12
   

I learned something new at school today

 
 
msolga
 
  1  
Reply Wed 17 Nov, 2010 09:31 pm
@boomerang,
I'll bet it did, boomer!
Fascinating stuff.
All the inter-connections, which we sometimes/often lose track of in the heat of the current debate. (Whatever the current debate might be.)
And so much to consider, it's rather mind boggling.
What a challenge, to reconsider what passes for the "standard" assessment of intelligence today. How we got here & what our students might actually require from the education process now. For their futures.
If you come across the next video, please post it on.
0 Replies
 
boomerang
 
  1  
Reply Thu 9 Dec, 2010 02:49 pm
This looks like an interesting movie!

littlek
 
  1  
Reply Thu 9 Dec, 2010 05:07 pm
@boomerang,
Our district just bought the movie (after several admin and teachers watched it). The idea is for all of us staff to see it. The sped teachers seem know this stuff already. The core teachers might also know it, but they push the kids WAY too hard (in general).
Green Witch
 
  1  
Reply Thu 9 Dec, 2010 05:18 pm
I just saw this film. The whole country should have to watch it. I hope it at least makes people start to question the current system and start to explore ways to change it. I'm glad I'm not a kid, parent or teacher.
boomerang
 
  1  
Reply Thu 9 Dec, 2010 07:18 pm
@littlek,
I'd love to know what you think about it after you see it. It's only showing here for one screening -- sometime next month. I hope I get a chance to see it.

I know that some teachers "get it". Mo's regular teacher is finally back and after she sent home even more homework than usual I sent her an email saying that I thought the work load was unhealthy. She agreed. I think teachers bow to the parents but they really know better.
0 Replies
 
boomerang
 
  1  
Reply Thu 9 Dec, 2010 07:20 pm
@Green Witch,
Can you tell me a bit about the movie? Why do you think the whole country should have to watch it? Do you think that if they did that anything would change?
Green Witch
 
  2  
Reply Thu 9 Dec, 2010 08:21 pm
@boomerang,
Maybe it's because I just finished reading Last Child in The Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder that I'm particularly saddened by this movie. All the kids are either in a classroom, in front of a computer, being driven around in a car or on a soccer field being yelled at. The movie is an examination of how over the past 25 years or so we have started this emphasis on test performance and awards. Education is no longer about learning to think it's about memorizing systems to perform well on tests. Cram it in, squeeze it out. There is also this thing about kids having to perform in other activities like sports, music, theatre etc to the point that they never have a free moment. The emphasis is on wining, not having fun. You can't do something because you like it, you have to do it to be The Best. The movie explores all the unrealistic pressures that are put on parents, teachers and kids. Everyone is stressed out and unhappy, but no seems to know how to stop the merry-go-round. It's a national problem, we fund it with our taxes and there are basically laws that keep this system in place. You see a lot of good hardworking people (young and old) being totally smacked around by this method of educating and raising our children. It's not making our children into smart, happy adults, it's just making them and everyone involved in child rearing feel like tired failures. Even the kids with good grades and a wall full of trophies feel like it's never enough. Kids are literally killing themselves from these pressures. I doubt the movie will change much, but at least people are opening the problem to discussion. I not saying it's a perfect movie, but it has an important message.
boomerang
 
  1  
Reply Thu 9 Dec, 2010 09:14 pm
@Green Witch,
Now I'm really determined to see this movie. Thanks so much Green Witch!

It really sounds a lot like the Ken Robinson stuff I've been listening to.

My sister sent me the link but noted that she hadn't had a chance to see the movie yet. She said that these are the kind of things I've been griping about and she thougt I'd appreciate somone else doing the griping.

I think she's right!
0 Replies
 
littlek
 
  1  
Reply Thu 9 Dec, 2010 09:44 pm
@Green Witch,
Keep meaning to read Last Child....
0 Replies
 
boomerang
 
  1  
Reply Tue 14 Dec, 2010 06:00 pm
The topic of testing came up today when Mo came home with a quiz that was obviously test prep (he missed 2 out of 25 (for all of you who think he's too stupid to pass and that's why they told me about the opt-out)).

He complained that they were getting ready for the online test and that he hates that test.

So I asked him.... "What if you didn't have to take that test? What if you didn't have to take that test but everyone else did? I know you don't like to feel different. Would it make you feel different?"

To which he replied...."I'd LOVE it. Hmmmm..... No."

So we went back to the "Hmmmmmm".

He didn't think it was fair that the other kids would still have to take the test.

I explained that maybe their parents could ask for them to not take the test too. That maybe each family could decide.

He thought that sounded okay. He said he didn't want to take the test if I could get him out of it (I haven't confirmed that it's possible -- only asked what ifs.)

I told him I wanted him to really think about it for a bit.

If he doesn't bring it up again before the end of Christmas break I might bring it up. That way I know he's making a decision with a clear head instead of one based on a bad/good school day.
0 Replies
 
boomerang
 
  4  
Reply Fri 1 Apr, 2011 08:34 am
I thought I'd follow up on this by telling of the compromise we reached.

Because opting out can count against the school I didn't really want to do that so I agreed that he could take the tests. He passed them all on the first try.

They're supposed to take each test 3 times with the top score being the one recorded. We opted out of the other two rounds by saying we were satisfied with his scores. Now while the other kids are retaking the test he goes to the computer lab and plays math games or goes to the library and reads.

The school gets to count his passing grades, he saves face, he doesn't have the extra stress, I get to stick to my principals in a lesser way, everybody's happy.
maxdancona
 
  2  
Reply Fri 1 Apr, 2011 06:00 pm
@boomerang,
Quote:
I get to stick to my principals in a lesser way, everybody's happy.


You mean 'principles' right? (In the context of the thread, sticking to principals is a funny image).
boomerang
 
  1  
Reply Fri 1 Apr, 2011 06:25 pm
@maxdancona,
ARGH I hate that rule! I always miss it even though I know that "your principal is you pal" thing.

I have to admit that the principal at Mo's school is a really beautiful woman. If I swang that way I'd probably be trying to stick with her, in a morer way.

Does that make me a Freudian slisbian?
dadpad
 
  1  
Reply Fri 1 Apr, 2011 08:43 pm
@boomerang,
You may have lesbeshion tendancies.
Perhaps you should join Dys in the closet.

Some schools here are encoraging their poorest performers to "be sick" on test day. This increases the schools average score. scores are used when advertising and selling to prospective students/parents.
0 Replies
 
 

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