Monday, October 22, 2012

Do These People Really Want to Educate Children?

I ask in all seriousness--I just don't see how you can advocate for these policies and be serious about education:
1. Washington Post — French President François Hollande has said he will end homework as part of a series of reforms to overhaul the country’s education system. Reason? He doesn’t think it is fair that some kids get help from their parents at home while children who come from disadvantaged families don’t. It’s an issue that goes well beyond France, and has been part of the reason that some Americans oppose homework too.

2. Maryland Community News — “Elementary students’ honor roll status will soon be a thing of the past in Montgomery County (MD). Reason? Students will no longer see A, B, C, D or E, but rather ES for exceptional, P for proficient, I for in-progress, N for not-yet making progress or making minimal progress, or M for missing data. There will be no more traditional honor roll at schools.”
The mathematical term is least common denominator.
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1 comment:

  1. Ellen K4:40 PM

    My principal noted in the last Gallup polling taken by students that they didn't feel they got enough recognition. My theory is that for recognition to mean something, the student must have achieved something. We got rid of honor rolls ten years ago. I don't know why, I don't know when. Wouldn't it be more meaningful to pat those kids who DO achieve on the head for their achievements than create some euphemistically titled list? We laud athletes and performers almost daily. Our announcements border on the ridiculous because every stellar play, every regional prize, must be publicly denoted. But we only honor good grades one time at the end of the year. And even then it's only the best who get noticed. There are plenty of other kids who make good grades and who could use a pat on the back. Isn't it time we stop celebrating mediocrity as if it is a good thing? Or have we now entered into the Soviet Realism phase?

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