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This morning on NPR there was a story about firing all the everyone at some failing school. It's all a part of the overall "No Child Left Behind" scheme. As I listened to interviewees on both sides of the debate, I came to realize (probably again) the piece that is missing in all the hand wringing over the state of public education.
Here's the way of things. If you insist on No Child Left Behind, no child will excel. If you insist on lock-step, age-based, information absorption, our child will not be educated. The proof? Well, ask the folks running colleges and universities about the trends around how well their freshmen are prepared for the course work.
The age-based grade system is an absolute failure. Lets go back to a system in which people work on the skills until they master the skills. And when someone demonstrates that they cannot master the skills, shift their educational goals.
What the hell is wrong with leaving some children behind?
Here's the way of things. If you insist on No Child Left Behind, no child will excel. If you insist on lock-step, age-based, information absorption, our child will not be educated. The proof? Well, ask the folks running colleges and universities about the trends around how well their freshmen are prepared for the course work.
The age-based grade system is an absolute failure. Lets go back to a system in which people work on the skills until they master the skills. And when someone demonstrates that they cannot master the skills, shift their educational goals.
What the hell is wrong with leaving some children behind?
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