Comments on: Your Opinion on the Future of School Systems http://www.tjhirst.com/2008/01/23/your-opinion-on-the-future-of-school-systems/ Illuminate Everyday Tue, 06 Jan 2009 20:10:11 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: DoD http://www.tjhirst.com/2008/01/23/your-opinion-on-the-future-of-school-systems/comment-page-1/#comment-24 DoD Thu, 07 Feb 2008 01:32:27 +0000 http://www.tjhirst.com/2008/01/23/your-opinion-on-the-future-of-school-systems/#comment-24 I see the article as brave new world hogwash. The internet fails in many of the same ways that homeschooling fails. 1)Lack of interaction with a number of different teachers who inspire, challenge, and direct down varying paths. 2)Lack of social reality where students learn to deal with bullies, brats, geniuses, scammers, flirts, heart thumpers and the like. 3)Lack of the true motivator of innovation--namely competition. And, 4)Expectation that technocrats can satisfy the first three failings. The goal needs to be complete preparation of the indivitual in an environment of free choice. And no, it is not the same for all. The only viable model for the future of education is a choice based system such as vouchers where neither means nor diversity are tested. The problem lies in the power currently vested in the very organizations we relied upon to provide us with solutions and accountability. Until control is wrested from the clenched fists of the education unions and false idealogies (like the glories of diversity, or the impending doom of global warming) we will continue down fruitless paths such as expecting the internet to become a vehicle of social experience or inspiration. I see the article as brave new world hogwash. The internet fails in many of the same ways that homeschooling fails. 1)Lack of interaction with a number of different teachers who inspire, challenge, and direct down varying paths. 2)Lack of social reality where students learn to deal with bullies, brats, geniuses, scammers, flirts, heart thumpers and the like. 3)Lack of the true motivator of innovation–namely competition. And, 4)Expectation that technocrats can satisfy the first three failings.
The goal needs to be complete preparation of the indivitual in an environment of free choice. And no, it is not the same for all.
The only viable model for the future of education is a choice based system such as vouchers where neither means nor diversity are tested. The problem lies in the power currently vested in the very organizations we relied upon to provide us with solutions and accountability. Until control is wrested from the clenched fists of the education unions and false idealogies (like the glories of diversity, or the impending doom of global warming) we will continue down fruitless paths such as expecting the internet to become a vehicle of social experience or inspiration.

]]> By: H http://www.tjhirst.com/2008/01/23/your-opinion-on-the-future-of-school-systems/comment-page-1/#comment-17 H Thu, 31 Jan 2008 22:31:39 +0000 http://www.tjhirst.com/2008/01/23/your-opinion-on-the-future-of-school-systems/#comment-17 There should be no question that parents have the primary responsibility for the education of their children. This learning experience is built upon and expanded by the teacher in the classroom. While the internet and other forms of technology are important resources, they, like the textbook and the glass beaker in the chemistry lab, are only tools. It is the parent, the teacher and the sudent who uses these tools to enhance the learning process. In addition to helping the student gain information and knowledge, the teachers and parents teach children the proper use of these tools (resources) in the process of critical thinking, i.e. how to apply the knowledge gained. For the author of the article to place the blame for the ills of the school system on teachers is patently wrong. Not only is he missing the target, he is shooting at the wrong target! As a former educator, I know first hand that teachers have little or no voice in what classes will be offered nor do they have a voice in determining what activites or sports will be offered. Teachers have no voice in deciding how many classes will be held nor the number of sudents in each class. Teachers have no voice in what buildings will be built (or closed) or what facilities those buildings will contain. Teachers have no voice in consolidation or disolution of schools. All of these decisions are made by school boards and administrators. Do our school systems need to be changed and revamped? Clearly, the answer is, "yes." In doing so, however, we must ask ourselves, "what are our priorities?" Let us remember that it is the parent and the teacher who teaches; not the building, not the administrator, not the school board and not any government agency. There should be no question that parents have the primary responsibility for the education of their children. This learning experience is built upon and expanded by the teacher in the classroom. While the internet and other forms of technology are important resources, they, like the textbook and the glass beaker in the chemistry lab, are only tools. It is the parent, the teacher and the sudent who uses these tools to enhance the learning process.
In addition to helping the student gain information and knowledge, the teachers and parents teach children the proper use of these tools (resources) in the process of critical thinking, i.e. how to apply the knowledge gained.

For the author of the article to place the blame for the ills of the school system on teachers is patently wrong. Not only is he missing the target, he is shooting at the wrong target! As a former educator, I know first hand that teachers have little or no voice in what classes will be offered nor do they have a voice in determining what activites or sports will be offered. Teachers have no voice in deciding how many classes will be held nor the number of sudents in each class. Teachers have no voice in what buildings will be built (or closed) or what facilities those buildings will contain. Teachers have no voice in consolidation or disolution of schools. All of these decisions are made by school boards and administrators.

Do our school systems need to be changed and revamped? Clearly, the answer is, “yes.” In doing so, however, we must ask ourselves, “what are our priorities?” Let us remember that it is the parent and the teacher who teaches; not the building, not the administrator, not the school board and not any government agency.

]]> By: eh http://www.tjhirst.com/2008/01/23/your-opinion-on-the-future-of-school-systems/comment-page-1/#comment-14 eh Mon, 28 Jan 2008 00:15:07 +0000 http://www.tjhirst.com/2008/01/23/your-opinion-on-the-future-of-school-systems/#comment-14 I kind of like the idea of school on the Internet, but I have the feeling it would limit social experiences. The school I go to now gives me a wide selection of people that I can be friends with and they're from all over. When he says "The educational system will consist of students in relatively small groups at various locations with computerized curricula." Yeah, it may be fun to have smaller classes, but I like having a wide variety of friends. Maybe I'm going social, but I also like the academic side of it. Having smaller classes means I could focus more on the things I need to accomplish. It's hard to do that in a big class. I kind of like the idea of school on the Internet, but I have the feeling it would limit social experiences. The school I go to now gives me a wide selection of people that I can be friends with and they’re from all over. When he says “The educational system will consist of students in relatively small groups at various locations with computerized curricula.” Yeah, it may be fun to have smaller classes, but I like having a wide variety of friends. Maybe I’m going social, but I also like the academic side of it. Having smaller classes means I could focus more on the things I need to accomplish. It’s hard to do that in a big class.

]]> By: TJ http://www.tjhirst.com/2008/01/23/your-opinion-on-the-future-of-school-systems/comment-page-1/#comment-12 TJ Fri, 25 Jan 2008 03:34:54 +0000 http://www.tjhirst.com/2008/01/23/your-opinion-on-the-future-of-school-systems/#comment-12 Good, Minna, your perspective to see the holes in this article is important to a discussion. When you have a chance to think them through, tell me one or two of those holes . . . Good, Minna, your perspective to see the holes in this article is important to a discussion. When you have a chance to think them through, tell me one or two of those holes . . .

]]> By: Minna http://www.tjhirst.com/2008/01/23/your-opinion-on-the-future-of-school-systems/comment-page-1/#comment-11 Minna Fri, 25 Jan 2008 01:51:45 +0000 http://www.tjhirst.com/2008/01/23/your-opinion-on-the-future-of-school-systems/#comment-11 I don't really know where to start in response to this article... I feel like there are a lot of holes. I know I voted "other" and to leave a comment but now I think I should get back to you on this one. Schools are a BIG topic. I don’t really know where to start in response to this article…
I feel like there are a lot of holes. I know I voted “other” and to leave a comment but now I think I should get back to you on this one. Schools are a BIG topic.

]]>