CHARLES BEAMS spoke of More Of The Same to DAN TRIPLETT on 10-26-96
CB>In response to a message to Charles on ...
CB> 
CB>DT>Agreed....but I do hate that saying...all children can learn....it
CB>DT>suggest that if kids don't know something it's the school's fault.
CB>DT>It's  so easy to blame the school for every failure.  Forget the
CB>DT>breakdown in  society and the unfair advantage the wealthier
CB>DT>schools have over poorer  districts...it's not society
CB>DT>fault...it's the school's! 
CB>I agree that this is not all the fault of the schools, but where we 
CB>fall down is in promoting and graduating children with sub-standard 
CB>skills.  We must either provide alternatives for these kids or tutor 
CB>them and bring them up to an appropriate level.
I agree that many more children could be brought up to a higher level 
than they are.  I have been told that it is not legal to withhold a 
students highschool diploma simply because they are sub-standard.  If 
they complete the required work, even at a sub-standard level, they are 
entitled to a diploma.  One idea being tossed around is to issue a 
"Certificate of Mastery" for students who meet and exceed standards.  
The diploma is one thing..you get it for completing 12th grade.  In 
addition, you get the Cert of Mastery *only* if you really meet all the 
standards.  The idea is that employers will consider the Certificate 
more important than the diploma.  Some kids are just lazy and won't do 
the work because they know they will graduate anyway.  Im not sure I 
like this idea.  I think measures need to happen much before high-
school.
CB> 
CB>DT>You can't bring a child up to speed when they are unable.  Surely
CB>DT>you  understand this.  The powers at be can "new-think" all they
CB>DT>want.  It  changes nothing.  
CB> 
CB>Ah, but I'm not sure that's so.  Have we ever really tried?  Does 
CB>your school really link promotion to achievement, or is it an age 
CB>thing?  We don't make the link - just tossed a kid out of our middle 
CB>school who's 16 and wanted to drive to school.
I am speaking developmentally.  If a child is not developmentally ready 
for a concept, no effort will bring about understanding.  But this is 
not to say that this child should be exempt from meeting the minimum 
standards.  In our school district promotion is linked to age and not to 
achievement.  A child who is not ready for kindergarten developmentally 
must be allowed in school.  A child who is ready but misses the cutoff 
date by even a day must wait another year.  This practice doesn't make 
any sense to me at all.
Special ed kids are different.  If a child is mentally retarded they 
won't outgrow that.  Developmental delays are different.  Some kids just 
take a bit longer to develop.  Our system allows children to enter 
school based only on age and not on readiness.  Consequentially, these 
kid struggle most of their school life.  Another year may not make a big 
difference, but if enrolled in a pre-kindergarten or preschool they will 
come to school better equipt.  
Dan
--- GEcho 1.11+
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