posted May 20, 2010 08:25 AM         

Those who are good teachers and dedicated to providing a good education to their students are fighting a losing battle.

The aims and goals of the public school systems is not education...as most Americans think of education..at all. It's political and cultural Marxist propagandizing and indoctrination which the majority of Americans despise.

posted May 20, 2010 01:49 PM         

Seriously enlightening books.

I know I'm in the minority here, however, I advocate for unschooling/homeschooling whenever possible. I had my children tested this year, just for fun and edification, and also to see where they might be missing some skills. I have a 10 year old in 5th grade, and 2 8 year olds in 3rd grade. My 10 year old tested National Percentile Rank 99 across the board, and an National Grade Equivalent of 13+ across the board. My 8 year olds, tested at National Percentile Rank 82 for a core total, and a National Grade Equivalent of 5.5 for a core total.

Would they test as well in public school? I doubt it, though I don't have any hard data to back that up, never having had them in public school.

posted May 20, 2010 02:29 PM         

but gatto continued to operate in the school system (in one of the worst school systems in the country, in the bronx) and to succeed with students slated for addiction, poverty and early death.

posted May 20, 2010 06:15 PM         

quote:

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gatto continued to operate in the school system (in one of the worst school systems in the country, in the bronx) and to succeed with students slated for addiction, poverty and early death.

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posted May 20, 2010 06:20 PM         

I think that the Mathematics requirements should be dropped for majors that don't really require higher level of math like a degree in English,Literature,Fine Arts,Art,Drama,Music.

------------------
Raymond

Supporting the Neurodiversity Movement

A Different Mind Is Not A Deficient Mind.

posted May 20, 2010 09:35 PM         

Homeschooling is a viable alternative. But in Germany, they take children away from parents for homeschooling. Homeschooled children do so well that they're prohibited from entering some scholastic competitions.

Glaucus, Montessori and Waldorf Schools are private and excellent examples of what education should be.

posted May 22, 2010 02:48 PM         

As an aside, has anyone seen the movie, Sophie Scholl, or heard of Die Weiss Rose (The white rose)? They were University students, who resisted the Nazi's, by writing and distributing leaflets at the University of Munich(I think). THey ended up getting caught, and shot.

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posted May 22, 2010 04:13 PM         

there is no kindergarten unless the parents make arrangements for it. required schooling is ages 6/7 to 15 and though they have a longer year and more days they have more frequent short vacs AND SCHOOL IS ONLY A HALF DAY.

a typical school day starts at 7:30 or 8:00 in the morning. Classes are on a college-style schedule, with some courses offered only two or three times a week. There is also school on Saturday mornings, in some areas only on alternate Saturdays. Although the school year is ten months long and the summer vacation period only lasts about six weeks, students get many more holidays and short vacations during the school year than do U.S. students. (School days per year — Germany: 220; U.S.: 180). The curriculum usually focuses on mostly academic subjects, even in vocational schools, with a limited offering of physical education, sports, art, and music. Religious instruction is required, but students over the age of 14 can opt out. Interscholastic sports competition is rare, though there may be an occasional track and field contest. Computer science courses are increasingly available (the Germans in particular have begun linking many of their schools via the Internet), but access to computers and other technology is still often quite limited. A 15 or 20-minute break around 10:30 am, called the große Pause, gives students and teachers the opportunity to have a snack and relax before classes start again. There is usually no school cafeteria, as the school day typically ends at around noon or 1:00 pm. (Many schools in the former DDR [GDR] still have cafeterias.) Students go home for lunch, and in the afternoon they usually have a fair amount of homework to do.
http://www.german-way.com/educ.html

in england the school year is laid out similarly. for a mother who has to work all those short breaks are a nightmare in terms of taking care of the kids.

i have noticed that one aspect of german public education is an apprentice system...after a certain point those chosen for or having chosen certain careers - carpentry for example - become apprentices. they are paid parttime and work free parttime as they learn their craft. how much subsidizing this receives i don't know, but they wear "guild" uniforms and learn their trade handson on the job.