tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25541994.post116067634477865868..comments2024-03-26T14:44:37.985-04:00Comments on D-Ed Reckoning: Dissent CrushedKDeRosahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06853211164976890091noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25541994.post-1160766828265171982006-10-13T15:13:00.000-04:002006-10-13T15:13:00.000-04:00Jetgirl, you got the Zinger of the Day award on my...Jetgirl, you got the Zinger of the Day award on my blog for that comment.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25541994.post-1160709843305687822006-10-12T23:24:00.000-04:002006-10-12T23:24:00.000-04:00Wow. And here I thought Gerald Bracey had the corn...Wow. And here I thought Gerald Bracey had the corner on that market.<BR/><BR/>-- JessicaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25541994.post-1160707948651633322006-10-12T22:52:00.000-04:002006-10-12T22:52:00.000-04:00"...not an end in itself but preparation for a wor..."...not an end in itself but preparation for a worthwhile task."<BR/><BR/>Being a constructive (not constructivist!) and pragmatic type, and not one to simply rant to hear myself talk, I'm not sure what would be worthwhile. It's easy to counter many progressive educational arguments, but I'm surely not going to change the fundamental assumptions of those running our public (and private) schools. <BR/><BR/>Blogging and the internet are a huge help, especially for getting parents around the country to realize that they are not crazy or stupid. On parents night at my son's school their was a mini uprising (helped by information from the internet) about the use of Everyday Math. However, change will be slow, or at best, "balanced", and, we parents will not be part of the process.<BR/><BR/>I applied my years of study and blogging persuasion skills to write a follow-up to the mini uprising with an email to the head of school. I pulled out all of the stops and in the nicest way offered my constructive service. Two weeks later(!), I got a "Thank you for your input, math is on our list of things to look at." response. Perfect. I think this is what they learn in Ed School. They are in charge and they have to keep it that way.<BR/><BR/>So I blog to help other parents in the hope that some sort of critical mass will be reached. I remember, when my son was in Kindergarten, that I really didn't want to be one of "those" parents that teachers always talk about. I now realize that schools are experts at preemptive parental strikes. <BR/><BR/>Then, of course, there is the old smile, head nod, and do nothing technique. At our mini uprising, the math teacher basically agreed with our complaints. Result? Brain teasers as supplementation.<BR/><BR/>I asked my fifth grade son tonight what the latest brain teaser was. <BR/><BR/>A farmer has 20 cows and ducks in the barn. there are 64 legs ....AAARRRRRRGGGHHHH!<BR/><BR/>My son looked at me funny. Forget Po-Mos, we're fighting raw ignorance and a system that has a lot of inertia and litle requirement to change.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25541994.post-1160689385962655202006-10-12T17:43:00.000-04:002006-10-12T17:43:00.000-04:00Moe, the bartender on the Simpsons sums it up well...Moe, the bartender on the Simpsons sums it up well:<BR/>http://www.snpp.com/episodes/CABF20<BR/><BR/>Moe: Welcome to "m," hah? Heh, heh. So, what do you think of <BR/> the new joint?<BR/>Lenny: Wow, this place looks like it's from the not-too-distant <BR/> future.<BR/>Moe: Yeah. You like it, Homer?<BR/>Homer: [looking at live rabbits wiggling in harnesses suspended <BR/> from the ceiling] Um, the rabbits are cute.<BR/>Lenny: Eh, that one ain't moving. [points to a still rabbit]<BR/>Moe: [snaps, summoning an aide] Uh, change number 7.<BR/>Carl: I don't get all this eyeball stuff. Uh, what are they <BR/> supposed to represent? Uh, eyeballs?<BR/>Moe: It's po-mo! [blank stares from all]<BR/> Post-modern! [more staring]<BR/> Yeah, all right -- weird for the sake of weird.<BR/>Guys: Oooh!<BR/> "Homer the Moe"1citizenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14145980266535626431noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25541994.post-1160688471362757022006-10-12T17:27:00.000-04:002006-10-12T17:27:00.000-04:00http://freedomtodiffer.typepad.com/freedom_to_diff...http://freedomtodiffer.typepad.<BR/>com/freedom_to_differ/2006/08/<BR/>school_pays_out.html<BR/><BR/>see if this works.1citizenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14145980266535626431noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25541994.post-1160688287958074682006-10-12T17:24:00.000-04:002006-10-12T17:24:00.000-04:00Mmm, the post-modernist. I love them, they're lik...Mmm, the post-modernist. I love them, they're like the intellectual equivalent of those little puffed rice straws you get as a garnish with Chinese take-out.<BR/><BR/>Pretty to look at, but you can't quite figure out what they are, they're devoid of any significant substance, and they’re totally, horrifically, indigestible.<BR/><BR/>Far too many people assume that both the rice straws and post-modern thought are intended for consumption.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25541994.post-1160687939077056372006-10-12T17:18:00.000-04:002006-10-12T17:18:00.000-04:00http://freedomtodiffer.typepad.com/freedom_to_diff...http://freedomtodiffer.typepad.com/freedom_to_differ/2006/08/school_pays_out.html<BR/><BR/>I liked Mr. Loon's call to take it to a judge.<BR/><BR/>Perhaps a few of these shot over his bow would quiet him down.<BR/><BR/>From the site: <BR/>"Ms Meyer claimed Jake, now aged 13 and in a private secondary school, made it all the way to Year 5 without being able to read properly. <BR/><BR/>Until then, he had been guessing and memorising words. <BR/><BR/>Jake struggled with reading and writing from Preparatory grade when he was enrolled at the government-run Albert Park Primary School. <BR/><BR/>By Year 1, he was a year behind his classmates. He did two terms of Reading Recovery, and despite passing reading tests, little changed. "1citizenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14145980266535626431noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25541994.post-1160687824982564822006-10-12T17:17:00.000-04:002006-10-12T17:17:00.000-04:00"I can't say that I've ever met a full Po-Mo in pe..."I can't say that I've ever met a full Po-Mo in person"<BR/><BR/>Aren't you a fortunate soul.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25541994.post-1160687630644229422006-10-12T17:13:00.000-04:002006-10-12T17:13:00.000-04:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.1citizenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14145980266535626431noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25541994.post-1160684063500133072006-10-12T16:14:00.000-04:002006-10-12T16:14:00.000-04:00Nice comment Allen. I can't say that I've ever met...Nice comment Allen. <BR/><BR/>I can't say that I've ever met a full Po-Mo in person, but the ones I have met never let me get a word in edgewise. However, they do seem to enjoy themselves.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com