From: dlhanson@nap.amoco.com (David L. Hanson )
Newsgroups: misc.education
Subject: Re: Please Read and Critique for my Education Class
Date: 13 Oct 92 13:59:58 GMT
Organization: Amoco Corporation

In article <WRIGHT.92Oct12184905@aesc.cs.odu.edu> wright@aesc.cs.odu.edu (LET'S DO EDUCATION) writes:

>
>RFEORM
>
>REFORM #1
> A: National standardization of curriculum
> B: The following classes will be nationally 
>standardized:  Math, History, Science, 
>Language, English
> C: All high school students are required to take 
>one semester of Art and Music Appreciation.  
>This class will include common infor- mation 
>about known painters, composer, theories, and 
>works.
>        Advantadges:
>          1) Through the standardization of the 
>curriculum, a successful regional comparison of 
>school systems can be made.
>          2) Students who frequently move are able 
>to transfer high school credits with ease and are 
>readily able to assimilate into a new school 
>regardless of the time of year.

BAD

The lowest common denominator would have a tendency to prevail.
Everything would be dumbed down so the inner city schools could
pass some of their students.  Curriculum standardization should be
done at the individual school level with guidelines at the district
level.  The school's parents with the assistance of the school's principal
and teachers should decide the curriculum.  State and federal interference
brings unworkable and "politically correct" solutions that do everything
but educate.

>REFORM #2 - Mandantory Competency 
>Examinations
> A: Students must successfully pass a 
>competency exam before etneringJunior High 
>school, high school, and graduation.
> B: The grade-appropriate exams will include 
>the following:  Math, Science, social Studies, 
>English
> C: Upon failure of the exam, the student will be 
>required to complete summer remedial classes 
>before a second apptempt of the test.
> D: If the student fails a second time, he\she 
>will be held back and placed in a remedial 
>classroom where the focus of classroom in-
>struction will be correction of the student's 
>deficiences.

BAD

Standardized tests tell how well the student takes standardized tests and
how well the teacher taught the standardized test material.  Passing and
failing should be based upon grades in each course with teachers encouraged
to fail students who don't perform (like in the "good old days").

>REFORM #3 - Learning Disabilities Screening
> A: Screenin for all students before 
>kindergarden will include the following group 
>tests: Physical attention, Level of Attention, 
>and Listening Skill
> B: If the psychologist identifies potential 
>problems in a child, further individual testing 
>will be performed based upon the 
>psychologist's discretion.
> C: Before completing the second grade and 
>seventh grade, the child is required to complete 
>the Stanford-Binet Intelligence Test for 
>Children administered by a psychologist or 
>another qualified professional.

BAD

The schools have no business in the life of any child before the age of
six.  Even then it must be on a voluntary basis.  The witchcraft practiced
by school psychologists should not be foisted on any family.

> D: Stanford-Binet Intelligence test for 
>Children:
>        1) score on the intelligence test will be 
>correlated with the progress in school to 
>identify any discrepencies between the IQ Test 
>and school performance.
>        2) the IQ Test is composed of two sections: 
>Verbal and performance.
>        3) VERBAL is compried of math problems, 
>vocabulary definitions, and question-answer 
>section which are given verbally by the 
>examiner.
>        4) PERFORMANCE is comprised of 
>puzzles, story sequencing, and mazes performed 
>by the student.
> E: Based upon the psychologist's findings, the 
>child will be referred for placement of special 
>education.

See above.

>REFORM #4 - Enviromental Education
> A: Starting in Kindergarden, each class will be 
>assigned a particualr clean up job with-in the 
>school grounds.
> B: Once a month, students will participate in a 
>supervised clean up period in which students 
>straighten, clean, and pick up trash inside and 
>outside the school.
> C: Once in high school, the students are 
>required to take  one semester of an ecology 
>class.  This calss will teach the student the 
>harms of polluting and the benefits of 
>recycling.
>       RESULTS:
>         1) Students will take price in their school 
>and enviroment.
>         2) Students will respect other's property.
>
BAD!, BAD!, BAD!

We don't need children indoctrinated so they become econazis as the
liberals would like.  Public service requirements and "ecology" classes
are simply communist style political indoctrination.  

These reforms sound typical coming from the educational establishment 
which has a strong political/religious agenda, secular humanism. 

Reforms that will work include:

1. Starting the school day with prayer so the children know it is God
   who created and sustains their life day by day.

2. Help the students who want to learn, and pretty much baby sit the rest
   in "special" classes.  Really encourage and challenge each of the
   students who take the effort to learn.

3. Throw the modern trash that some mistakenly call literature into the
   trash bin.  Bring back Chaucer, Dickens, Hawthorne, Shakespeare, etc.
   
4. Stop dumbing down the curriculum.  Look at what students used to learn
   100 years ago, as far as vocabulary, reading comprehension, math 
   concepts, etc.  They could still do it today if they are challenged.

5. Push each student to work hard at learning.  Encourage each student
   to work hard at learning.  Push...Encourage...Push...Encourage
   
There is much more that could be said, but the reforms that you mention
are pretty much worthless.  

Title:  Senior Research Engineer

"Jesus saith unto him, I am THE way, THE truth, and THE life:
NO man cometh unto the Father, but BY ME."
 
=========================================================================
David L. Hanson       Internet --> dlhanson@nap.amoco.com
Amoco Corporation     X.400    --> A=attmail,P=amoco,S=Hanson,G=David,I=L
Any opinions expressed are my own!