Education Reform

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Mycophobia
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January 19th, 2009 at 12:37am
I searched for this and didn't find anything...

Traditional Schools grade based mostly on memorization, rather then creative thinking or curiosity. The thought that grades determine your intelligence has lead to the “Tough Standards” movement. Unfortunately a consequence of "tougher standards" in education is that children are too busy to think. It also leads to a preoccupation with achievement, which is detrimental to learning because children are focused on getting good scores, not actually learning, which in many cases leads to cheating. Personally, I believe that because of this, students feel discouraged to think for themselves. Many corporations want employees who are easily led and not inclined to think for themselves. Businesses want people who are hard-driven and achievement oriented, who are willing to go along with the flow in order to make money.

The system is also designed in a way that only suits certain types of learners, those with different learning styles are often labeled “lazy” or in many modern cases “learning disabled.” This can cause a great deal of stress and damage the self esteem of kids at a young age. Kids are expected to restrain their natural desire ability to move and exercise their curiosity by expecting them to sit at their desks quietly. Because childhood and adolescence are so important for development, not allowing children to have time to develop can damage them as individuals.

School creates an unhealthy amount of stress for most students. under pressure and excessive stress due to exams that persists for months and years - the brain can develop this mode of functioning as a habit. Over time, these individuals are driven into a hyperactive state.


Some things to THINK about…

Almost all the kids in honors classes are considered “smart”, but if you ask them about current events you will probably get a mindless answer.

Many consider the pourpase of adolescence to be understanding yourself, yet most adults don’t even have a clear concept of who they are because they are to preoccupied.

Ever notice how many questions a younger child asks? As children go trough school many stop asking so many questions and lose their natural curiosity.

Over the past decade, the most dramatic growth in hospitalizations has occurred among the population of younger school-aged children. They suffer mostly from depression and disruptive behavioral problems

18% of ninth graders have seriously considered suicide. 10% have attempted it.


Discuss
Matt Smith
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January 19th, 2009 at 04:07pm
GCSE exams don't test intelligence, in my opinion. They test the ability to memorise and regurgitate information; which is pointless.

On the other hand, I don't hold with the 'children are placed under too much stress due to exams' arguments that are constantly going on over here. Please. I've done every exam going, from SATs to GCSEs to AS Levels and it has never damaged me psychologically. Since starting sixth form I've done modular exams every January and June; I had 13 last June alone. It's only stressful when I don't put the work in and I know I haven't done enough.

In a sense I supose I'm a product of the system; I'm used to continuous tests from an early age. I also rather enjoy school so I won't complain about it. I'll admit, I'm academically-minded so I don't mind doing exams. I even enjoy English and Spainsh ones (nerdy, I know.)

I often wonder why, though, it is that kids these days supposedly become depressed/suicidal due to school. It was never like that in the 'old days', and arguably our parents and grandparents had a lot more to deal with back then. Is it because we're more keen to label people with a mental illness that was once considered a taboo or probably didn't exist?
Bleach
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January 19th, 2009 at 05:03pm
Yeah, I totally get what you mean.
or at least from what I read.

Acedemic Achievement doesn't seem like it sounds. all I see is hard work. I have a great memory, but I also have alot of curiosity [sit next me in science class and just listen to me] I love science, but I don't get good grades in school. I think about science alot, and I would love to get a job involving science, but the work is just way too much for me. I'm only a [repeat] freshman, but It's already getting in the way. I'm obviously going to have no chance to get into a college that satifies my wants. Which is why I have plan B. Very Happy I do know I definatley want to study agriculture and the enviroment [I'm also gonna see if I could go the the peace corps after college, so that will be useful]

"Kids are expected to restrain their natural desire ability to move and exercise their curiosity by expecting them to sit at their desks quietly."

omg I've never realized that but it's SO TRUEEE

all school is is like 'okay, read this, now study for the test and sit down for 8 hours while you do homework'
I feel so bad from my friend, she spent all weekend doing homework and studying. It's not fair.
Mycophobia
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January 19th, 2009 at 05:08pm
Bloodraine:
GCSE exams don't test intelligence, in my opinion. They test the ability to memorise and regurgitate information; which is pointless.

On the other hand, I don't hold with the 'children are placed under too much stress due to exams' arguments that are constantly going on over here. Please. I've done every exam going, from SATs to GCSEs to AS Levels and it has never damaged me psychologically. Since starting sixth form I've done modular exams every January and June; I had 13 last June alone. It's only stressful when I don't put the work in and I know I haven't done enough.
Well everyone is different. Some people have higher anxity or stress levels then others. Just like how differant people have differant fears.just because you havn't doesn't mean it cant happen to others.
Matt Smith
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January 23rd, 2009 at 11:09am
And if you'd taken the time to bold the rest of the post then you'd see that I said much the same thing.
Bleach
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January 23rd, 2009 at 02:34pm
Bloodraine:
And if you'd taken the time to bold the rest of the post then you'd see that I said much the same thing.
I thought that in the unbolded part, you were saying that kids getting really stressed is dumb/not true/shouldn't be true.

I'm bad at reading stuff.
Mycophobia
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January 24th, 2009 at 05:53pm
Bleach:
Bloodraine:
And if you'd taken the time to bold the rest of the post then you'd see that I said much the same thing.
I thought that in the unbolded part, you were saying that kids getting really stressed is dumb/not true/shouldn't be true.

I'm bad at reading stuff.
i read it as that aswell

and Im sorry if my skills in bolding text offend you
PaNcAkEs
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January 26th, 2009 at 03:34am
Well, the thing with the general education system is that yeah, it focuses too much on a certain type of learner. First off, she is a girl. Have you noticed, how many guys drop out? I mean, thats the case over here. They have a different way of learning, which is only natural but no one seems to be able to do anything about making the system more acceping and bendable. Its like we're still living with communists lol. They seem to act like its unreal to have a life outside of school or to have non-standard learning habits. And i do agree that they overemphasize memorisation. Kids should be able to link different subjects and facts, stuff together to make one whole. Its how it should be, but its not...
Jello Biafra.
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January 26th, 2009 at 02:59pm
I can totally understand this. At our school, the majority of freshman, including myself, are in College Prep classes, which apprently are the "smart" classes and anyone in lower levels are considered to be in "retard" classes. This aggravates me because I have friends who I know are way more up to date with current events then 50% of the CP students that are in lower levels.

Another thing I find rediculous is that here in Massachusetts, from grades 3-10 I believe, we have to take MCAS tests, which are basically useless until 10th grade, in which we have to pass it in order to graduate high school. The main purpose of the MCAS tests are to see how various schools' statistics are in terms of high or low scores. It wasn't really a problem with me until I found out this year that you have to pass proficent in all subjects, or else you have to retake it, while last year you could get by with a needs improvement.

Sure, school gives you an education and it teaches you many useful tools that you will need in life, but what about the things you know you don't need? For example, I know I want a career in Graphic Designing. So although I'll pay attention to what the teachers are saying, I constantly say to myself "when will I need this my life?"
The Doctor
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January 27th, 2009 at 09:37am
I am pretty clever - apparently - but I can't stand exams and I worry about them a lot. They make me so anxious sometimes that I have to do pretty awful things to make the worry stop. But then, I am a natural worrier - debt, electricty, did I smell gas, am I going to wake up etc etc - that it's not really much different from the rest of my life.

I find it mildly annoying when you said that 'honour' students often have zip clueabout current events but then that is on a personal level. In my Psychology class last year - which you must pass Higher English to be able to go to it - I was able to do those little stupid quiz things (You know the ones...what has holes but retains water? Sponge.) and me and my mate finished them easily. The rest took much longer and didn't get as many right. They called me smart because of that but I don't get it really. It's stupid little lateral thinking things.

Maybe the types of education somewhat restrains lateral thinking but I wouldn't have said it stifled creativity, it just asked you to behave because you will be expected to behave when you get older, so get used to it. It's more of a behavioural exercise than anything.
Dr.Hymen
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January 28th, 2009 at 03:58pm
Ever notice how many questions a younger child asks? As children go trough school many stop asking so many questions and lose their natural curiosity.

It's a child's nature to ask many questions at a young age. School doesn't eliminate that curiosity, maturity does. Children progress onto different stages and want to understand different things.
There's also a period during childhood where children seem to lose all interest, it's usually between the ages of 6-10. Thats got nothing to do with school stress, it's just that those kids are at the stage where they are learning through play and social interaction, instead of questioning things. Their curiosity comes from touching, grabbing and examining rather than verbalising their thoughts.

Oh and I'm not being bitchy, don't think I am. I'm work with children in a daycare centre so I've learned about child psychology and development and stuff... it's a drag -.-
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