tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8278668954826628323.post6828881801771501798..comments2023-05-01T10:13:17.957-04:00Comments on A.S.K.ing Questions...: How high schools and colleges think differently about student preparationProfessor Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03692105823500600796noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8278668954826628323.post-27876250305168834972017-11-03T04:49:58.577-04:002017-11-03T04:49:58.577-04:00Very great post. I simply stumbled upon your blog ...Very great post. I simply stumbled upon your blog and wanted to say that I have really enjoyed browsing your weblog posts. After all I’ll be subscribing on your feed and I am hoping you write again very soon!<br />Learn Digital Marketinghttp://www.skillcharge.com/learn-digital-marketingnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8278668954826628323.post-72955451539963661242013-05-25T16:43:54.171-04:002013-05-25T16:43:54.171-04:00Love your username :-)
I can't speak to 1968,...Love your username :-)<br /><br />I can't speak to 1968, as I wasn't around then, but I will say that, in my opinion, your statement "a system that requires more and more of children at a younger and younger age" contains part of the answer. The educational data culture in which we live is more concerned with the superficiality of education than the deep structure -- so yes, "more" is required, but more of what exactly? More of the easily observable, measurable, assessable stuff. But it's the intangibles that are more important and speak to the quality of a child's educational experience.<br /><br />But with regards to 1968, if you see this response, can I ask you to clarify your statement "There is no way I could have handled the academic work given to middle school students today if it were given to me in 1968?" I look at what 6th through 10th graders are doing now, and I shudder because the stuff I remember doing in those grades (for me, that was 1981-1985) was much more rigorous, not less.<br /><br />Lastly, I think that what you suggest as option #1 is happening: "The experienced, intelligent, reflective teachers have left the profession due to the inability to use professional judgment and creativity in the job." In my blog, I've made a big deal about Gerald Conti (http://askingquestionsblog.blogspot.com/2013/04/gerald-conti-shrugged.html) and Kathleen Knauth (http://askingquestionsblog.blogspot.com/2013/05/first-gerald-conti-now-principled.html) but even in my everyday conversations with colleagues and former colleagues -- many of the good ones are looking for a way out, but many cannot find it for financial reasons (I blogged on that here: http://askingquestionsblog.blogspot.com/2013/04/oh-those-golden-handcuffs.html). <br /><br />With regard to your #2, "It is not a good idea to teach things at a younger and younger age," I suspect you are right, in a way. There is a level of developmental appropriateness/inappropriateness for everything, and kids should just be allowed to be kids - even in elementary schools. I don't remember ever having homework until 3rd grade myself, but my kindergartner and second-grader bring it home regularly. I'm not a K-5 expert, so I don't have too much to say about that in terms of an essay-ready opinion, so I'll just leave it as a curious observation.<br /><br />Thanks for your response. Please spread word of my blog around... I don't know that it will change the world, but I just like that it provokes conversations :-) Professor Kinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03692105823500600796noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8278668954826628323.post-33699580416180436382013-05-25T16:25:38.646-04:002013-05-25T16:25:38.646-04:00I don't understand how a system that requires ...I don't understand how a system that requires more and more of children at a younger and younger age can be graduating students who are not "college ready." There is no way I could have handled the academic work given to middle school students today if it were given to me in 1968 when I was in middle school. I postulate two possibilities. One-The experienced, intelligent, reflective teachers have left the profession due to the inability to use professional judgement and creativity in the job. Two-It is not a good idea to teach things at a younger and younger age as eventually you will burn the students out.<br /> <br />“What we see in our national assessment is improvement among our youngest kids,” notes Jack Buckley, commissioner of the National Center for Education Statistics, which released the data. “But when you start looking at our older students, you see less improvement over time.” says Tom Loveless, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution<br /><br />Nancy Illing M.S., M.Ed.Nancy and Dannyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15044785990192327526noreply@blogger.com