Re: My thoughts -- Adilbrand Noblesword's Hall of Warriors

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Date Posted: 10:32:45 07/18/03 Fri
Author: mt. healthy mountaineer
Subject: Re: My thoughts
In reply to: mvd 's message, "My thoughts" on 18:49:09 07/17/03 Thu

The type of school you are describing is similar to the type used in Germany and the old USSR (I have no idea if it continues in the new Russia) - your choices are made for you - based on aptitude. The problem with that is that aptitude and interest are things that can be totally different. Take me, for example. I have an aptitude for mathematics. I scored very high on the SATs in math, despite having taking the absolute minimum required to get out of high school. While I have an aptitude for them, I really have absolutely no interest in mathematics. I hate balancing my checkbook. I hate doing my taxes, etc. The German system is anti-democratic in that it takes all choice out of the student's hands. He or she has no choice - go with your aptitude.

I appreciate the vote of confidence by relying on the wisdom of your child's teachers, but I don't want that power. I'll be glad to speak with your child and advise him or her but I will not choose his or her future. Besides, us teachers are just as wise as the rest of the public - even the mighty Yoda tells Luke that he must choose for himself.

The opposite of this is Montessori - which says that the student only goes with his or her interest. In my case, I'd have taken no math. The problem, of course, is that in a pure Montessori system I would graduate without the ability to do any simple math at all. Of course, I would also have not taken history classes, since I hated them until my 8th grade year - which is mighty ironic since I now am a history teacher!

Our current system is a compromise in that everyone is forced (using Mark's example) to take that tray with peas, carrots, apple sauce and spam and try them all - over and over again. Everyone has the same meal and by the end you know a little about all of them and you are really sure about the ones you like. Is it perfect? By no means. I have things I'd tweak and I'd definitely change some of the requirements.

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Replies:

I agree with the Mountaineer -- Adilbrand, 13:20:28 07/18/03 Fri
- I think you misunderstand me... -- mvd, 16:15:54 07/18/03 Fri
  - Perhaps I am misunderstanding you -- Adilbrand, 20:51:05 07/18/03 Fri
    - As I said -- mvd, 23:26:27 07/18/03 Fri
      - social studies -- mt. healthy mountaineer, 11:08:37 07/19/03 Sat
        I know what it is -- mvd, 18:23:25 07/19/03 Sat
Re: My thoughts -- Adilbrand, 13:30:30 07/18/03 Fri
- Again... -- mvd, 16:18:11 07/18/03 Fri
- Re: My thoughts -- mvd, 16:24:38 07/18/03 Fri
  - Re: My thoughts -- Mt. Healthy Mountaineer, 16:45:20 07/18/03 Fri
    - :) I am not saying... -- mvd, 18:27:32 07/18/03 Fri
      - The type of school you are describing... -- Mt. Healthy Mountaineer, 11:15:39 07/19/03 Sat
        Re: The type of school you are describing... -- mvd, 18:26:18 07/19/03 Sat