From Patricia Day TenEyck in Portland:
One of the greatest deficits in education currently is the notion that all students need to pass standardized tests. I have two sons in school all of what they are learn is geared specifically toward tests. It upsets me greatly to see that neither son has... more
From Patricia Day TenEyck in Portland:
One of the greatest deficits in education currently is the notion that all students need to pass standardized tests. I have two sons in school all of what they are learn is geared specifically toward tests. It upsets me greatly to see that neither son has ever taken a civics or government class, that history is not something they study regularly and that the area where the US has always excelled in education - critical thinking - is sadly lacking. We have a hard time competing with places like India and China in terms of mathematics and science education - but where we exceed every other country and what makes us competitive across the board - is our ability to think critically and outside the box. This used to be taught in schools - but now we teach our students to standardize. Also, the key to a successful democracy is an educated population, but how can our children be educated when they do not understand how a bill becomes law or how congress works?
Stephie
My daughter goes to a Charter School in Salem, Oregon and it is a IB School for those that do not know what IB stands for International Baccalaureate. They encourage my daughter to be an active learner along with her classmates. They do this through Inquiry based learning. My daughter's school is also internationally minded and they are teaching our kids how to be internationally minded which our kids need to be to make it out in the world these days. We have smaller class sizes which helps are kids to l... more
My daughter goes to a Charter School in Salem, Oregon and it is a IB School for those that do not know what IB stands for International Baccalaureate. They encourage my daughter to be an active learner along with her classmates. They do this through Inquiry based learning. My daughter's school is also internationally minded and they are teaching our kids how to be internationally minded which our kids need to be to make it out in the world these days. We have smaller class sizes which helps are kids to learn. My daughter's school caps there class sizes at 26 students in each grade. Our school is K-5. One class for each grade. I love my daughter's school and seeing all the things she and the other kids learn about different cultures, countries and they have to figure out questions and there answers that is part of the inquiry learning.
I believe through my daughter's charter school that she is learning how to be a critical thinker and internationally minded individual that I would be proud to have out in the world if she were older working in another country.
Jane Graham-Roberts
This should be the primary purpose of education. Supposedly, teachers know how to use critical thinking--it is taught in college. With all the information with which we are bombarded, citizens need to know how to evaluate what they are told.
Dana Lucas
Agree with both of you, Patricia and Tom. "Outside the Box" is still a "new" concept to most Americans. And it often threatens those who designed "The Box."
Tom Adams
Very good idea, but...Problem: How do teachers not taught to "think outside the box," teach children to "think outside the box"?