over the past few decades. This would mean that our creativity styles would be different than those of generations before. I am always skeptical to think my generation is better than the ones that follows, and in the same way, that older generations have abilities that I can't or don't have. However, this is coming from a girl who is a naturally excellent test taker. I am good at information recall and application, but I am one of the most uncreative people I know. So I could be wrong. Either way, the author cites TV watching and standardized testing as two reasons for our less creative society. I see TV watching as the greater of the two evils as I feel it has more of an impact and that it is wasted time, unlike testing which, to me, is necessary.
  • Chelsea Townsend on 22 Mar 12
     
    Recent findings have found that creativity has decreased among American children. "Since 1990, children have become less able to produce unique and unusual ideas. They are also less humorous, less imaginative and less able to elaborate on ideas." The current focus on standardized testing in schools is the cause of this decrease in creativity. Teachers spend so much time trying to meet test standards that students do not have time to express themselves; for example, through imaginative play. Children need time to exert energy and show creativity. With so much time spent on standardized test practice children become narrow-minded.
  • anonymous on 22 Mar 12
     
    I agree that the article and your assigned book have many correlations because both the article and book discuss today's American children levels of creativity, a decrease of thinking outside the box, and lack of imaginative skills. I believe that standardize tests are becoming more and more normative in our schools. For example, in a recent survey there are some states lobbying for standardized tests to start training preschoolers to hopefully result in better test scores before the students graduate high school. In the article, "Kim said No Child Left Behind, an act of Congress passed in 2001 that requires schools to administer annual standardized tests as a way to assess whether they are meeting state education standards, may be partly responsible for the drop in creativity scores ( Rettner, 2011)." I believe that US states officials are focusing too much on high performance test scores and not the welfare of the child. Overall, I think creativity and individuality sets a person apart from the social norm.
  • Hope Kim Doit on 22 Mar 12
     
    Our social perception at present definitely has a lot to contribute as to why students are becoming less creative and imaginative nowadays. Our nation is becoming more career focused. On top of that, everything is becoming very competitive and fast-paced. The article mentioned how children does not even have time to check out the yard or run around the orchard because they have to stay at home and focus on studying standardized exams. I also heard recently that some schools are discontinuing recess because they do not have enough time to teach what they need to know for the exams. I personally believe that creativity and imagination ideas mostly come from experience and if those children lack experience, they would not have a broad spectrum of imagination.
  • Tiffany Morgan on 22 Mar 12
     
    "But researchers say they are finding exactly that. In a 2010 study of about 300,000 creativity tests going back to the 1970s, Kyung Hee Kim, a creativity researcher at the College of William and Mary, found creativity has decreased among American children in recent years. Since 1990, children have become less able to produce unique and unusual ideas. They are also less humorous, less imaginative and less able to elaborate on ideas, Kim said." I am not at all suprised. Today, kids spend all of their time texting or surfing the internet. Less time is spent playing outdoors. Kids don't need to be creative to have fun, all they have to do is turn on their XBOX 360. There will always be the creative students but there just might be less of them in the future.
Amanda Rose

Standardized Testing and Its Victims (Shame of the Nation) - 3 views

www.alfiekohn.org/...staiv.htm

shared by Amanda Rose on 15 Mar 12 - Cached
  • Amanda Rose on 15 Mar 12
     
    "In some schools, the principals and teachers tell me that the tests themselves and preparation for the tests control more than a quarter of the year." (113) Preparing for the test takes away from other core course work, presenting that only standardized tests are important. Teachers have begun teaching to the test instead of teaching other valuable lessons. Unfortunately, students in lower income schools struggle from this method of schooling, and "the tests are just the means by which this game is played. It is a game that a lot of kids-predominantly kids of color-simply cannot win."
  • ...6 more comments...
  • Alee Douglass on 16 Mar 12
     
    "Standardized tests tend to measure the temporary acquisition of facts and skills, including the skill of test-taking itself, more than genuine understanding. To that extent, the fact that such tests are more likely to be used and emphasized in schools with higher percentages of minority students (a fact that has been empirically verified) predictably results in poorer-quality teaching in such schools." That seems so backwards to me, it is unbelievable. It seems really unfortunate to me that teaching quality is going down due to testing. I feel like less should emphasis should be placed on students to preform on tests the way they are required to. When FCAT starts, a student in 3rd grade is being tested, required to sit still, and told their academic performance in the classroom can be overturned if they do poorly on this test. Third graders can surprise you, but I really don't think that testing this strenuous, this young, is good for children. I am in not in agreement with the "few countries use standardized tests for children below high school age-or multiple-choice tests for students of any age." I think testing has its place, but should not be emphasized as it is.
  • Elise Costa on 19 Mar 12
     
    I found Fact 4 ("standardized-test scores often measure superficial thinking.") to be true in my own experiences. When studying for the SAT in high school, I could often answer many questions right, but just not in the time frame allowed. I had to take courses that taught tricks and shortcuts that involved almost no math in order for me to finish the math section. This was superficial thinking. The test was no longer testing my ability to work out these problems properly. Rather, the test had now become a game of "tricks." If you knew the right tricks, you can breeze through the test. This is stupid. I was not demonstrating any real mastery of skills, only mastery of memorization of rules and shortcuts. This article made some good points against standardized exams. I do not think they should be abolished; however, I do think they are unnecessary at least in elementary schools. Middle school seems like a more logical time to start this. Elementary school should be for basic learning, skill development and creativity.
  • Caitlyn Cozart on 21 Mar 12
     
    I strangle disagree with the statement, "virtually all relevant experts and organizations condemn the practice of basing important decisions, such as graduation or promotion, on the results of a single test." I personally was very torn about this during high school. I do not agree that one test can change where you go to college or what you are going to do with your life. I personally was lucky to score high on my standardize test. However, I have friends that didn't get into their dream schools just because of one test. I think that in the United States, the idea of standardize testing needs to dramatically change. I completely believe that teachers focus to much on these test. Personally, I feel like I never truly learned how to write in high school because from freshman year to junior year, we were writing directly for the FCAT. Then, we had very little time to learn to write for college and for professional careers.
  • Lindsey Wilkinson on 21 Mar 12
     
    First and foremost, this article made me thankful for Teach For America and other organizations who recognize, promote, and attempt to overcome the achievement gap between low-income students and high-income ones. I think some of the research and references presented in this article are a tragedy and I wish that there was an easy remedy for it. As for the standardized testing, I completely agree with the author when she discusses "material that will not appear on the test". I know that I personally will block out something I've learned and disregard it entirely if the teacher tells me it will not be on the test. Conversely, if the teacher speak the words "this will definitely be on your test", I will memorize, jot down, and pay rapt attention to whatever she or he has just said. I feel this is how many kids are becoming and where schools are pushing us to: ignoring "unimportant" information that will not be on a test, and focusing on information that will appear on a test.
  • Chelsea Townsend on 22 Mar 12
     
    I agree with the article that way too much emphasis is put on standardized testing. Teachers spend so much time preparing students for standardized tests that programs such as art, recess, and electives must be cut. Cutting these programs from the curriculum decreases creative and imaginative learning. I agree with fact 4 that standardized test scores often measure superficial learning. The article states that "In a study published in the Journal of Educational Psychology, elementary school students were classified as "actively" engaged in learning if they asked questions of themselves while they read and tried to connect what they were doing to past learning; and as "superficially" engaged if they just copied down answers, guessed a lot, and skipped the hard parts." I completely agree that standardized testing is superficial. I found that when I took the SAT, I knew how to do the problems, but I was not allotted enough time to think through them. In agree with Elise that SAT prep courses teach students "tricks," so that they are able to complete the problems faster. In some cases, students are even taught to look for key words to answer questions without even reading the entire problem. I feel that courses like these teach students to rush through things, guess, and skip hard questions. I disagree with fact 6 that "virtually all relevant experts and organizations condemn the practice of basing important decisions, such as graduation or promotion on the results of a single test." Now-a-days in order to get into college, a student must have high SAT scores, a high GPA, and extracurricular activities. High SAT scores play a huge role in being accepted into the college of your choice. Several students I know are not good test takers, but may be very smart and have a high GPA; unfortunately this can be overlooked because of such strong emphasis on SAT scores.
  • anonymous on 22 Mar 12
     
    I agree and really think that standardized testing is creating victims because children today are not excercising enough, lack motivation, and resembling robots in the classroom. "Fact 8. Many educators are leaving the field because of what is being done to schools in the name of "accountability" and "tougher standards." I have no hard numbers here, but there is more than enough anecdotal evidence-corroborated by administrators, teacher-educators, and other observers across the country, and supported by several state surveys that quantify the extent of disenchantment with testing- to warrant classifying this as a fact. Prospective teachers are rethinking whether they want to begin a career in which high test scores matter most, and in which they will be pressured to produce these scores (Kohn, 2000)." I chose Fact 8 out of all the facts in the article because I believe that Facts 8 is very understandable because teachers have to endure watching their students' creativity disappear after each semester of teaching. I also agree with Chelsea Townsend's opinions about how there is pressure on students today to make sure they have high SAT scores to get into a great college. In conclusion, we as a society need to make sure that students across the United States of America know and understand that life is more than an exam.
  • Hope Kim Doit on 22 Mar 12
     
    I went to a private school and never really experienced the distress of preparing for FCAT and many other standardized exams. Although we had a couple of PSATs and SATs throughout the year, it wasn't to the extent where my teachers had to dwell on reviewing for those exams. They made sure that we are taught with the school's curriculum and maybe spend a couple of days or less to prepare us for exam taking tips. Fact #4 kind of stood out for me, "Standardized-test scores often measure superficial thinking." I don't really do best in general examinations. I think it has something to do with the pressure that I feel when taking those exams. There are times where I have no clue what I was reading during the exam but when I try to recall the question after, that's when I realize that I knew how to do it but I could not remember it because I was under pressure. I believe that schools should focus more on teaching what students need to know in general rather than focusing in just standardized exams.
  • Tiffany Morgan on 22 Mar 12
     
    "Fact 1. Our children are tested to an extent that is unprecedented in our history and unparalleled anywhere else in the world. While previous generations of American students have had to sit through tests, never have the tests been given so frequently, and never have they played such a prominent role in schooling. The current situation is also unusual from an international perspective: Few countries use standardized tests for children below high school age-or multiple-choice tests for students of any age." They take standardized testing too far in the U.S. I remember having to take a special writing class in elementary school because my FCAT writing was low. From K-5 my school pushed reading, writing, and math. I don't remember learning much about history or science. This was all due to the FCAT. Teachers wanted their students to outshine other classrooms and my school wanted to outshine the other schools. I remember being disgusted even then. It was like they were completely forgetting about the most important thing, the students.
Alexa Rose

"Shadowy Lines that Still Divide" - Scott & Leonhardt - 25 views

I agree with Nadia's comment on that quote, that being stuck can be blamed on class. Class is tied into resources and income, and if you don't have the resources or income, there's really no way to...

April4assignment

started by Lauren Tripp on 02 Apr 13 12 follow-ups, last by Alexa Rose on 07 Apr 13
Lauren Tripp

The Children in Room E4 - Race Based Academic Goals - 14 views

Looks like Virginia passed a similar policy, and this is Jeb Bush's response to it: http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/sep/24/school-expectations-should-be-colorblind/ While I don't agree th...

started by Lisa Lee on 15 Feb 13 5 follow-ups, last by Lauren Tripp on 26 Feb 13
Chelsea Townsend

PROBE Paper Sources - 3 views

I wrote my paper on the pros and cons of standardized testing. Here are the sources that I used: Fletcher, D. (2009). Brief History Standardized Testing. Time U.S. Web. http://www.time.com/time/n...

started by Chelsea Townsend on 29 Mar 12 no follow-up yet
yiranyang

"Narrowing the New Class Divide" - Murray - 22 views

In response to Adrian, I agree with your opinion that parents will always do whatever it takes to get their children ahead of others. And I also believe that there is no guilty for those children ...

April4assignment

started by Lauren Tripp on 02 Apr 13 10 follow-ups, last by yiranyang on 11 Apr 13
Hope Kim Doit

How the U.S. compares to the rest of the world... - 35 views

It seems like Finish school system has an equal balance between students and teachers performances. Although they seek to help their students and assist them with their educational needs, they also...

curriculum FInland The Common School

started by Aldreka Everett on 16 Feb 12 15 follow-ups, last by Hope Kim Doit on 02 Mar 12
Lauren Tripp

Child Abuse In Corporate Education Reform: I Cannot Feed You, But I Will Test You - 1 views

pegwithpen.blogspot.com/...se-in-corporate-education.html

schoolfunding

shared by Lauren Tripp on 26 Mar 11 - No Cached
  • we can protect our children from poverty by feeding them, providing them with health care, a clean environment and school classrooms and libraries filled with books.
  • Lauren Tripp on 26 Mar 11
     
    So, here's the plan: ditch the standardized tests, use NAEP instead, and spend those billions of dollars on food, health care, gardens, and books. Okay, education problem solved. Well done, Peg!
  • Andrea Dorsey on 27 Mar 11
     
    This article really moved me. After reading the Kozol article in class i was very disturbed by the living conditions of the families in East St. Louis. And this article only exacerbated my feelings. I find it incredible that America, the country of opportunity and prosperity, "neglects" its children in such a way that does not allow them to have either of those things. Ms. Peggy made so many valid points about the inefficiency of standardized tests and i strongly agree with her. It angers me that innocent children are not receiving the same education across the country, and worse, our government thinks that standardized tests are the solution to this problem. How can our government be so heartless?
theresabru

PROBE: Many States Adopt National Standards for Their Schools - 2 views

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/21/education/21standards.html?_r=0 What happens when states adopt the national standards?

PROBE commoncore RacetotheTop

started by theresabru on 21 Nov 12 no follow-up yet
Elise Costa

The Shadow Scholar: The man who writes your students' papers tells his story (The Makin... - 24 views

As a future educator, this article was terrifying. Not only does it make me question the ethics of the students, it makes me question how these professors don't recognize it. I can understand not ...

started by Rachel Goldberg on 22 Mar 12 9 follow-ups, last by Elise Costa on 26 Mar 12
Lauren Tripp

Children need food, health care, and books. Not new standards and tests. - 1 views

blogs.edweek.org/...en_krashen_fix_poverty_an.html

schoolfunding

shared by Lauren Tripp on 26 Mar 11 - Cached
  • To summarize: What should schools focus on first? Food, health care, and books. Not on new standards and tests.
  • Lauren Tripp on 26 Mar 11
     
    Here's the original article on which the previous blog post was based.
  • Andrea Dorsey on 27 Mar 11
     
    While reading this article, i found myself agreeing with almost all of what Krashen was saying. Poverty does effect student learning. Fortunately for me, i never had to experience going to school hungry or sick. I always had books available to me in my school library and a school nurse present in case anyone got sick. I cannot imagine what it feels like to go to school without these basic things, nor do i want 25% of american children to go either. It's no wonder that students who live in poverty do worse in school. What is even more heart wrenchings is the fact that our government only cares of how well its country does internationally. What the government doesn't realize is that if it helps to reduce poverty, our children will be able to learn more efficiently and then it can get the international ranking it wants so badly. Until our government starts caring about our hungry children that go to school and not how the United States ranks internationally in education, then we cannot improve.
yiranyang

The Making of Americans: Multiple Languages is an Issue? - 8 views

Language is a very critical part of a society. In "The Making of Americans", Hirsch emphasizes that one dominant language is very important for a society, and the mastery of this dominant language ...

started by khermes09 on 23 Mar 13 3 follow-ups, last by yiranyang on 29 Mar 13
Lisa Lee

Differences in learning for high and low levels of SES students - 14 views

Very cool. There's a study that found the greatest in-school predictor of academic success/learning gains is teacher quality, which seems to be backed up by the study you found. Some reformers take...

started by urvashisingh on 24 Mar 13 5 follow-ups, last by Lisa Lee on 25 Mar 13
Jordan Bender

Why US black families are home-schooling - 6 views

www.bbc.co.uk/...magazine-17224662

shared by Jordan Bender on 15 Mar 12 - No Cached
  • Jordan Bender on 15 Mar 12
     
    Education for Extinction - "But opposition to schools did not always spring from a comprehensive rejection of white ways. It might just as well represent opposition to some selective aspect of the school program: punishing children for speaking their native tongue, pressuring them to convert to Christianity, forcing them to perform manual labor. Especially obnoxious to some was the school's manner of disciplining Indian children, and even more, the practice of dressing them and drilling them like soldiers."
  • ...6 more comments...
  • Alee Douglass on 16 Mar 12
     
    "For the African-American community there was a huge amount of pressure against it, because in America, the grandparents of today's home-schooled children fought for desegregation of schools.They thought, 'The public schools are going to save us.'" This really made me think about what the public school system has become, and how far removed it seems from the original public schools. The article also mentions teachers teaching to the test and constantly trying to medicate children, which is leading so far away from school being an environment where children want to be. I think that the article does a nice job of leaving the underlying message that home schooling is somewhat an alternative to public school because it puts desire and dedication back into education, which to me is extremely sad. Unfortunately, I think that until Public Schools begin to realize that education needs to leave room for growth, not just a syllabus designed for good test scores, the rate of homeschooling will keep rising.
  • Amanda Rose on 17 Mar 12
     
    In some cases, I believe home schooling takes away from a student's overall education experience. In a home school setting, students lose the sort of implicit curriculum that is learned in the classroom. Additionally, students lose the interaction with others on a daily basis in the classroom setting when they are home schooled. This family even recognizes that their student "misses the 'madness' of the classroom." Although, in the case of this family, home schooling still seems to be the perfect fit. Because of no other options for a better quality school than the one her son was at, and the fact that he was "losing his love for learning," home schooling was the obvious choice. The standing of today's public schools is unfortunate. NHERI director Dr Brian Ray claimed the following: "The failings of public schools have caused all of us, whether we are white or black, to come up with creative ideas about how we can educate children." It is sad to think that some school systems are so bad that parents believe they or online coursework from home is a better learning option for their developing student.
  • Elise Costa on 19 Mar 12
     
    I agree with Amanda. There are definitely aspects of homeschooling that I believe are not beneficial. These negative aspects are in the implicit curriculum. Socialization is an important part of growing up and learning. Many job require you to be able to work well with others. The article mentions home-schooling co-operatives. These "[help] break the social isolation critics of home schooling often warn about." These co-operatives can minimize some of the lost social interaction, but not all. However, "about two million, or 4%, of American children are home-schooled." This is really a limited number so the socialization concern is not too great. Overall, I think it is wonderful that homeschooling is not just a "white" thing anymore. If the parents can make it work, I see no reason why the children should not at least be exposed to this option. I would rather see improvements in the school but since that it not going to happen overnight, I think this is a decent alternative in the mean time, especially it the option is not discriminatory by race.
  • Caitlyn Cozart on 21 Mar 12
     
    This article is somewhat depressing. For instance, the statement, "Joyce Burges believes the day could soon be approaching when the local home-schooling co-operative, run by a group of committed parents, could be a real alternative to the public school, for children of all ages and ethnicities" is completely unethical. I do not agree with the homeschooling idea. I agree with Amanda that homeschooling takes away from students overall education. Students need to be with other students, learning in that setting. I think it is very upsetting to think that students could get a better education at home. For this particular family, it is sad there is no other option. I think that our society needs to work on school system, the overall education and the teachers in order to help our students in the long run.
  • Lindsey Wilkinson on 21 Mar 12
     
    To be honest, I am not a proponent of home schools. I mean absolutely no disrespect to anyone who has been or appreciates the institution, I just see it as unnatural and stifling for a child. I believe that children should constantly be around other children and that schools provide this for them. I think that classical schooling can help to increase awareness of those around you, appreciate diversity of race, gender, appearance, and abilities, and it can increase improvement in the individual as they are in a setting with there peers and trying to perform better to keep up. My opinions aside, I found the article specifically interesting when it discussed the differences in reasoning that white families home school and that black families do. White families apparently try to avoid the topics of sex education and darwinism being presented to their children in a method which they do not agree with. Blacks, on the other hand, seem to be aiming to support the "love of learning" and maintain cultural pride and roots.
  • Chelsea Townsend on 22 Mar 12
     
    According to the National Home Education Research Institute (NHERI), "about two million or 4% of American children are home-schooled." Home-schooling has been traditionally dominated by white Christian families in the rural south, but recently more black families have started home-schooling their children. "For the African-American community there was a huge amount of pressure against it, because in America, the grandparents of today's home-schooled children fought for desegregation of schools. They thought, 'The public schools are going to save us,'" says Dr. Brian Ray. According to a 2008 study by the Schott Foundation, "Over the last 25 years, the social, educational and economic outcomes for black males have been more systematically devastating than the outcomes for any other racial or ethnic group or gender." More African American families have started home-schooling in hopes of increasing their child's love for learning. Families also believe that classrooms are more favorable for girls. Another reason is to emphasis more focus on African American culture. Home-schooling does not work for all children and parents. "Many children who are home-schooled in their early years return to the class room when they reach secondary school age." I personally am not a fan of home-schooling, for I feel that children need to be able to develop relationships with other students and teachers. Also, through classroom education, students receive both the explicit and implicit curriculum.
  • anonymous on 22 Mar 12
     
    This article is quite relevant and intriguing because I was watching CNN last week and they were also discussing the increased of African-American families beginning to homeschool their children. In the article, "Monica Utsey, who runs a home schooling co-operative for African American children in Washington DC, says: "African-American mothers, especially those who have boys, have a lot of trouble in the school system. The way the classroom is designed is more conducive for girls. For her, though, the main motivation was cultural - she wanted her sons to learn about their African roots and not "to believe that their history begins with slavery. Another common complaint is that teachers are too ready to blame behavioural problems on Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), and encourage them to medicate their children with drugs such as Ritalin or Adderall." I agree with the parents in the article that sometimes benefitical to try something new.
  • Tiffany Morgan on 22 Mar 12
     
    "It is also does nothing to address standards in public schools which, some experts say, will fall still further if highly-motivated and engaged parents start taking their children out of them, harming the African-American community as a whole." I understand why parents are concerned. But I think homeschooling is not the solution. Parents should get together and voice their opinions. The parents are the ones that need to make the changes in the schools. It may take years to make changes in the schools, if any changes at all, but at least future generations may benefit. Children need to be educated in a environment that includes kids their own age. Home schooled children have less opportunity to make friends with other children and are more sheltered by their parents.
Aline Dahruj

PROBE sources - 0 views

Charter Schools. (2004, August 3). Retrieved from http://www.edweek.org/ew/issues/charter-schools/ Erickson, A. T. (2011). The Rhetoric of Choice: Segregation, Desegregation, and Charter Schools. ...

started by Aline Dahruj on 04 Apr 12 no follow-up yet
kelsey iglesias

Unschooling: Homeschooling Without Books, Tests or Classes - ABC News - 1 views

abcnews.go.com/...story

shared by kelsey iglesias on 23 Mar 11 - Cached
  • Caitie Tighe on 25 Mar 11
     
    They followed up on somewhat older kids (13 years I think), but it would be interesting to see where these unschooled children end up as adults. It seems like the products of unschooling are not compatible with American ideals, but then again, it also seems like these families are already living by their own standards and so it probably doesn't matter much to them how they are viewed by others.
  • kelsey iglesias on 25 Mar 11
     
    "Most children will always choose television over reading every time, but Yablonski said that "the key there is that you've got to trust your kids to ... find their own interests."
  • kelsey iglesias on 25 Mar 11
     
    Caitie, that is something I have been interested in finding out as I continue to research this topic. I have read many blogs where multiple parents talk about their children excelling in college after being unschooled, but I am still skeptical. It seems like an intriguing idea that could work, but only if society was willing to adapt to its rules and not close opportunities for those that choose this unique form of education.
Lauren Tripp

The World Becomes What We Teach | Common Dreams - 1 views

www.commondreams.org/...19-4

testing

shared by Lauren Tripp on 08 Mar 11 - No Cached
  • It should not be the goal of schooling, because were we to actually succeed at graduating a generation that all passed their No Child Left Behind tests and were all employed, we would find that most of them would perpetuate, and perhaps even escalate, the systemic problems we face.
    • Lauren Tripp
      Lauren Tripp on 08 Mar 11
       
      Do you agree? It's kind of a shocking assertion - passing tests being the main goal of public education these days...
    • Tiffany Hofmann
      Tiffany Hofmann on 26 Mar 11
       
      I think it is true and becoming more and more true as we allow our education system to be dictated by those that are money hungry and cannot see beyond the edge of their own noses. Education has become somewhat of a joke in certain areas because children are only being taught to take a test. How in the world will anybody be able to infiltrate into society... or what society expects of them if all kids are being taught it how to take a test, and it is not getting any better by making teacher's pay merit based! Thanks for sharing this!
  • stephanib on 26 Mar 11
     
    This is an awesome article. I think it relates to what I wrote in another comment about how students should be allowed to pursue their passions in addition to having a sense of the basic disciplines as well. Here it goes a step farther, taking the basics in service of the unique issues instead of the starting point and foundation. I like the idea of backing off on standardized testing in order to give students the opportunity to learn in practical situations- it mimics the real world, including the fact that different people specialize in different areas, but all of the specialties are necessary to create a holistic solution to the large issues we face. Students can learn about a variety of disciplines relevant to the issue, and have a chance to delve into their particular interests to make a special contribution. In today's information-driven world where the dates of historical battles and more are at students' fingertips, it makes more sense to be teaching students what to do with this information. Helping them to integrate the various disciplines and to evaluate the information they can access to put it to good use seems a better education to meet our needs and more appropriately use the resources we have so easily available, while also encouraging more passion for students than what they get when they are taught for testing only. It's learning they're much less likely to lay aside after the test is over.
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