tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-583544120956527475.post1346105077397010090..comments2024-02-15T11:05:15.579-06:00Comments on Apathetic Lemming of the North: Teaching Kids to Spell: Yesterday's Fads, Today's Experts, and My ExperienceBrian H. Gillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13209697542675181894noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-583544120956527475.post-1593004456478898922010-04-24T22:45:23.992-05:002010-04-24T22:45:23.992-05:00Mark Pennington,
Thanks for sharing that.
I'...Mark Pennington,<br /><br />Thanks for sharing that.<br /><br />I'll agree with the funny part: "<i>...'It remains to be seen whether children would do just as well reading to hamsters, rabbits, cats or turtles, the researchers said, but the fact that dogs are attentive and nonjudgmental seems to make a difference.'...</i>"<br /><br />I remember having to read and report on that sort of thing: with a straight face.<br /><br />Disheartening? In a way, yes. I think it's sad, that the traditional educational establishment in America is in this condition: and that this sort of silliness is being inflicted on kids.<br /><br />On the other hand, I see reason for hope. Quite a bit has changed in the last, say, 40 years. One major change is that the traditional information gatekeepers no longer have a near-monopoly on what most Americans are allowed to see and read. ("<a href="http://anotherwaronterrorblog.blogspot.com/2009/08/what-is-information-gatekeeper.html" rel="nofollow">What is an Information Gatekeeper?</a>," Another War-on-Terror Blog (August 14, 2009))<br /><br />Another development, which I think may be related to the emergence of new sources of information, is homeschooling. My wife and I have been homeschooling our kids (their choice) from grade 7 through high school graduation. We don't fit the stereotype 'homeschooling parents' - and neither do the homeschoolers we've known. ("<a href="http://catholiccitizenamerica.blogspot.com/2010/03/home-schooling-religious-and-moral.html" rel="nofollow">Home Schooling, Religious and Moral Instruction, and American Culture</a>," A Catholic Citizen in America (March 6, 2010))<br /><br />I think that, as more parents decide to take responsibility for their children's education, we'll see a little less wide acceptance of screwball fads. It's not that parents are necessarily smarter than 'experts' - but we're maybe a little more interested in our kids' developing intellectual skills: and less on showing that some pet theory is totally groovy.<br /><br />I realize that a decline in America's government school system will have an economic impact. But I suspect that many teachers are like me. I was a secondary-school teacher once: but have had a few other careers, too. Teachers can, I suspect, learn new skills as well as teach old ones.<br /><br />As for the massive support industries? Homeschooling parents use textbooks, buy erasers, and have many of the same needs as a school. It'll mean a shift in marketing strategies: but I suspect that many companies are able to adapt to a changing market.<br /><br />As for the administrators: Many of them, although interested in education are primarily, well, administrators. I'm fairly confident that there will be enough massive bureaucracies around for the foreseeable future, to accommodate out-of-work school administrators and executives.<br /><br />Clerical and technical staff have more easily transferable skills - but this comment is getting <b>very</b> long.Brian H. Gillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13209697542675181894noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-583544120956527475.post-89542208208316340422010-04-24T16:02:23.522-05:002010-04-24T16:02:23.522-05:00Here's another one on crazy reading fads. Chec...Here's another one on crazy reading fads. Check out these crazy reading fads at <a href="http://penningtonpublishing.com/blog/reading/crazy-reading-fads/" rel="nofollow">Crazy Reading Fads</a>. Funny, but very disheartening.Mark Penningtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13184265967777133129noreply@blogger.com