RON MCDERMOTT spoke of Students... to ALL  on 02-26-97
RM>Surely the "answer" to many of our problems is not in what
RM>WE'RE doing, but in what our students are NOT?!  Shouldn't
RM>we be looking at ways to bring THEM around rather than
RM>remaking our educational system so that IT works when THEY
RM>don't?  And is it even possible for us to DO it?  Just
RM>thinking out loud.....
I think that what you say here is very true.  I know that I have seen 
such an attitude in my own son's school work.  One of his close friends, 
who is capable of doing A+ work (very bright kid) puts off a great deal 
of school work and then finds himself in a time crunch.  Recently he was 
up until 4am typing a major paper....my son had the same class and was 
up until 1am.  They had the assignment on the syllabus, had many weeks 
to plan, prepare, and present, but choose to slap something together at 
the last minute.
Now I too am thinking out loud here, but it seems to me that there is 
not much at stake here for these kids.  Apparently they were able to put 
something together that gave the appearance of a great deal of work.  
I don't think kids are being stretched enough....there is not enough at 
stake....not enough accountability.....many of them don't work and still 
they manage to "get by."  Perhaps the standards are too low in some 
things.....dunno.
Washington State is well on it's way toward implementing the Certificate 
of Mastery.  A diploma is earned through seat time.  It will mean 
nothing....but a Certificate of Mastery is *Earned* by meeting State 
mandated standards.  Students in our states are tested in 4th, 7th, and 
10th in regards to the new State Essential learnings.
Maybe the State is getting serious?
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02/27/97 @ 7:41PM
CMPQwk 1.42 445p
And on the 8th day God said, "OK Murphy, you take over"
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     _   /|    ACK!
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