Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

elleng

(136,043 posts)
Sat Nov 20, 2021, 10:34 PM Nov 2021

"When he lectured in the United States, Swiss psychologist Jean Piaget would invariably

get what he called “the American question” from a member of the audience. After he had explained various developmental phases that young children go through in their understanding of concepts like length and volume, someone would raise their hand and ask, “How can we accelerate a child’s progress through the stages?”

Baffled, Piaget would explain that there is absolutely no advantage to speeding up a child’s progression. The point of knowing the stages is to be aware of what stage a child is in, so that we can create the conditions and offer the guidance to help her move to the next one.

It’s not a race.

One of the most insidious results of the testing madness afflicting education has been an emphasis on speeding toward a particular outcome—a reading level, a cut score—without taking the time to ask what is sacrificed in that rush."

Too many kids are rushed toward the level they're "supposed" to be on by the end of a given grading period, with little attention given to the path they're walking to get there.


. . .1. Focus on the path, not just the destination.

2. Honor growth above proficiency.



https://www.edweek.org/leadership/opinion-the-problem-with-hurrying-childhood-learning/2018/04?

6 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
"When he lectured in the United States, Swiss psychologist Jean Piaget would invariably (Original Post) elleng Nov 2021 OP
So True. vanlassie Nov 2021 #1
Teachers know this. BigmanPigman Nov 2021 #2
K&R Solly Mack Nov 2021 #3
Schools and Prisons ymetca Nov 2021 #4
One of my biggest regrets Roy Rolling Nov 2021 #5
I moved back and forth between American and England while growing up Skittles Nov 2021 #6

BigmanPigman

(52,241 posts)
2. Teachers know this.
Sat Nov 20, 2021, 10:51 PM
Nov 2021

There are levels of development and that is a fact. You can't push a 6 year old to read at a 4th grade level but that is what states are requiring and teachers have no say at the table. When I taught 1st grade teachers in my district were forced to determine each student's reading level as soon as school started when they had been assessed only 3 months earlier before summer vacation. It is a colossal waste of time. Teachers are forced to "teach to the test" so kids can score higher in particular areas without allowing them to develop and comprehend the content. Teachers are beyond frustrated by this practice.

ymetca

(1,182 posts)
4. Schools and Prisons
Sat Nov 20, 2021, 11:30 PM
Nov 2021

arrived at about the same time, it is said.

I've always felt that the fatal flaw of any education system existing in a so-called "democracy", is that almost no democratic processes are even practiced. How can you get good at it if you don't actually practice it?

If you think it would be impossible to "run" a school using democratic principles, then just admit you don't really believe in those principles. See, a real school is not a machine that "runs" anything at all. Get it?

I've had good, really good teachers, who get this, but we've constrained them so much, and elevated the meritocracy ideal way beyond anything meritorious at all.

Roy Rolling

(7,171 posts)
5. One of my biggest regrets
Sun Nov 21, 2021, 12:52 AM
Nov 2021

I skipped my senior year of high school to enroll in college. I wasn’t prepared and that one year of acceleration meant little in the long run. I made good grades, but that meant little.

Skittles

(159,240 posts)
6. I moved back and forth between American and England while growing up
Sun Nov 21, 2021, 12:59 AM
Nov 2021

the different levels of education at different schools took some getting used to!

Latest Discussions»Issue Forums»Education»"When he lectured in the ...