This is a trap. isn't it?
I wouldn't call it a trap. Just a few questions/comments to see where it all heads. Peel the onion back a layer as we used to say. I won't hit all the questions with this one post, but let's start if off and see what happens.
The direct discussion of value of increasing funding in a failed system is a distraction, IMO. Teachers cost; books cost; etc. If you want to have a class in software programming, I think it would be pretty reasonable to have computers. It's been quite a few years, but I seem to recall that teacher/student ratios, were significant factors regarding education. No doubt I could find an example of a school with a poor teacher and unmotivated students where improving the teacher/student ratio would not see an improvement in educational results.
The author had three major actions to take. Close the education schools; require a 3.0 average; and pass a written exam [with distinction?] in their major. With distinction sounds good...maybe I could ask 10 people to PM me on what 'with distinction' means...
We would have teachers who had actually majored in the subjects they were teaching.
Having been degreed in Mathematics with a side in education and then having taught high school for a few years, I can appreciate the point. Though I don't recall applying Diff Eq, or linear regression analysis in my General Math or Geometry classes....I really disliked teaching Geometry...it was just 'so obvious and trivial'.
But let's move back into the education system a few schooling years. Back to first grade. Do we want physics, english, chemistry, history, and mathematics majors teaching first grade?
The author focuses on content; that's not bad. How about the other duties that teachers get assigned? In various years, I taught General Math, Algebra, Geometry, Fortran IV [which tells you how far back that was], Statistics, Trig, Calculus, and had parking lot duty, cafeteria duty, and hall duty. Would you and/or C. Bradley Thompson have me continue to put aside my valued knowledge in mathematics for the parking lot, cafeteria, and hallways?
jttmab |
