Comments on: Proper focus http://www.edreform.com/edspresso-shots/proper-focus/ Since 1993, the leading voice and advocate for lasting, substantive and structural education reform in the U.S. Fri, 31 May 2013 12:52:43 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.2 By: ExpertWriter http://www.edreform.com/edspresso-shots/proper-focus/#comment-1834 ExpertWriter Fri, 11 Sep 2009 07:32:21 +0000 http://www.edspresso.com/?p=3577#comment-1834 Hi, I already have heard and read a lot about Obama's speech and the hype associated with it. I agree with you that we should rather consider other issues and help the President to find solutions for it. your article is really nice, I appreciate you on diverting the minds of people towards the right track. Hi,
I already have heard and read a lot about Obama’s speech and the hype associated with it. I agree with you that we should rather consider other issues and help the President to find solutions for it.
your article is really nice, I appreciate you on diverting the minds of people towards the right track.

]]> By: Barry Garelick http://www.edreform.com/edspresso-shots/proper-focus/#comment-1833 Barry Garelick Wed, 09 Sep 2009 14:38:28 +0000 http://www.edspresso.com/?p=3577#comment-1833 I agree with your statement: "the president’s predicted content ... should not just be about working hard (that’s what parents, teachers, school people and community leaders all over the country are saying to our kids hourly every day in their journey so far this year). It should be about what he - the president - and policymakers around the country can and should do to make schools work better for all children." In particular, students subjected to substandard curricula (such as the NSF-EHR sponsored math programs Investigations in Number, Data and Space; Connected Math, Everyday Math, or other comparable programs) and who are not getting outside help are not going to benefit from "working hard" in those classes. If "working hard" means "do what it takes to get through", then he/she will get through but not be benefitted from the course. But the problems of education are such that they are often not solved by students working harder or asking questions, unless both of those things result in some benefit. Unfortunately for many students, they do not. I don't know what the federal government can do to solve such problems, but a good start would be to stop giving grants for programs that initiate or perpetuate bad curricula. Or perhaps pass legislation that extends to general education the due process rights that parents are given for special education. I agree with your statement: “the president’s predicted content … should not just be about working hard (that’s what parents, teachers, school people and community leaders all over the country are saying to our kids hourly every day in their journey so far this year). It should be about what he – the president – and policymakers around the country can and should do to make schools work better for all children.”

In particular, students subjected to substandard curricula (such as the NSF-EHR sponsored math programs Investigations in Number, Data and Space; Connected Math, Everyday Math, or other comparable programs) and who are not getting outside help are not going to benefit from “working hard” in those classes. If “working hard” means “do what it takes to get through”, then he/she will get through but not be benefitted from the course.

But the problems of education are such that they are often not solved by students working harder or asking questions, unless both of those things result in some benefit. Unfortunately for many students, they do not.

I don’t know what the federal government can do to solve such problems, but a good start would be to stop giving grants for programs that initiate or perpetuate bad curricula. Or perhaps pass legislation that extends to general education the due process rights that parents are given for special education.

]]> By: Ed is Watching » Obama Speaks to Schoolchildren … Where’s the Real Local Control? http://www.edreform.com/edspresso-shots/proper-focus/#comment-1832 Ed is Watching » Obama Speaks to Schoolchildren … Where’s the Real Local Control? Tue, 08 Sep 2009 18:32:53 +0000 http://www.edspresso.com/?p=3577#comment-1832 [...] Update 5, 9/8: The speech that went off today, and the lesson plans that accompanied it, were a lot less creepy and controversial than the original release. Who knows how much the uproar had an effect on that? Anyway, I commend to you two thoughtful perspectives on the whole episode: by Jay Greene at Education Next and by coolreformchick at Edspresso. [...] [...] Update 5, 9/8: The speech that went off today, and the lesson plans that accompanied it, were a lot less creepy and controversial than the original release. Who knows how much the uproar had an effect on that? Anyway, I commend to you two thoughtful perspectives on the whole episode: by Jay Greene at Education Next and by coolreformchick at Edspresso. [...]

]]> By: Lisa http://www.edreform.com/edspresso-shots/proper-focus/#comment-1831 Lisa Sun, 06 Sep 2009 03:45:11 +0000 http://www.edspresso.com/?p=3577#comment-1831 I think that this has gotten out of hand, students should be able to listen to the President. I think that this has gotten out of hand, students should be able to listen to the President.

]]> By: Assigned Reading » Blog Archive » More on Obama’s School Speech http://www.edreform.com/edspresso-shots/proper-focus/#comment-1830 Assigned Reading » Blog Archive » More on Obama’s School Speech Sat, 05 Sep 2009 12:25:39 +0000 http://www.edspresso.com/?p=3577#comment-1830 [...] coolreformchick at the Edspesso blog: Telling teachers they should consider engaging students in a dialogue about how President [...] [...] coolreformchick at the Edspesso blog: Telling teachers they should consider engaging students in a dialogue about how President [...]

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