The random political thoughts thread (Part Deux)

[JWBear]

More forced dumbing-down of America. Thanks George.

[Ghoulish Delight]

My sister was a gifted student that never made it into the gifted system. It was ridiculous to witness her be absolutely frustrated to the point of tears, on a consistent basis, by the mainstream world. For a split second, despite having seen my sister go through it, I was planning on opting out of the gifted/magnet for high school in favor of going to my local high school (traveling 40 minutes to get to school, and longer to see friends was wearing thin). I am forever indebted to the teaching staff at North Hollywood Hgih magnet, not only for the education, but for that recruitment night where they successfully made their case for why I should attend. Best decision of my life.

Fvck test scores. Test scores demonstrate nothing more than an ability to take a test. The fanatical focus on test scores has crippled education. Teachers who actually want to teach are bailing by the dozen. My parents are both 30+ year teaching veterans. Teaching is their life and passion. My mom gave up, retired early, because she was no longer allowed to teach. She was being forced to become nothing more than a testing-coach. It was sad to see her so unhappy with teaching.

[mousepod]

I'll stop being annoyed with the "one class for everybody" concept as soon as schools let everyone play on varsity sports teams regardless of talent.

[katiesue]

Originally Posted by mousepod

I'll stop being annoyed with the "one class for everybody" concept as soon as schools let everyone play on varsity sports teams regardless of talent.

Perfect way to put it.

(although my High School was small and mostly everyone who tried out made the team. How else could I have lettered in Field Hockey and Track?)

[Alex]

I'm pretty sure the mainlining movement predates and has little specifically to do with No Child Left Behind. It was a hot topic of conversation in the education pedagogy classes I took back in college (1992-1993) before I decided there was nothing I less wanted to do than spend every day with children.

Having all the kids of a similar age in the same classroom does not necessarily mean they need be doing exactly the same thing (anymore than in old one-room schools sixth graders did second grade work). And putting "gifted" student into a separate program also makes the assumption that being gifted puts you in an advanced functioning category in all areas. Advanced reading comprehension does not necessarily imply advanced logical abilities does not necessarily imply advanced mathematical skills.

My personal anecdote (which gives it a weight of exactly zero) is that my sister was put into an advanced program in second grade and made it to the seventh grade unable to read a non-digital clock.

[sleepyjeff]

Originally Posted by Alex

And putting "gifted" student into a separate program also makes the assumption that being gifted puts you in an advanced functioning category in all areas. Advanced reading comprehension does not necessarily imply advanced logical abilities does not necessarily imply advanced mathematical skills.

Quite true. In middle and high school I was put in with the advance classes for history, social/global studies and English/language arts but never spent one day in an advanced math or science class.

In the very least it widened my circle of friends.

[innerSpaceman]

And speaking of CNN, I love the way John McCain really dusted the floor with Romney on the waterboarding thing at last night's CNN-sponsored debate.

[Motorboat Cruiser]

Originally Posted by innerSpaceman

And speaking of CNN, I love the way John McCain really dusted the floor with Romney on the waterboarding thing at last night's CNN-sponsored debate.

Then he had to go and invoke Godwin's Law.

[sleepyjeff]

Originally Posted by Motorboat Cruiser

Then he had to go and invoke Godwin's Law.

I kinda liked how he used Paul as a sorta heavy bag to show how he would go after a potential Dem rival.

[Motorboat Cruiser]

Originally Posted by sleepyjeff

I kinda liked how he used Paul as a sorta heavy bag to show how he would go after a potential Dem rival.

I was actually surprised that, in front of that audience, Ron Paul was getting quite a few cheers and McCain was getting booed when he said that we were winning in Iraq. And imagine how much louder that booing would have been in a mixed crowd. So yeah, he came out swinging, but I don't thing America is buying what he is selling.

I do agree with him on the waterboarding subject however.