CHARLES BEAMS spoke of More Of The Same to DAN TRIPLETT on 10-20-96
CB>Dan,
CB>Aha!  But isn't that the very facet of public education that we are 
CB>getting beat up for in the press?  Isn't that what parochial schools 
CB>supposedly do better than public schools? 
Yes but I don't think that this has been "proven."
CB>Sounds like a good program.  Do these liaisons meet with the 
CB>teachers on a regular basis?  With me she does.  That may be because 
I talk to her on a regular basis and make it a point to communicate with
her about my kids.
CB>To some extent you are correct, but the new-think on this issue is 
CB>that all children can learn and it is the job of the schools to get 
CB>them up to speed and to keep them there.  You and I know, on an 
CB>absolute level, we won't do it with all of them, but we need to 
CB>reach more than we are.
Agreed....but I do hate that saying...all children can learn....it 
suggest that if kids don't know something it's the school's fault.  It's 
so easy to blame the school for every failure.  Forget the breakdown in 
society and the unfair advantage the wealthier schools have over poorer 
districts...it's not society fault...it's the school's!
CB>Of course.  Where we disagree is over the fact that we can tolerate 
CB>a two-year differential in student achievement.  It is the absolute 
CB>crux of the crisis (if it is a real crisis ) in American
CB>education.
Part of the reason for this differential is that many children are 
nearly one year apart in age.  A child with a August 25th birthday will 
turn 6 at just before they enter first grade.  They made the cutoff and 
were able to enter kindergarten just having turned 5 at the cutoff date. 
A child with an August 26th birthday will be 6 at the beginning of 
kindergarten!  These two children could be in the same class and yet 
would be nearly one year apart in age!  Little wonder with have such a 
wide variance of cognitive development.
 
CB>Your point is well taken, but according to the new-think, he 
CB>*doesn't* qualify and therefore must be brought up to speed.  
You can't bring a child up to speed when they are unable.  Surely you 
understand this.  The powers at be can "new-think" all they want.  It 
changes nothing.  
For a while our state ed department's 
CB>motto was, "It takes a whole village to raise a child," 
This is currently our motto....at least for now....we have the t-shirts 
too!  Did you buy one?  I passed on it.  I have too many t-shirts as it 
is.  The one I like best says: "Plays well with others"
Dan Dan Dan
Tripletts
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