http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/secondaryeducation/4400192/Ofqual-A-levels-should-be-toughened-up.html
Getting an A is the greatest feeling any student can have. I remember when I was in high school that getting a B was almost as great. Reading this article made me think that some people may have things just a little bit wrong. I don't necessarily agree that things have been dumbed down for students making it easier to get an A. Coming back to college I noticed that what used to be average and OK now seems to be below average and a disappointment. I don't agree that things are being dumbed down for students. I think that students have learned to fight harder for grades that have been pushed at them throughout the years. Parents and teachers have asked for the best and students have answered. Have things been dumbed down, not necessarily. Do things need to be adjusted for the hybrid students that our system has created, probably.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Mainstream Education
http://www.articlesbase.com/education-articles/the-benefits-of-mainstream-education-192945.html
From Kindergarten to 8th grade I went to a private school. The reason my parents gave me seemed like good ones. Not only did they want to monitor what I was being taught but they also felt that it might give me a better, more rounded education. The school was a very small Christian school, my class fluctuated from 8 to 12 people throughout the 9 years, so I did get a very personal education. The teachers had time to help students individually, they seemed to know where everyone needed help. But when I got to the public high school, I was socially unprepared. I was able to adjust to my surroundings and at graduation I felt ready for the real world. For the most part, my education got me through. I of course need to learn more, who doesn't. But I made it through. Now looking back, I realize especially reading this article, that if I would have been educated completely in a private school I would have been given a very fuzzy image of what the world was like.
From Kindergarten to 8th grade I went to a private school. The reason my parents gave me seemed like good ones. Not only did they want to monitor what I was being taught but they also felt that it might give me a better, more rounded education. The school was a very small Christian school, my class fluctuated from 8 to 12 people throughout the 9 years, so I did get a very personal education. The teachers had time to help students individually, they seemed to know where everyone needed help. But when I got to the public high school, I was socially unprepared. I was able to adjust to my surroundings and at graduation I felt ready for the real world. For the most part, my education got me through. I of course need to learn more, who doesn't. But I made it through. Now looking back, I realize especially reading this article, that if I would have been educated completely in a private school I would have been given a very fuzzy image of what the world was like.
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Regret
http://www.usatoday.com/news/education/2009-02-12-early-admissions_N.htm
When I started my senior year in high school. I knew where I was going to go to college. I hadn't quite figured out what I was going to go to school for, but I knew where. I had not been pressured by my parents in anyway, but I felt the pressure from others. It seemed like a requirement in life to go to college right after school, so get going. I was signed up and had my housing before Christmas, I was ready to go. Exactly one year later I was back on my parents couch after just being officially suspended for poor grades. I was so unprepared for college and had no idea what I wanted when I got there, so I didn't care and I didn't try. I just wasn't ready. Reading this article made me feel sad for other who have issues too. I agree completely that colleges shouldn't allow students to enter so early, but that can't save every unprepared student. some just aren't ready.
When I started my senior year in high school. I knew where I was going to go to college. I hadn't quite figured out what I was going to go to school for, but I knew where. I had not been pressured by my parents in anyway, but I felt the pressure from others. It seemed like a requirement in life to go to college right after school, so get going. I was signed up and had my housing before Christmas, I was ready to go. Exactly one year later I was back on my parents couch after just being officially suspended for poor grades. I was so unprepared for college and had no idea what I wanted when I got there, so I didn't care and I didn't try. I just wasn't ready. Reading this article made me feel sad for other who have issues too. I agree completely that colleges shouldn't allow students to enter so early, but that can't save every unprepared student. some just aren't ready.
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Unschooling
<http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15029646/>
The problem discussed in this article is the effectiveness of a new education method for homeschooling called "Unschooling". The process is that the children pick what they want to learn at what times. It is almost encouraged that the children change frequently. The problem that some people have with this method is that some children may not be getting all of the education that they need. Another problem discussed is that the education may be coming from uneducated parents.
The author doesn't necessarily offer a solution to the problem. He does state that he realizes that this form of schooling is not for everyone. Not only do the parents have to have the time, but they have to be as he puts it "Intellectually Curious".
I'm actually at odds with whether I agree or disagree with the thought of Unschooling. I do see the good points of children not being forced to learn things that they might not be ready for and at their own pace. Not only could this type of education be more interactive for them, it gives those who might need more assistance a very one-on-one education. But I also disagree with it because children could be sent to college completely unprepared. There are many things that I did not want to learn, that I hated going to class for. But without those classes I would have been completely behind for any kind of higher education. This author did have a great point that you would have to look at the parents that would be doing the educating. Also integrating the children into public schooling when they are prepared is a great idea. In my opinion it may be a good way to start, but unless the parent is well educated, I wonder whether this form of education would be that effective.
The problem discussed in this article is the effectiveness of a new education method for homeschooling called "Unschooling". The process is that the children pick what they want to learn at what times. It is almost encouraged that the children change frequently. The problem that some people have with this method is that some children may not be getting all of the education that they need. Another problem discussed is that the education may be coming from uneducated parents.
The author doesn't necessarily offer a solution to the problem. He does state that he realizes that this form of schooling is not for everyone. Not only do the parents have to have the time, but they have to be as he puts it "Intellectually Curious".
I'm actually at odds with whether I agree or disagree with the thought of Unschooling. I do see the good points of children not being forced to learn things that they might not be ready for and at their own pace. Not only could this type of education be more interactive for them, it gives those who might need more assistance a very one-on-one education. But I also disagree with it because children could be sent to college completely unprepared. There are many things that I did not want to learn, that I hated going to class for. But without those classes I would have been completely behind for any kind of higher education. This author did have a great point that you would have to look at the parents that would be doing the educating. Also integrating the children into public schooling when they are prepared is a great idea. In my opinion it may be a good way to start, but unless the parent is well educated, I wonder whether this form of education would be that effective.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Closing the Achievement Gap
<http://www.diverseeducation.com/artman/publish/article_11344.shtml>
After reading this article I do agree with the author. I have read statistic after statistic that states who under-educated the minorities in our country our. That some students are in their senior year reading at an 8th grade level. To me that is amazing to read. Without teachers that are culturally aware and sensitive to certain students needs, they might find it extremely hard to learn. I really liked the one comment in this article from Dr. Denbo, "We’re not asking for something that’s just for Latino students, we’re not asking for something that’s just for African-American students [and] we’re not asking for something that’s just for working-class students, We’re looking for something that’s for everyone.” I really think that that is all that anyone wants, is to feel included.
After reading this article I do agree with the author. I have read statistic after statistic that states who under-educated the minorities in our country our. That some students are in their senior year reading at an 8th grade level. To me that is amazing to read. Without teachers that are culturally aware and sensitive to certain students needs, they might find it extremely hard to learn. I really liked the one comment in this article from Dr. Denbo, "We’re not asking for something that’s just for Latino students, we’re not asking for something that’s just for African-American students [and] we’re not asking for something that’s just for working-class students, We’re looking for something that’s for everyone.” I really think that that is all that anyone wants, is to feel included.
Monday, February 9, 2009
Paper one Reflection
When it came to writing my paper, I thought that it was going to be easy. Just state your argument, whether you agree or disagree with the writer, state the points you want to make, and finish. What I realized is that I think to much and I try to hard. I remember my professor making a comment about the introduction and how you want to make it interesting enough that people want to keep on reading. You don't want to make people fall asleep before they get through the first sentence. That became my problem. I had all of these ideas that I was going to use to try to make my point, I was going to paint a picture of what I thought something would look like. I wanted the reader to see it to. I feel like I blew it. I handed in the paper like that, to me slightly unfinished and I wasn't sure if I really did make my point, but it made it in on time. I do think that I made known what side of the argument I was for. I don't know if I really backed myself up as much as I wanted. I'm just worried that I tried to hard at the beginning of my paper to grab the readers attention that I lost focus on what the point of my paper was. And even if I was given my paper back to try again, I'm not sure what I would do with it. I think I just ended up rambling on and on. But I also always think of the worst results when it comes to papers and tests instead of the good grade that I might get. Hopefully my professor understands what I was saying.
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