From: wvhorn@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu (William VanHorne)
Subject: Re: Budding Physicist
Organization: The Ohio State University
Date: Fri, 8 Jan 1993 14:25:00 GMT

In article <C0Iw3B.5I8@fs7.ece.cmu.edu> snyder@henry.ece.cmu.edu (John Snyder) writes:
[ lines deleted ]
>I came through the American public educational system in the 60's and 70's
>(graduated from high school in '73), so what I say may or may not
>pertain to the system as it exists now...

I currently have a daughter in 3rd grade, and have become intimately familiar
with the system as it exists now.

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> ...................... I think that there is a danger of a kid being
>turned-off to school for good (or turned off to some subject for good)
>with a bad teacher for a whole year or two years.  I believe in some
>schools, this has changed, so that several teachers "team-teach"
>several classes.

Team teaching is quite common in our elementary school, and I'm very happy
to see it (for the reasons you stated above).

>Some of the math and science teaching, in particular, was really
>bad in elementary school.  Some was good.  My recollection was that
>in any area of science that I was particularly interested, my
>knowledge far outstripped what we were being taught in class.
>I learned from reading a lot, watching T.V., and I was also lucky
>enough to grow up in a family of scientists.

I'm happy to say that science teaching has improved since you (class of 73) 
and I (class of 70) were there. Of course it had nowhere to go but up.  The 
science my daughter's class is covering wasn't *ever* taught to me in 
elementary school (not counting drug education, which is now must be taught 
at all levels :-( ).  Unfortunately, public schools still operate under the
least-common-denominator method of teaching, which means that books and
TV still convey more information than is found in the classroom.

>So, I would say that if a kid has a particularly bad elementary school
>teacher (or particularly bad at science or math), a parent should
>make sure that the kid gets enough outside input to keep him
>interested and to learn from.  (I would point out that the parent
>need not be a scientist--there's plenty of books, T.V. documentaries,
>magazines, project sets, science museums, and national parks out there)

One more time, let someone say it: in the final analysis, the parents are
responsible for their child's education.  If you make sure that your child
knows that you value education, they will grow up with the idea that 
education is important; and maybe even pick up the idea that education is
something to work at, rather than passively submit to.  

While you're at it, make sure that the school folks all know that you 
are there, that you are watching, and that you care.  The good educators will
be ecstatic to find a parent that actually *wants* to get involved with
their child's learning, and will work closely with you.

If you're unlucky enough to be dealing with total losers, remember, there's
*nothing* you can do about federal mandates and union rules (other than
private schools) but even the worst bozos are apt to want to keep you happy
if you make a big enough pain-in-the-ass out of yourself.

---Bill VanHorne

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"And when the world is overcharged with inhabitants, the last remedy is Warre;
which provideth for every man, by Victory or Death" - Thomas Hobbes "Leviathan"
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