This is the last rant on education...for now.
I guess I'm baffled why we think that college is the right education for everyone, so we stick everyone on the same college prep coursework. I'm all for continuing to learn, and acquiring higher education. I just don't understand why we don't include skilled professions and trades in all of that.
An apprenticeship type program would be useful. Career counseling that focuses on someone's strengths, and then offers encouragement to things like dental hygiene or jewelry design (my brother was into that) or whatever should be part of an education. There are professions out there that require skill and different kinds of education. Education in America should consider this, and provide training for those that want it at a young age.
Then everyone can learn the basics (like where the U.S. is on a world map), and college prep folks can study for standardized tests and everyone else who wants to can prepare to advance in a skilled profession or trade.
Tags: education in America, American education, skilled professional training, U.S. world map,
college prep, standardized tests
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Why Can't We Find Ourselves on a Map? (Or, Education in America, Part 2)
Yesterday I ranted a little bit about education in America. This was prompted by the school voucher controversy here in Utah, and a rather infamous "map" incident involving Miss South Carolina. I've thought about it some more. Why can't many Americans find our own country on a a map?
I guess the answer in my book is actually two main points: lower standards and focus on specific things, aimed at getting the right answers on standardized tests.
Lower standards in education
This is one that bothers me. It seems we find that we are expected to know and understand less and less. And people expect A's for doing the minimum. Isn't that supposed to be a C? For average? Now we give people A's for doing what they should be doing anyway. As if completing the assignment, with the basics, warrants something that means "excellent." In my undergrad career, I got a lot of A's. I didn't learn a whole lot. When I went to grad school, I went to one with high standards. All of my first assignments were labeled with a C, despite the fact that all of the minimum requirements were met. I had to *gasp* earn my way up to an A. I got an A- and a B+ in two different classes. They were the ones that taught me the most. We need to return to expecting more of students. American students aren't stupid. Just a lot of them have been taught to be lazy.
Focus on very specific and narrow items in American education
My other issue is that standardized testing, including the stuff emphasized by No Child Left Behind, creates a situation where students are only taught very specific things. And they are taught to pass certain tests, rather than actually acquire learning and skills. I'm not completely against standardized testing. There has to be some measure available. However, too much emphasis on these tests is leading schools to focus on testing, rather than true teaching. Have you retained the information you crammed into your brain for the SAT? Riiiiight.
My next post will probably address my issue with this idea that college is the only learning that's worth anything. It's not. We really need to get out of this idea that you can't be successful if you don't go to a traditional 4-year college.
Tags: American education, school voucher Utah, standards in education, education standards U.S.,
education standardized testing
I guess the answer in my book is actually two main points: lower standards and focus on specific things, aimed at getting the right answers on standardized tests.
Lower standards in education
This is one that bothers me. It seems we find that we are expected to know and understand less and less. And people expect A's for doing the minimum. Isn't that supposed to be a C? For average? Now we give people A's for doing what they should be doing anyway. As if completing the assignment, with the basics, warrants something that means "excellent." In my undergrad career, I got a lot of A's. I didn't learn a whole lot. When I went to grad school, I went to one with high standards. All of my first assignments were labeled with a C, despite the fact that all of the minimum requirements were met. I had to *gasp* earn my way up to an A. I got an A- and a B+ in two different classes. They were the ones that taught me the most. We need to return to expecting more of students. American students aren't stupid. Just a lot of them have been taught to be lazy.
Focus on very specific and narrow items in American education
My other issue is that standardized testing, including the stuff emphasized by No Child Left Behind, creates a situation where students are only taught very specific things. And they are taught to pass certain tests, rather than actually acquire learning and skills. I'm not completely against standardized testing. There has to be some measure available. However, too much emphasis on these tests is leading schools to focus on testing, rather than true teaching. Have you retained the information you crammed into your brain for the SAT? Riiiiight.
My next post will probably address my issue with this idea that college is the only learning that's worth anything. It's not. We really need to get out of this idea that you can't be successful if you don't go to a traditional 4-year college.
Tags: American education, school voucher Utah, standards in education, education standards U.S.,
education standardized testing
Monday, August 27, 2007
Education in America
By now, in all likelihood, you have probably seen the infamous video of Miss South Carolina answer to the question: Why can't Americans find their own country on a map? In case you haven't seen it, here's the answer:
And, last week, Karate Mommy started a little discussion about education and who should pay for it by bringing up school vouchers, specifically school vouchers here in Utah. All of this makes me think about education in America. It seems to be taking second (or third or fourth) place to things like looking good, trying to make "easy" money, or any number of other things. Why don't we value education here in America? Do we take it for granted?
Is our education slipping because we have repeatedly shown we don't think education is very important, due to the low salaries our teachers are paid? After all, many of the brightest go on to do things so that they can make money, rather than teach. Is the tenure system ruining our teachers by not holding them to high standards every year? After all, once a teacher makes tenure, he or she is good. No need to strive for continued excellence.
There are probably a lot of reasons that education in America is falling behind. And we need to start thinking of solutions. But first, we have to acknowledge that we have been downplaying the importance of education in our society, and before we can find a solution, we have to change the way we prioritize learning in this country.
Tags: video Miss South Carolina, education in America, teachers high standards, school vouchers,
school vouchers Utah, importance education society
And, last week, Karate Mommy started a little discussion about education and who should pay for it by bringing up school vouchers, specifically school vouchers here in Utah. All of this makes me think about education in America. It seems to be taking second (or third or fourth) place to things like looking good, trying to make "easy" money, or any number of other things. Why don't we value education here in America? Do we take it for granted?
Is our education slipping because we have repeatedly shown we don't think education is very important, due to the low salaries our teachers are paid? After all, many of the brightest go on to do things so that they can make money, rather than teach. Is the tenure system ruining our teachers by not holding them to high standards every year? After all, once a teacher makes tenure, he or she is good. No need to strive for continued excellence.
There are probably a lot of reasons that education in America is falling behind. And we need to start thinking of solutions. But first, we have to acknowledge that we have been downplaying the importance of education in our society, and before we can find a solution, we have to change the way we prioritize learning in this country.
Tags: video Miss South Carolina, education in America, teachers high standards, school vouchers,
school vouchers Utah, importance education society
Sunday, August 26, 2007
Go See Stardust (the movie)
If you like fairytales and fantasy -- the way they should be -- go see Stardust. I went last night, and it was great. The movie is based on a novel by Neil Gaiman. I like Neil Gaiman. He's very, very clever. One of my favorite books is a slightly (okay, more than slightly) irreverent book called Good Omens, which he co-wrote with Terry Pratchett (another terribly clever writer).
So I had to go see Stardust. And since Gaiman helped produce it, it was unlikely that Hollywood would screw it up beyond all recognition. The movie was clever, didn't take itself too seriously and was an all-around satisfying movie experience.
I don't buy movies often, but this will be one I buy.
Robert DeNiro as a cross dressing pirate captain? Classic.
Tags: Robert DeNiro pirate captain, Stardust movie, Neil Gaimon Stardust, Neil Gaimon Good Omens,
Terry Pratchett, Terry Pratchett Good Omens
So I had to go see Stardust. And since Gaiman helped produce it, it was unlikely that Hollywood would screw it up beyond all recognition. The movie was clever, didn't take itself too seriously and was an all-around satisfying movie experience.
I don't buy movies often, but this will be one I buy.
Robert DeNiro as a cross dressing pirate captain? Classic.
Tags: Robert DeNiro pirate captain, Stardust movie, Neil Gaimon Stardust, Neil Gaimon Good Omens,
Terry Pratchett, Terry Pratchett Good Omens
Friday, August 24, 2007
First Post
For a professional blogger, I'm remarkably hesitant about having a personal blog. However, Karate Mommy sort of convinced me that it would be fun. So I'm trying to decide if I'm having fun yet.
I have several rants in my head. All of them just waiting to be organized into something coherent and put into the blogosphere. We'll see how that works out in time, I guess.
I have several rants in my head. All of them just waiting to be organized into something coherent and put into the blogosphere. We'll see how that works out in time, I guess.
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