Hey Guys, I think public schooling (regardless of ones religion) should be about teaching students how to think critically- so they can make determinations on their own. Public schooling does very little of that. Education is mechanized, in the sense that students are treated as objects on an assembly line. Teachers are expected to put in knowledge and get out a high or passing test score. Shouldn't schools be concerned in helping students become what it is they want to be? Shouldn't society be concerned with the education and health of people so they can reach their own conception of a good life, and not what McDonald's, Coke, Apple Computer, Gap or American Idol suggests what is good? Instead students are educated- not just by schools, but in every since, to be consumers. GWB- after 9/11 said, go shopping- he didn't say, go reflect on how we can be a better nation, or become unified or stand up and educate for tolerance instead of hate. He said go shopping! Is how much we spend, what we own, how much we will make - so important that being and showing care to each other takes a back seat?
What is discerning is that courses on civics are offered in schools and many are still not aware of their rights, duties and laws. Texas law makers are obviously not aware of the separation between church and state, as took it upon themselves to introduce religion more prominently into their curriculum. Isn't there some sort of law about that?
The US is in want of a truly educated populous- that includes all of the degreed folk out there- that can think for itself, and not be used by the elite to move their agenda. Right now, there is an angry backlash out there- in the form of the tea party that is being used (backed by a wealthy few) to put more money in their pockets. Don't believe me? Check out http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2010/08/30/100830fa_fact_mayer- But on the other side, Obama is not supporting public education in trying to privatize all the public schools through secretary of education Arne Duncans charter school policies. What ends up happening is corporate takeover of schools. Why would you put the same business in control of schools when they screwed up the economy and continue to send jobs out of the country ? ( check my sources, Diane Ravitch, 2009- Former Dept. Secretary of Education under Bush - came out against charter schools as a failed educational reform movement under the control of private hands.
Look at all the sides guys... Ask questions. Be critical... what ever anyone says- even me- question it ( respectfully) think about all sides- use Dewey's scientific method if you must, but think deeply and reflect. If we don't we are headed down a dark path of blind faith. Believe what you want, but also use your natural gifts- thinking, reflection and capacity to care...
ok guys- enough of my soap box ( now that was preachy) - check out this other blog I just started- it has the entire conversation from the speakers two weeks ago on it - http://nonviolencedemocraticeducation.blogspot.com/
The opinions expressed are mine and mine alone and the Univ of Toledo nor JHCOE has any part or responsibility for them... disclaimer...
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I completely agree. Where have all the truly great educators gone? I'm not saying that there aren't great teachers out there, just that there aren't many left in the public school system that take the time to really push students to do what they want to in life. I've had my fair share of teachers who only care about the test scores we get, or how well our district does in passing the OGTs... Very few educators look beyond that. We can only hope that the next generation of future teachers begin to shift the tide towards a more prominent, helpful public school system. If there were more teachers who help students rather than just push them down the "assembly line", could you only imagine how different the United States would be? I can, and that's why I plan on being one of those teachers; one that's not completely concerned with test scores, but pushing my students to higher levels, in which they begin to think more critically about the world that we live in.
ReplyDeleteI would also agree. We put too much emphasis on standardized testing because thats how schools are funded. Instead of teaching students to think critically and think how something applies to them we "rely" on them in a sense to become machines and perform on the test. If the students don't perform, try to make them perform by puting them in programs to help them pass the test.
ReplyDeleteIn my service learning, I pull students out of class to tutor them in Math for the OAT. Not only are they missing important class time, but its done in a very objective way where students arn't really applying their knowledge. Im sorry but answering multiple choice questions is not applying their knowlege about a particular subject it only demonstrates that they understand it. Whats going to happen when students go out in the real world and have to calculate the discount on an item? Oh no, no more A,B,C,D, they are going to to actually have to think critically. Something standardized testing isn't teaching them.
I personally have always been against standardized testing. I completely disagree with the concept of basing an entire years worth of learning on a few days of tests. In my opinion the tests really do not successfully measure what you have learned anyways. Standardized tests want you to read lengthy articles and and look at complicated examples, but at the same time only ask you basic questions. The wording of questions is often confusing and the concept of a set time limit adds a lot of stress to the experience. I personally remember taking the OGT's as a sophmore and seeing firsthand how unforigiving the tests are. One of my friends from high school (who graduated ranked fourth in our class with a 3.9 GPA) failed 2 of her OGT's. This was not because she did not learn what was neccessary, but due to the fact that her grandfather had lost a battle with cancer in the middle of testing week. Standardized tests do not allow for added stresses outside of the classroom. I feel Eric also makes a wonderful point about thinking critically. Anyone can choose between four options. Just by using elimination techniques every question can easily become 50/50. What is the point of basing our education system on a series of guesses when in the 'real world' we will be expected to think for ourselves and we are not given a choice of answers.
ReplyDeleteStandardized testing is biased, inaccurate, and is limited in its ability to assess a student's actual knowledge learned in the classroom. However despite the fact that the negative outweighs the positive when it comes to standardized testing, our education systems have become reliant on them in many aspects. School systems use tests to guide and control the curriculum and teaching methods in schools, so now students are being taught to pass tests rather than to accumulate knowledge they can rely on in their futures.
ReplyDeleteWhen did we become a nation that relies on test scores to determine crucial decisions? We use tests in a realm of different areas such as: readiness, screenings, tracking, retention in grade, graduation, etc. All these tests promote the concept of looking at students as having deficits to be corrected, rather than being individuals with differences, strengths and weaknesses to work with towards success.
As future educators, we must try and fix the corruption in our school systems and become efficient teachers who help children build upon foundations of knowledge. We must never believe in what others around us promotes and advocate for, but rather become educated ourselves, to make decisions with our students interests at heart.
It is a publics schools duty to teach students democratically so that when they are forced to step out into the world they will be able partcipate in society. Making students think critically is only going to benefit them in the long run and so many schools aren't doing that today.
ReplyDeleteAs for standardized testing why do people feel that it is the only way to assess students. Students should be able to show that they mastered certain content areas and materials but standardized testing in the the only way to determine whether students know things. I feel like no one looks at the big picture when creating these standardized tests. Each student is dealing with their own situations and then they feel pressured to pass this test. The tests are biased and do not take into consideration all the different students taking the test.