Comments on: Beyond Your Child’s Classroom

By: deltic

deltic — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 20:18:18 +0000

The author is entitled to his opinion, but hope fully his views are not mainstream. I don’t think he knows as much about education as he claims.

By: justontime

justontime — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 20:01:54 +0000

Katharina, I ploughed my way through the article, and I came to the conclusion that he was talking through his hat! I disagreed with a lot in the article, and someone who does not understand the difference between ‘dissent’ and ‘descent’ has no business writing about education.

By: chris1203

chris1203 — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 15:27:55 +0000

I think that it’s ashamed that American’s educational system lags so far above Asian school systems. We need to change that or our country will not be the leader for too much longer.

By: katharina

katharina — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 15:15:39 +0000

I was okay with the beginning until the part that said “Children of other races, however, suffer from an undue optimism about their chances for success later in life.”

Either I’m misreading, or the author meant pessimism instead of optimism. Why wouldn’t a child of another race besides white be allowed optimism about their future?

I’d think optimism would make them want to do BETTER in school, not worse like the article seems to suggest.

Perhaps what was meant was explained further along in the article. I’m afraid I couldn’t finish it.

By: justontime

justontime — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 21:49:18 +0000

I strongly disagree with the article in respect of students working. What planet does this person live on? It is essential for most students to work in order to survive. It teaches them about the world of work, makes them value money and makes them plan their work and study more carefully. It is an insult to say they cheat more, on the contary the working students I know are diligent and they get good grades by their own hard work.

By: deltic

deltic — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 21:28:38 +0000

I agree heretoday, but it is also important that they speak well, have a wide vocabulary (from being talked to) and know how to sit still and focus on an activity. Surprisingly some start school witout being able to manage their toilet needs, dress themselves or put on their own shoes. Children in UK start school when they are rising 5, I think this is earlier than in USA. Parents who fail to teach the basics put their children at a great disadvantage.

By: heretoday

heretoday — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 18:52:22 +0000

The child’s education begins with the parent. By the time a child goes to school they should be able to count to five or ten, should know their alphabet, and should have developed a love of reading. Armed with these tools, they should be equipped to start well in school. I don’t mean that a child should be pushed and forced to learn. You can sing to your kids and play games to teach them. The idea is to get the child to love to learn.

By: Imaginary Diva

Imaginary Diva — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 17:11:30 +0000

Thanks for dropping by!