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Sums up a lot of the frustration with the direction the profession is headed. Less decision-making in the hands of trained, experienced teachers, more decision-making in the hands of politicians, lobbyists, and corporate leaders with limited educational credentials.
What about if the U.S. educational system took a look at what other countries are doing that is working --- like Finland, or Canada or some of the other countries where students outperform American students --- and make some changes to the system?
What about if the U.S. educational system took a look at what other countries are doing that is working --- like Finland, or Canada or some of the other countries where students outperform American students --- and make some changes to the system?
It won't happen. You do know that all those high performing countries everyone likes to cite as examples select out low achievers fairly early and those kids don't take all these international standards tests upon which the comparisons are based? That means we'd have to track again and then test just the top track. That's not going to happen.
Wow...I'll be showing that to all the people I know who are considering going into education. My best friends mother is head of the foreign language dept at a "good" public school and apparently always on the hunt for a new job.
It won't happen. You do know that all those high performing countries everyone likes to cite as examples select out low achievers fairly early and those kids don't take all these international standards tests upon which the comparisons are based? That means we'd have to track again and then test just the top track. That's not going to happen.
It's my understanding that Finland does not do much tracking, at least not before high school. They have heterogeneous classrooms, but plenty of intervention specialists. Their method has worked, but their society as a whole also does not have anywhere near the level of social problems that we have here. But you're right, most other countries have a selected population taking their tests. When you see "Shanghai" on the list, realize that in China the wealthiest people live in the big cities and these are their kids taking the international tests. If a group of kids from impoverished rural China were in schools to take those tests, the numbers would not look very good.
It's my understanding that Finland does not do much tracking, at least not before high school. They have heterogeneous classrooms, but plenty of intervention specialists. Their method has worked, but their society as a whole also does not have anywhere near the level of social problems that we have here. But you're right, most other countries have a selected population taking their tests. When you see "Shanghai" on the list, realize that in China the wealthiest people live in the big cities and these are their kids taking the international tests. If a group of kids from impoverished rural China were in schools to take those tests, the numbers would not look very good.
We used to track in the US. It was not based on wealth though; it was based on aptitude.
But it was discriminatory and "unfair" so all the kids are now mixed in together so that "everyone can be a winner" only more and more are losing a chance at a good education.
I totally agree with the teacher's letter. I am not a teacher, but I have just graduate high school in NC a few years ago, so my memory of the school system is still fresh. NC has failing schools because the emphasis is to teach what will be on the end of the year test, and that is it. Not learning for learning's sake. Not learning to build onto concept after concept. Just learning so we can pass the test. :S Also, just as she states, I have seen how my teacher's have been treated and how some of them rush to get into admin positions as soon as possible. It was these experiences that made me not want to study education/get a teaching license in college.
Why doesn't she obtain an administrative credential and start her own private school as a principal or look for a principal job in the public school system? Getting mad and quitting hurts the potential of her students and future students.
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