Comments on: Grade Inflation: The final Chapter http://www.splendidsun.com/wp/grade-inflation-the-final-chapter/ Thu, 09 Sep 2010 03:28:20 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1 By: DG http://www.splendidsun.com/wp/grade-inflation-the-final-chapter/#comment-44135 DG Sun, 06 Aug 2006 02:35:52 +0000 http://www.splendidsun.com/wp/grade-inflation-the-final-chapter/#comment-44135 There is hope! I was a very bright student that did not care because school was boring. Teachers seemed obsessed with man's inhumanity to man. I did quite well in college and became vice president of the Freshman Women's Honor Society. Then I married and had children. I graduated from college with my BA in Fine Art& Design. My children were highly gifted and began to shut down in elementary school. I worked with the teachers and the system for 9 years, trying to provide teachers and parents with education and provide all students with better options, not just the gifted ones. Most teachers were in ruts and just as impervious to change as the parents and youths you mention. At the request of my children and after much research, we engaged in home education. Notice I did not say home school! I am in agreement with C. S. Lewis, "The task of the modern educator is not to cut down jungles but to irrigate deserts. The right defense to false sentiments is to inculcate just ones." When I began home education, I began to reach out to other home educators and worked to raise their sights and help build them into a community. Four years ago I started holding scholar classes with youths 12-18. We study the classics. We have been using what is called Thomas Jefferson Education. We believe in inspiring the youth to learn, and they do choose in. I have had totally home educated students, dual enrolled, and full-time high school students. Perhaps, just perhaps, our attitudes towards the youth in our classes and our passion for what we teach, might be impacting their desire to learn. There is hope! I was a very bright student that did not care because school was boring. Teachers seemed obsessed with man’s inhumanity to man. I did quite well in college and became vice president of the Freshman Women’s Honor Society. Then I married and had children. I graduated from college with my BA in Fine Art& Design.

My children were highly gifted and began to shut down in elementary school. I worked with the teachers and the system for 9 years, trying to provide teachers and parents with education and provide all students with better options, not just the gifted ones. Most teachers were in ruts and just as impervious to change as the parents and youths you mention.

At the request of my children and after much research, we engaged in home education. Notice I did not say home school! I am in agreement with C. S. Lewis, “The task of the modern educator is not to cut down jungles but to irrigate deserts. The right defense to false sentiments is to inculcate just ones.”

When I began home education, I began to reach out to other home educators and worked to raise their sights and help build them into a community. Four years ago I started holding scholar classes with youths 12-18. We study the classics. We have been using what is called Thomas Jefferson Education. We believe in inspiring the youth to learn, and they do choose in. I have had totally home educated students, dual enrolled, and full-time high school students.

Perhaps, just perhaps, our attitudes towards the youth in our classes and our passion for what we teach, might be impacting their desire to learn.

]]> By: JKS http://www.splendidsun.com/wp/grade-inflation-the-final-chapter/#comment-44134 JKS Mon, 24 Apr 2006 04:44:58 +0000 http://www.splendidsun.com/wp/grade-inflation-the-final-chapter/#comment-44134 What I great story! That had to feel good. I can't believe college level student's parents actually get mad at teachers. What I great story! That had to feel good.
I can’t believe college level student’s parents actually get mad at teachers.

]]> By: meems http://www.splendidsun.com/wp/grade-inflation-the-final-chapter/#comment-44133 meems Mon, 24 Apr 2006 01:50:33 +0000 http://www.splendidsun.com/wp/grade-inflation-the-final-chapter/#comment-44133 I agree. Students don't / won't read. It got so, at the beginning of this year, I would assign reading at home. I found that even the studetns who *did* read didn't understand 90% of what they were reading. So, because I'm trying to teach them content material, we switched to a "read everything in class" approach so that I can explain vocabulary, discuss concepts, etc. It's a huge time waster and boring for them, but it's that or have the kids completely clueless. What's a teacher to do? I agree. Students don’t / won’t read. It got so, at the beginning of this year, I would assign reading at home. I found that even the studetns who *did* read didn’t understand 90% of what they were reading. So, because I’m trying to teach them content material, we switched to a “read everything in class” approach so that I can explain vocabulary, discuss concepts, etc. It’s a huge time waster and boring for them, but it’s that or have the kids completely clueless. What’s a teacher to do?

]]> By: a spectator http://www.splendidsun.com/wp/grade-inflation-the-final-chapter/#comment-44132 a spectator Mon, 24 Apr 2006 00:46:35 +0000 http://www.splendidsun.com/wp/grade-inflation-the-final-chapter/#comment-44132 As a public school teacher, I have seen plenty of parental enabling, and it is very frustrating. Students don't read. It is very difficult in most school systems to hold someone back and administrators generally don't have the heart to fight a parent. Back to enabling parents. And administrators who enable enabling parents. What a mess! As a public school teacher, I have seen plenty of parental enabling, and it is very frustrating. Students don’t read. It is very difficult in most school systems to hold someone back and administrators generally don’t have the heart to fight a parent. Back to enabling parents. And administrators who enable enabling parents. What a mess!

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