Comments on: Is American Education “Catching Up, or Leading the Way?” http://www.school-of-thought.net/?p=898 Ramblings of a South Dakota School Board Member Fri, 26 Mar 2010 19:36:15 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Dave Winter http://www.school-of-thought.net/?p=898&cpage=1#comment-435 Dave Winter Sat, 20 Feb 2010 23:49:44 +0000 http://www.school-of-thought.net/?p=898#comment-435 Well timed given the introduction of national standards in New Zealand. While not opposed to standards per se there is a potential to choose the wrong aspiration and therefore the wrong standard. The possibility of reducing innovation and creativity in the pursuit of excellence is a concern. Should we proceed then we need to choose literacies and functional abilities that provide the potential for us to grow a nation. Literacy and numeracy isolated will not in my mind achieve this. Well timed given the introduction of national standards in New Zealand. While not opposed to standards per se there is a potential to choose the wrong aspiration and therefore the wrong standard. The possibility of reducing innovation and creativity in the pursuit of excellence is a concern. Should we proceed then we need to choose literacies and functional abilities that provide the potential for us to grow a nation. Literacy and numeracy isolated will not in my mind achieve this.

]]> By: Fred Deutsch http://www.school-of-thought.net/?p=898&cpage=1#comment-288 Fred Deutsch Mon, 28 Dec 2009 13:50:42 +0000 http://www.school-of-thought.net/?p=898#comment-288 I think we're slogging forward -- trying to find direction, but the huge political machine of government makes it difficult for the world of education to move in a straight direction. We are too much at the whims of the political parties: whomever controls the white house and the statehouses, control the direction of education, and hence we sway back and forth like a pendulum. I think we’re slogging forward — trying to find direction, but the huge political machine of government makes it difficult for the world of education to move in a straight direction. We are too much at the whims of the political parties: whomever controls the white house and the statehouses, control the direction of education, and hence we sway back and forth like a pendulum.

]]> By: Princess http://www.school-of-thought.net/?p=898&cpage=1#comment-287 Princess Mon, 28 Dec 2009 13:05:04 +0000 http://www.school-of-thought.net/?p=898#comment-287 I have just finished reading Zhao's book. I am struck by his insights. I agree that NCLB is extremely narrow and restrictive. I also agree that we are not teaching or preparing our students to "live" in a global village. Are we really equipping our students with the necessary 21st Century skills to meet the challenges ahead? I have just finished reading Zhao’s book. I am struck by his insights. I agree that NCLB is extremely narrow and restrictive. I also agree that we are not teaching or preparing our students to “live” in a global village. Are we really equipping our students with the necessary 21st Century skills to meet the challenges ahead?

]]> By: Fred Deutsch http://www.school-of-thought.net/?p=898&cpage=1#comment-205 Fred Deutsch Mon, 09 Nov 2009 22:47:05 +0000 http://www.school-of-thought.net/?p=898#comment-205 Hi Mike. Yea, really good book. Seems there too many good ones coming out and not enough time to read them all! I'm not yet done with Zhao and I received another from Amazon in today's mail! Hi Mike. Yea, really good book. Seems there too many good ones coming out and not enough time to read them all! I’m not yet done with Zhao and I received another from Amazon in today’s mail!

]]> By: Mike http://www.school-of-thought.net/?p=898&cpage=1#comment-204 Mike Mon, 09 Nov 2009 20:33:29 +0000 http://www.school-of-thought.net/?p=898#comment-204 Thanks for highlighting the book. I’ve put it on my Amazon wish list. From what you’ve written, I think he is right on. In addition to limiting creativity, NCLB assumes that all communities are the same and/or that the community’s needs are not important. That’s largely my criticism of education in rural communities. We do a great job of teaching kids how to be successful living in urban communities, but we don’t give them the tools to be successful in the small towns where they grow up. Thanks for highlighting the book. I’ve put it on my Amazon wish list.

From what you’ve written, I think he is right on. In addition to limiting creativity, NCLB assumes that all communities are the same and/or that the community’s needs are not important. That’s largely my criticism of education in rural communities. We do a great job of teaching kids how to be successful living in urban communities, but we don’t give them the tools to be successful in the small towns where they grow up.

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