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About This Page: This is a discussion on Politics within the LetsGoKings.com forums, at Los Angeles Kings Hockey Fan Forum. What Makes Finnish Kids So Smart? - WSJ.com
The school my youngest son has gone to all his life (pre-K through 12th grade) is about as close to this as
The school my youngest son has gone to all his life (pre-K through 12th grade) is about as close to this as you can get in the US. (Except, he did start younger than age seven). It's also run without constant reference to grades. The kids don't get grades until high school and they only see their individual grades for the first time half way through their junior year. The kids aren't admitted based on test scores or grades so the school population is mixed in terms of its range of abilities. The kids are encouraged to be intellectually ambitious but are also allowed to develop at their own pace. It works.
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"For if once a man indulges himself in murder, very soon he comes to think little of robbing; and from robbing he comes next to drinking and Sabbath-breaking, and from that to incivility and procrastination." Thomas DeQuincey, 1700's
Last edited by Leonidas; March 10th, 2008 at 04:29 PM.
BTW . . . anyone who aspires their child to be a "Spelling Bee Champion" is either hard-up for college money, or is downright insane. Those kids aren't smart - they're programmable. And their parents program them to be able to calculate words. It's about memorization first, and mechanics second. I'm convinced that there are many jobs in todays world that make average or below average salaries which require as much thought.
I won't even tackle the social effects of these kids being embarassed as crybaby losers on ESPN because they simply forgot that "cataclysm" was of Greek origin, from the greek word "kataklysmos", which means to "wash down". Now mop up those tears and go out and play baseball or something.
However, research indicates that knowledge of results can get better results in the future. Grades are necessary for that aspect and for an accountability issue for the child as well. In my class I hold all students accountable for achieving at 80% or better for the entire year. That way if a kid screws up and does not do good they are still in the C range which is acceptable.
The one thing that pisses me off about our modern school system is the idea of social promotion and that a D is considered a passing grade. I do not want a doctor who passed by getting things right 60% of the time. As a teacher I believe that a child should be held back...screw this touchy feely crap of it will injure their self image. GOOD maybe they should spend less time goofing around and more time working. I think that schooling should go back to the way it was in the 50's and 60's
However, research indicates that knowledge of results can get better results in the future. Grades are necessary for that aspect and for an accountability issue for the child as well. In my class I hold all students accountable for achieving at 80% or better for the entire year. That way if a kid screws up and does not do good they are still in the C range which is acceptable.
The one thing that pisses me off about our modern school system is the idea of social promotion and that a D is considered a passing grade. I do not want a doctor who passed by getting things right 60% of the time. As a teacher I believe that a child should be held back...screw this touchy feely crap of it will injure their self image. GOOD maybe they should spend less time goofing around and more time working. I think that schooling should go back to the way it was in the 50's and 60's
I agree with you 100%, but I'll go one step further. PARENTING should go back to the way it was in the 50's and 60's. My parents (and subsequently me with my daughters teachers) worked WITH the school not against them. If your kid is acting up in school, punish the little ba$tard. Don't threaten to sue the school. I think the schools should be allowed to send the bad actors home to mom and dad - let them take a day or two off work and deal with the little darling.
Kids today have no respect for anyone, including their parents and teachers. They do whatever they want with no consequences. They do just what they have to in school, and we all expect to compete with other countries? There are enough other cultures in this country that are gonna put little Johnny and Jane out of the running for any decent job. There are so many people of other cultures taking advantage of what this country offers, what's our problem?
You can argue vouchers and home schooling all you want, but you get out of school what you put into it. No matter where you go. And that's the parents responsibility. Parents need to make sure their kids are paying attention in school and getting their homework done. The teachers can only go so far, and if they spend all day disciplining there isn't much time left for learning.
Education That Works--Finland 
Iron Duke
