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Politics : View from the Center and Left -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Mary Cluney who wrote (27227)	8/28/2006 8:38:35 PM
From: epicure	Respond to of 541768

I think you can both believe in someone AND offer them something to make them feel good- the two things are not mutually exclusive. For anyone who believes they are, look up the scholarship on affective filters. Experiments have been run on this, so it's not just untested theory or opinion.

To: Mary Cluney who wrote (27227)	8/29/2006 10:55:18 AM
From: one_less	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 541768

"Relatively speaking, some kids get to the playing field with four strikes on them." This is why I am totally against using socially normed comparisons as a grading tool. When growth criterion are used instead as the markers of achievement, everyone is able to view their progress on a vast array of criterion, marking everything from size to creativity and academics. All children have the innate desire to strive for growth, warm cocoa (giving them false assurances that they are achieving the same as everyone else on normed criteria) is a subliminal message that tells them they suck, everybody knows it including them but we can cover it up because you like them anyway ... which infers the other subliminal message, everyone but you is cruel and insensitive. As I recall, it was you who declared the low self esteem of these cocoa baring enablers. When you start with socially normed criteria you make EVERY child a loser in comparison to some imaginary 'better than me' similar other. Then you bring in the warm cocoa to convince them that even though they are hopeless losers, you don't think that has any value and want them to feel good about it ... and you. This has become the norm in the public education system, unfortunately. Social norms are useful in identification of differences but they are counter productive as a tool to encourage growth in children. There is tons of research that children thrive when the comparison is criterion referenced in stead of normed referenced. "All the high minded talk about lifting boot straps and personal responsibility is fine in the proper place, but here warm cocoa is where you have to start." If it is high minded to make growth criterion a real value in education then by all means pack up your cocoa and let our minds soar. Warm cocoa and a blankie is what we need when we retreat from the world to a quite sanctuary, not when we take on the challenges of the day. The cocoa is more about their relationship with you than it is a regard for their growth and well being ... at least this is true when you present it as an alternative to real personal achievement. My daughter achieved 7 years of growth in Math achievement in the third grade. She participated in as many extra-curricular activities as other kids her age, played with her friends for a couple of hours daily, never missed a disney movie and is a very well adjusted and happy child who happens to love math. She enjoys the usual fairy land fantasies of kids her age and she calls PI the magic of Math. When I read her school journal where they have to write about their favorite activities, math was high on the list. None of her friends or other kids around her 'feel bad' because of her success. It is absolutely a non-issue in their relationships, nor will it ever be unless they become researchers together. If someone brings them your warm cocoa and makes an issue of it, I will throw a fit... because as we both know, or should know, that is where the problem lies. The only comment I heard from the 'educators' at her school was, "why are you 'making' her do that?" Then they informed me that they would not be providing any special help for her in class, she gets the regular grade level instruction. What an odd response from the public school system that has been criticized world wide for falling behind in math and science in spite of being the most well funded system in the world. The same school is recognized for doing a great job with the population of at risk students, which is growing rapidly. Let's all get on warm cocoa, we can worry about high minded stuff like personal growth and accomplishment in the next life... right? Great attitude for an "educational" system.