CBS "News" strikes AGAIN

"Tom Sixkiller" wrote in message ...

2) Dig out all you can about the Montessori method

So you can know why you want to avoid it.


5) Find some good works about abstract thinking and concept formation
(note: this teaches children to make associations, rather then just
perform memorization)

Also note that the ability to think abstractly is a developmental stage that
typcially happens rather late. Trying to cram abstract thinking into kids
who aren't developmentally ready for it isn't any better than rote learning.

"Ron Natalie" wrote in message
m...

"Tom Sixkiller" wrote in message
...

2) Dig out all you can about the Montessori method

So you can know why you want to avoid it.

And why is that?



5) Find some good works about abstract thinking and concept formation
(note: this teaches children to make associations, rather then just
perform memorization)

Also note that the ability to think abstractly is a developmental stage
that
typcially happens rather late.

Kids are good at forming concepts from the time they're about two or three.
So how do _you_ determine when they're ready?

Trying to cram abstract thinking into kids
who aren't developmentally ready for it isn't any better than rote
learning.

If they're ready for learning (other than potty training and the like) they
can start with easy concepts.

"Tom Sixkiller" wrote in message
...

Well, if in sending my kids to public schools all these years (they're all
in or past college now) I'd seen even ONE that comprehended HOW the young
minds grasps knowledge I'd say "most". That's not been me experience.


I don't know about that. I graduated from a public school and went to MIT
and did very well there. Both my kids went to public school and while not
all there teachers were great, most of them were. The problem now is not
the teachers, many of whom have a huge amount of experience and good ability
to teach, but the increasing reliance on endless series of tests to satisfy
federal and state requirements. Test scores are the Holy Grail and to get
good scores on the tests requires much more of the rote learning you don't
like.

Instead of knocking public education why don't you get involved and make a
difference?

"Tom Sixkiller" wrote in message
...

1) Avoid public schools

The education a child gets in school is more a function of the child than
the school.

2) Dig out all you can about the Montessori method

Some kids do better with this, some worse.

3) Find some good material about human epistemology
4) Find some good works on critical thinking
5) Find some good works about abstract thinking and concept formation

Keeping interested, involved, and supportive of your children and their
education is always a good thing.

"Peter Gottlieb" wrote in message
et...

"Tom Sixkiller" wrote in message
...

1) Avoid public schools

The education a child gets in school is more a function of the child than
the school.

2) Dig out all you can about the Montessori method

Some kids do better with this, some worse.

Since it is basic fundemantals, why would some do worse?


3) Find some good material about human epistemology
4) Find some good works on critical thinking
5) Find some good works about abstract thinking and concept formation

Keeping interested, involved, and supportive of your children and their
education is always a good thing.

And teaching them to think for themselves and not be beholden to any agency.

I've stayed out of this so far, but....
I'd say the biggest determination of a successful
education is the involvement of the parent(s). Next comes
the child themselves and the type of school is last. (There
are good and bad teachers in all kinds of schools.)

My 'credentials' are purely to have raised two sons, educated
through the public school system. One of which now has
dual BS degrees and the other is about to get his Phd from
Emory Univ. That, and a lot of observing why some
children had problems and others did not....

Mike




Peter Gottlieb wrote:
"Tom Sixkiller" wrote in message
...


1) Avoid public schools


The education a child gets in school is more a function of the child than
the school.


2) Dig out all you can about the Montessori method


Some kids do better with this, some worse.


3) Find some good material about human epistemology
4) Find some good works on critical thinking
5) Find some good works about abstract thinking and concept formation


Keeping interested, involved, and supportive of your children and their
education is always a good thing.

"Peter Gottlieb" wrote in message
et...

"Tom Sixkiller" wrote in message
...

Well, if in sending my kids to public schools all these years (they're
all
in or past college now) I'd seen even ONE that comprehended HOW the
young
minds grasps knowledge I'd say "most". That's not been me experience.


I don't know about that. I graduated from a public school and went to MIT
and did very well there. Both my kids went to public school and while not
all there teachers were great, most of them were.

How so were they great or not so great?

The problem now is not
the teachers, many of whom have a huge amount of experience and good
ability
to teach,

And the point is that now matter how much they like to terach or how much
_desire_ they have, they still don't know HOW the human mind, especially in
children, grasps data nd makes sense of it.

but the increasing reliance on endless series of tests to satisfy
federal and state requirements. Test scores are the Holy Grail and to get
good scores on the tests requires much more of the rote learning you don't
like.

And that's the problem. If you wish to raise automatons and Jugen, that's
fine. I hope you aspire more highly with YOUR kids.


Instead of knocking public education why don't you get involved and make a
difference?

I am...right here. In case you haven't figured it out, public education, by
its very basis, it doomed.

"Mike H" wrote in message
. ..
I've stayed out of this so far, but....
I'd say the biggest determination of a successful
education is the involvement of the parent(s).

That helps, but, for example, learning to fly will go no where if your
instructor doesn;t know what makes and airplane fly.


Next comes
the child themselves and the type of school is last. (There
are good and bad teachers in all kinds of schools.)

Again...the basis of human learning and knowledge has not been a part of the
schools of education (other than pragmatic guessing games with the kids a
guinna pigs) for a couple generations.


My 'credentials' are purely to have raised two sons, educated
through the public school system. One of which now has
dual BS degrees and the other is about to get his Phd from
Emory Univ. That, and a lot of observing why some
children had problems and others did not....

Have you ever notice what's referred to as the "educated idiot"? I'm sure we
all have. Ever wonder why that is?

"Tom Sixkiller" wrote in message
...

2) Dig out all you can about the Montessori method

Some kids do better with this, some worse.

Since it is basic fundemantals, why would some do worse?

I don't know.

Keeping interested, involved, and supportive of your children and their
education is always a good thing.

And teaching them to think for themselves and not be beholden to any
agency.


And still be respectful and be able to work with said agancy. You must
learn to follow before you can learn to lead.

"Tom Sixkiller" wrote in message
...

How so were they great or not so great?

Ah, flexibility is a lot of it. That is, being able to get a wide range of
kids to grasp and enjoy the material.

And the point is that now matter how much they like to terach or how much
_desire_ they have, they still don't know HOW the human mind, especially
in
children, grasps data nd makes sense of it.

Children are all different. One size does not fit all.


but the increasing reliance on endless series of tests to satisfy
federal and state requirements. Test scores are the Holy Grail and to
get
good scores on the tests requires much more of the rote learning you
don't
like.

And that's the problem. If you wish to raise automatons and Jugen, that's
fine. I hope you aspire more highly with YOUR kids.

I am not sure what your argument is here.

I am...right here. In case you haven't figured it out, public education,
by
its very basis, it doomed.

I disagree. But I respect your opinion.