Ch 1 Quote – “Teacher shortages and lack of parental involvement, extracurricular activities, technology resources, and funds for libraries are persistent problems facing these schools.” (p. 14)
From a governmental quick fix stance: set standards, test the standards, and report the results. But, if we look more closely at the problem, we see that its roots go to deeper, more complex issues that do not have quick fixes. Questions – If poverty is the common thread among students who don’t do well in school, how can this be addressed? If the government is so involved in education, shouldn’t the government be focused on how poverty negatively affects education? Connection – My 18 year old son, who just graduated high school, said that two of his friends were evicted from their homes during their Senior year. They had not been doing well in school, but were determined to graduate. In addition to their regular classes, they took online courses, and both managed to graduate on time. Epiphany – A level playing field is needed. If we compare apples (schools in impoverished areas) with oranges (schools in middle/upper-class areas), we shouldn’t be surprised if things don’t match up. Ch 2 Quote –“Despite the obvious flaws and limitations of using student test scores and grades to measure the quality of education, the American public, short of other easy-to-understand measures, seems to have accepted the notion that test scores are accurate measures of the quality of their schools.”(p.32-33) Tests can be biased. A student might not test well, but performs well in class or the opposite – test well, but not perform well in class. Question – What alternatives exist, besides student test scores, to measure the quality of education? Connection – My mom paid me for each “A” I brought home on my report card. So, I had a financial incentive to do well. Epiphany – Dictionary.com defines quality (adj.) as "producing or providing products or services of high quality or merit" Quality is sometimes hard to quantify. In education, we all have different ideas about what is important to teach as an educator. The state, the administration, teachers, students, parents all have different ideas. Ch 3 Quote - "We thus face a choice of what we want: a diversity of talents, of individuals who are passionate, curious, self-confident, and risk taking; or a nation of excellent test takers, outstanding performers on math and reading tests. (p. 59) Just as we want a college applicant to be well-rounded and show their extra-curricular activities, we should also be fostering the arts, athletics, volunteerism, and interests in K-12 students. Question: Does heavy focus on getting high tests scores in English, Math, and Science harm a child's education? Connection: My elementary-aged children participate in after-school clubs. My son joined band and learned to play the saxophone. I learned that music, p.e., and the arts have slowly been losing funding because their not deemed as important. Although students have shown that music facilitates learning. http://www.pbs.org/parents/education/music-arts/the-benefits-of-music-education/ Epiphany - I believed that our schools are behind compared to other countries. This book is making me re-evaluate what I thought was true. Resources Dictionary.com | Find the Meanings and Definitions of Words ... (n.d.). Retrieved August 3, 2015. PBS: Public Broadcasting Service. (n.d.). Retrieved August 3, 2015.
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Sheila L. DavisPassionate Adult ESL Instructor at Grossmont Adult School, PLC Lead (mulit-level)& TOSA. Former Adjunct at San Diego Continuing Ed. Seeking the best ways to utilize technology in the classroom and in professional life. ArchivesCategories |