Posted by Rick Denney on September 04, 2002 at 12:09:40:
In Reply to: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: In Defense of HS Teachers posted by An. on September 04, 2002 at 11:39:50:
I don't. I think many programs in Europe pidgeon-hole kids by labelling them too soon. The same thing happens in the U.S. too, of course, but with a different effect.
The point is that in both programs, the focus of determining the educational objectives for an individual student have nearly no connection to the policies of a school district, and therefore those determinations should be made by engaged parents. The parents all too often abdicate this responsibility, and society demands that teachers take up the slack. This is a facet of the notion that if I pay enough taxes I won't have to think about what I don't want to mess with, including how to educate my children. But we will surely live in a really nice house and ride around in a really nice car.
Rick "who thinks people misunderstand the purpose of education" Denney