November 27, 2006

Serenity Now

From Wapo. After Class, The Parent Becomes The Pupil.

Offered without comment:

Her daughter Rachel is a kindergartner in Fairfax County. But that was Cindy Wade in the cafeteria at Island Creek Elementary School one recent evening for a mathematics lesson with Froot Loops and colored pasta.

Wade, a lawyer who's taking a break to raise her children, and other parents crowded around a table as teacher Brooke Harris encouraged them to have their children practice forming simple patterns at home by lining up bits of pasta or cereal.


7 comments:

Anonymous said...

I don't know whether to laugh or cry.

RobynW

Anonymous said...

Why does this remind me of, "Wash Car, Wash Car"?

Anonymous said...

My question: why don't parents stand up during these sessions and say something? How did educators get so good at pulling the wool over people's eyes? She's a lawyer, yet she doesn't think this is activity is questionable?

As parents, we're so gullible (and feel so guilty)-- and because of that, we're willing to accept such low expectations for our own children. I bet right after her session, lawyer-mom ran to Best Buy to pick up the latest PlayStation 3 for junior. Anything to keep them happy and be their friend....

Anonymous said...

"why don't parents stand up during these sessions and say something? How did educators get so good at pulling the wool over people's eyes?"

When My son was in first grade, the public school had an open house and one of the things they taked about was their use of MathLand, a program so bad that even the publisher dumped it. (before our school finally did) We parents sat in little chairs and listened to the teacher tell us why having little Suzie explain why 2 + 2 = 4 is such a good idea.

I didn't say anything, and I wondered how many others were biting their tongues. The problem is that it isn't close. This is not just a slight difference of opinion. This has to do with a fundamental difference of opinion over education and expectations. I could have made a scene, but it wouldn't have changed anything.

In the school my son goes to now (using Everyday Math), there was a mini parent uprising at the beginning of the year about EM. My son's 5th grade teacher said she wasn't a fan of EM and understood what we were saying. But, same as in the first case, nothing has been done. When the teachers get together to discuss the curriculum (without the parents around!!!) there are too many teachers who pull out the rote drill and kill theories and few teachers who will fight back.

Result? No change. Parents learn their lessons - shut up and do the best you can.

Anonymous said...

do you know this blog?

ded reckoning

Anonymous said...

I could have made a scene, but it wouldn't have changed anything.

I'm proof of that.

Result? No change. Parents learn their lessons - shut up and do the best you can.

I never learn.

Actually, I'm capable of learning, but I have a policy against that kind of thing.

I see no reason why I should do all the suffering in silence.

share the wealth

Anonymous said...

you know what?

that mom's in Kindergarten

give her a few years

I remember when Christopher was in Kindergarten & 1st grade, and we were supposed to walk around the house & yard finding patterns

I didn't have the first clue why we might be doing such a thing

but I did it, and I enjoyed doing it

it's when your kid is in 7th grade and you're STILL doing "family tree" posters for SPANISH over THANKSGIVING "VACATION" that things get grim