|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Thu Feb 11, 2010 11:21 am
Shiori Miko Valheita Well I can't speak about the American education system, having not experienced it. I can tell you that the New Zealand education system allows the use of text and chat speak in exam situations. ...Why? Buggered if I know.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Feb 18, 2010 9:24 am
Honestly, if she's in a stats class and can't do fractions, she's a part of the problem as well. All it takes for someone to really learn is to talk to the teacher and say "Hey, I don't understand this, can you explain it to me?" Skimming by for years until you get to stats is possible because yes, some of the system is screwed up, but it can't all be pegged on that alone.
Texas has this nifty thing called the TAKS test, the "Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills". Every year from second or third grade on, kids take this test which always includes math. If they don't pass, they don't't pass the grade or, in high school, get put in remedial math.
Now, Texas does also have a substandard public education system, even for the United States (large populations and one of the lowest taxation rates in the country tends to cause some problems), but again, part of the problem is students' unwillingness to learn. When you go to class, all you hear is people complaining and wanting to be elsewhere. They don't want to learn. Now, this is hardly unique to Texas, but when combined with the poor funding, it just tips it over the edge.
All in all though, the fact that funding isn't the only problem can be demonstrated in Texas' public universities. Yes, plural. Many of them massive, and some of them among the best research programs in the nation. Sure, universities get a lot more direct donations than primary and secondary schools, but they also take a lot more money to run. Imagine having more than fifty thousand students all at one campus. And that particular system (University of Texas and its satellites) has seven or eight campuses.
So as much as I hate to sound harsh and unforgiving, I've seen enough of the education here, and know enough people from crappy, "ghetto" districts, that I have to say that I am of the opinion that it's not great here, but it is more than sufficient. If your friend doesn't understand fractions, she did a lot of that to herself.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Feb 19, 2010 9:15 pm
While the American education system isn't the worst, it isn't the best either.
I find that when teachers are not teaching to a standardized exam, I enjoy class and learn a lot more than when they are teaching to a test. Most teachers I've spoken with have complained about not being able to teach what they want or not having enough time to make students properly appreciate their subject due to exams and the time constraints that happen because of it.
I am completely against the SAT and the GRE and they do not reflect the ability of a student academically--only how well and fast they can take a test. After all, I passed many a exam just using multiple-choice strategies rather than learning the material.
I have a particular distaste for the emphasis of memorisation in schools--that doesn't teach you how to critically think: that teaches out how to cram the s**t out of things and forget what the hell you learned the next day. You're supposed to know how to critically assess and argue a point concisely by the time you reach university and that is not the case whatsoever.
For people coming out of high school and entering university, it is a huge shock to them when suddenly most of the liberal arts classes in particular ask them to compose thoughtful essays and the like because they don't understand how to do so outside a certain formula. People that succeed in the university environment and thrive off education are those that have learned quickly how to adapt and use their brains creatively in order to succeed. University is supposed to be additional training for your mind so that you can go out in the real world and solve real problems or maybe even propose new, innovative ideas.
But that is my educator rant.
As for me, I can tell you right now that school never taught me to critically think--I learned that on my own by not relying on teachers and then only returning to the teachers to discuss the subjects with them in a casual manner where I wasn't looking for an answer to homework, but rather just striking up a conversation or two with them about the subject recreationally.
You learn a subject by taking in the material, thinking about it, asking questions, and most importantly: discussing it.
Schools these days do not do much discussion in my opinion. It's mostly busywork and memorisation.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Feb 20, 2010 2:54 am
Funding is a big problem in my opinion. With the amount the government allocates to military, we could use to help schools.
Perhaps I find it a big problem mainly because the state I live in (Hawaii) the public schooling here has what they call furlough Fridays, where because of the deficits in funding, the state is unable to pay the teachers, and then days have to be taken out of the school year.
Next, bridging off of what Tasn has said, schools often don't teach critical thinking very well. I mean they "teach to the test" which is memorizing mainly, and strategies on how to do well. Which makes sense because from what I've heard (sorry, heresay, I know) money is allocated based on those test scores, and well, schools (not talking about private schools, they have their own thing going and I don't know if it applies) need and want the money, thus to gain the funding, they have to teach to the test.
It's like a bad cycle.
Supporting Tasn some more, GREs and SATs are not specifically valid reflecting academic performance. But I suppose I understand the reason for standardized testing, so that higher educational institutions have some common baseline to go off of. Great money maker though, all those companies must be filthy rich.
And, I don't have a good conclusion, so I'll stop right here, but mainly it's funding and the teaching styles in my opinion that's the main problem.
I seem to be going on a binge through the forum.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Feb 20, 2010 2:19 pm
Actually, in support of memorization... it is an extremely important skill to have. It is, perhaps, overemphasized, but have you ever considered that the people we pay the most (i.e. doctors, lawyers, veterinarians) have to memorize huge amounts of information in an almost unbelievably short time.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Feb 21, 2010 12:44 am
Now don't get me wrong, I know memorisation is a good skill, but it should not be the primary skill taught in schools.
Also, I agree, schools need to be funded more and better. For example, in California, the prisons look far better than the schools and you don't ever hear them cutting funding for prisons...rather, they build new ones while they are closing down schools everywhere.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
