tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4526659937118816707.post7531210279285849489..comments2023-10-31T10:36:24.845-05:00Comments on K12 Reformer - Mike Reno: "Self-Esteem" and Multiculturalism trump Rigor and Self-Discipline in Schools TodayMike Renohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02321695059501190325noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4526659937118816707.post-15198070128028199072008-08-09T10:00:00.000-05:002008-08-09T10:00:00.000-05:00Thanks, Jason. That is really at the heart of thi...Thanks, Jason. That is really at the heart of this topic... have educators become distracted from the primary mission in education? Or, is reduced rigor an unfortunate but necessary result of the need to also "teach" self-esteem and multiculturalism?<BR/><BR/>As you note, with limited resources it's hard to see how we can do it all. And even if we had unlimited resources, it's hard to see WHY we should do it all.Mike Renohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02321695059501190325noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4526659937118816707.post-12399356791911609992008-08-09T08:56:00.000-05:002008-08-09T08:56:00.000-05:00Interesting read. In the article, "world view" ju...Interesting read. In the article, "world view" jumped right out at me. When I was in school, it was the womens lib movement which had at least one of my teachers attention. We were exposed to it on a regular basis, and thought NOTHING of it. Fortunately, I still received a first rate education, and my curiosity in the sciences was rewarded with higher grades and more curiosity, but I remember the "political" interest of my teachers well.<BR/><BR/>The 1st commenter makes a point about passing a test and forgetting what it was about afterwards. I think curiosity and interest in the subjects is the key. My personal favorite in school was chemistry, and I excelled there. However, english was my bane, and I avoided it.<BR/><BR/>However, if resources and emphasis is placed upon developing interest in topics other than math, sciences, and read/write skills, we will continue to have a problem.Jason Gillmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08936369955945345359noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4526659937118816707.post-8608172708423787802008-08-08T15:11:00.000-05:002008-08-08T15:11:00.000-05:00So when we dress the kids up for Kindergarden "gra...So when we dress the kids up for Kindergarden "graduation" and make a big deal, when we hire limos for the Daddy Daughter Dance, when we go "all out" for fifth grade "graduation", and when we throw a $10k party simply for surviving high school, these might be bad things? :-)<BR/><BR/>I don't know about the rest of you but my kids earn their A's and work hard for every one of them. They get their self esteem from knowing and mastering the material. (not simple memorization) It's not just the kids. There is absolutely no extra curricular activity until the homework is done in my house! So score one for parental involvement. Parents and kids need help too.<BR/><BR/>In many cases some of our teachers go well beyond the "standard" curriculum. A few Hart science teachers come to mind. What ever it is that they are doing, we need to spread that method and energy across the district. <BR/><BR/>As for the multi-culture influence. Just let them interact with the new kids in their classes. Walk down the halls of our elementary schools. Look at the varried faces. Get to know them and and their parents and you will get all the multi-culture you will need. Let these kids form study groups and you can work on both esteem and multi-culture.<BR/><BR/>But there is something else going out here. <BR/><BR/>I got my Associates and Engineering degrees locally. I finished within the last 10 years. I have wittnessed these newly "immersed" kids first hand.<BR/><BR/>Yes there are lots of arrogant self absorbed 2.5 gpa students out there. They barely pass their tests and head straight for the bar. The next day they can't remember the questions frfom the test given the day before. Why? They have adapted to the test early, test often, test again methods we are using today. Then as they have been conditioned, they need a reward simply for performing. But exactly who is doing this conditioning? <BR/><BR/>The problem is more than this. We are teaching how to memorize not master. We teach test strategy and time optimization to get the best score. Testing used to be about finding out what you don't know and have not mastered. Then you go back and work on that.<BR/><BR/>But hey, testing drives "accountability" does it not?<BR/><BR/>So keep on over stimulating your kids with Cable, Wii, X-Box, DVD players everywhere (even in the SUV). I will keep limited slow supervised internet access without cable or any of the other distractions. My kids will mow the lawn and do house chores. They will finish AND understand their homework before we go to other things. I say we because the parents are required to be involved too. No golf for me if my kids don't understand and finish their homework.<BR/><BR/>So we can blame the public schools or look in the mirror, or both.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com