[Speed Gibson,
Sunday April 16, 2006 at 9:30pm]
The New Three R's
As I posted earlier regarding Oprah's two day series on the "Crisis" in public schools, Bill and Melinda Gates are sponsoring a new effort to reform and revitalize education. The program is short on words, but the Gates' have committed a billion dollars to it. (Thank you!)
The current methods are obsolete for the new economy they say. A new set of three R's are now required:
Rigor to me means academics and accountability. The current practices of dumbing down the curriculum, social promotion, and grade inflation must be eliminated.
Relevance, yes, means school work should spark student interest. Many students complain school is boring, and a certain amount of that criticism is valid given the dumbing down of the curriculum. The latest example of this is "Active Physics" which substitute pictures and cartoons for the rigorous mathematics. But it's impossible to make every student happy to study English literature or Geography. Rigor (parents) must demand that students make a reasonable effort be made in these subjects as well.
Relationships are largely ignored by our educational experts, who focus almost entirely on academics, such as they are. I have always contended that school is 50 percent social, and that just can't be done in these mega-schools we increasingly see in the suburbs. The Gates contend that smaller schools are one of the keys to the reform puzzle. A school has to be small enough to where yes, you truly can get to know almost everyone. I like to tell the story of being seated at graduation next to a girl I had never met in my class of 798 students. That's too big.
The Gates are correct. Our schools are letting us down. But they're still clinging to the government-run school concept and therefore won't get much beyond increasing awareness of the problem.
The current methods are obsolete for the new economy they say. A new set of three R's are now required:
- Rigor: All students should have access to college prep courses such as algebra, writing, and chemistry.
- Relevance: Courses and projects must spark student interest and relate clearly to their lives in today's rapidly changing world. The curriculum should engage students and be relevant to students' hopes and dreams.
- Relationships: Young people must learn in an environment where they feel known, safe, and respected. All students should have at least one adult advocate who looks out for them and pushes them to succeed.
Rigor to me means academics and accountability. The current practices of dumbing down the curriculum, social promotion, and grade inflation must be eliminated.
Relevance, yes, means school work should spark student interest. Many students complain school is boring, and a certain amount of that criticism is valid given the dumbing down of the curriculum. The latest example of this is "Active Physics" which substitute pictures and cartoons for the rigorous mathematics. But it's impossible to make every student happy to study English literature or Geography. Rigor (parents) must demand that students make a reasonable effort be made in these subjects as well.
Relationships are largely ignored by our educational experts, who focus almost entirely on academics, such as they are. I have always contended that school is 50 percent social, and that just can't be done in these mega-schools we increasingly see in the suburbs. The Gates contend that smaller schools are one of the keys to the reform puzzle. A school has to be small enough to where yes, you truly can get to know almost everyone. I like to tell the story of being seated at graduation next to a girl I had never met in my class of 798 students. That's too big.
The Gates are correct. Our schools are letting us down. But they're still clinging to the government-run school concept and therefore won't get much beyond increasing awareness of the problem.