GOOD Sheet: Reform School

Posted by: GOOD
on October 9, 2008 at 1:59 pm

Sharpen your pencils: Today’s subject is the current state of public education.

This exploration of education is a collaboration between GOOD and Practise, London (James Goggin with Régis Tosetti). GOOD Sheet no. 005 is available in print in Starbucks from October 9-15.

Filed under: Blog : GOOD Sheet
Categories: Politics

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DISCUSSION: 3 Comments

- Posted by: Ryu
- on October 13, 2008 at 2:43 am
I would have to say that the WASL is a waste of Washington states students time. I don’t understand what the point of the whole thing is. Then in 2007 our school district decide to start this program “Dream Catcher” (That was poorly done) a program that is suppose to convince students that they should go to college. Yeah well it didn’t convince anyone, it just pretty much pissed everyone off. Then there was this peition that kids were starting, because they called B.S. on the school district. Pretty much the students were saying that the district just pulled this program out of their ass’ and was trying to look like they were doing something with their students. I had to laugh because students were scared to sign it, afraid they might get into trouble.Well what I have to say about our countries education is, yeah I think our education system sucks, but it’s better then nothing. Yeah I think we could do better, but going all the wrong way about it, by just making up these systems that are wasting the students time. Trying to make a C student into an A student in one huge step. I mean look at Bush, I’m not sure if they even tried with him. All I’m saying is they need to slow down and take little steps, not just one big one, because your losing a lot more that way.
- Posted by: Rocdove
- on October 13, 2008 at 8:15 am
So the moral here is “move to massachusetts?”I agree with Ryu – turning C students into A students is much harder than anyone is willing to admit. What this has led to in my area (Fairfax, VA) is pressure on teachers to inflate grades. When a student is not performing well, blame is often placed on the teacher with little investigation into the actual causes of the poor performance. We’re teaching to standardized tests and handing A’s to students who don’t fully apply themselves; it’s no wonder our educational system is lagging.
- Posted by: ron
- on July 11, 2009 at 10:00 pm
With 57% of students below standard in reading, Massachusetts is hardly the answer, even though it is better. I fear the problem is greater than schools can solve. Children are prepared for learning in the home environment and no amount of teaching skill or resources can make up for this. American children are paying a price for single parent families or for dual career couples when families are headed by a married couple.