The Way Forward: Fixing our Education System

[eric]

[Stratego]

Why don't we ban education. That way the elites and the proles are equal.

[Professor]

Not a bad idea.

In fact, it'd probably work. But, instead of "banning" homework, which sounds like we're getting rid of something, give the kids an extra 2 hours of school to do the work. Instead of getting out at 3pm, use 3-5pm for "homework".

[The Dharma Bum]

I think 8 hours of school a day is plenty. They ought to cut to 6 for younger children.

Other things contribute to a well rounded person besides their scores on assessment tests.

[The Comrade]

i posted this article like three months ago and you schlepps ignored it.


jerks.


anyways i don't know how to feel about this. we can all be cutting edge education theorycrafters on the internet but somethings require practice to learn and remember.

[The Dharma Bum]

Homework is most definitely an abuse of developing minds. If there needs to be extracurricular programs that are heavily pushed to keep kids from getting into trouble or being drowned in bad households, fine... but don't require 3 hrs of school work after school. It makes kids hate the academic exploration they're supposed to be engaging in, and bitterly savor the little time that they have (their LIVES) outside school.

[Professor]

Because Japanese and Chinese kids kick our asses in education because they just play 4-square all day long? No, they are in school an average of 7 hours per day. Not including lunch and recess.

Anyway, I think the article was about "equality". In one of Gladwell's books (I think) he talks about this. Being stereotypical here, but basically white kids receive lots of attention at home and especially over the summer. During a school year, all kids learn at roughly the same rate. But, when they let out for summer, the minority kids don't keep up their skills, while the other kids do. When school comes back in, the minorities spend the first few months having to re-learn the stuff from last year, while the white and asian kids move ahead.

I know this speaks more to a "summer" program, but it is all indicative of parental involvement.

[Aaron]

[Spider]

Well, since 1% of the country is actually still farming, perhaps its time to abandon this antiquated summers off policy.

And as has been suggested before, tie academic performance to social benefits.

[The Dharma Bum]

Summer vacation doesn't exist solely so people can go work on farms during the summer.