A little background information so that you can understand where the American and Martinican students are coming from:
Nationally debate abounds as to whether high school curricula are rigorous enough to meet the demands of the 21st century. Many students take as many Advanced Placement (AP) classes as possible ideally to challenge themselves and pursue subjects that they have a passion for but also undoubtedly to impress college admission officers with their seriousness and dedication to studying. Some teachers and students complain that students are taking on too hard a work load and that they are sacrificing too much. Nevertheless, AP class are becoming more and more popular and some students can get a year's worth of college credit or more while still in high school. Thus while in high school they are really doing college work.
In France the most ambitious and hard working students enter a post high school program called cours preparatoires which is to prepare them for a extremely difficult and competitve exam that would give them access to the most prestigious universities in France. Because fewer than 7% of the students who take the exam are allowed into the Ecole Normale Superieure (and remember it's only the very highly selected elite who even try) the vast majority of students go from the two years they spent studying in the cours preparatoires directly into third year at the university. These students are effectively getting two years of university education while still on the high school campus. From my American point of view this is a huge bargain because you don't pay for those two years but really even if you were to go directly to college in France college tuition costs are nominal so it doesn't really make a big economic difference. I do however think there are other differences like less freedom and less access to a high quality library. There is some talk that in the current desire to reform the high school system in France that the cours preparatoires might be moved to the university campus as a way to save money.
Please correct me if I've misrepresented any of the above information.
The article for this week questions when it is best for students to start studying college level work and also how society can best educate students at the lowest cost.
http://roomfordebate.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/02/18/a-diploma-in-10th-grade/
1. Read at least one of the experts's viewpoints and briefly summarizing it say whether you agree or disagree with it and why.
2. Give your own opinion as to how we might best educate our high school and college students.
You are encouraged to consider the economic implications of what you think would be the best system.
3. Reflect on your current education. Is society getting the best deal? Are you? What might be improved?
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Period 1 R.D.
ReplyDelete1.
I agree with Michael Goldstein’s proposal to create a “funding stream which would allow other top universities to accept limited numbers of high school juniors and seniors, under strict conditions” because it would give the top students an opportunity to be able to go to more desirable colleges, which to them, might have a more challenging curriculum.
I also agree with Vern Williams that it’s all about elementary. This statement summarizes both our opinions; “If students are exposed to serious academic environments and high expectations throughout elementary and middle school, they will be prepared for serious academic work throughout high school.”
2.
Best way to educate students is to start at the elementary level, and provide students with the environment to succeed from the very beginning. So that when they get to high school, the drive to do challenging coursework is already sunk into the students minds.
Economically, Michael Goldstein’s proposal of funding the top students to get into the top universities would cost a great amount, and Vern Williams proposal encourages the entire education system to be pretty much remodeled, which would cost even more.
3.
I realize that the current education we have today in America focuses more on getting the answers right instead of actually understanding them. There are too many multiple choice tests, and so it’s much easier for people to guess the right answer than to show all the work that’s needed to get to the answer.
I agree with Rudy Crew, a former chancellor of New York City schools. He said that most high school curriculum and the demands that students face in the global economy are inconsistent. He said that one of the biggest gaps is the transition from high school to either college or career. I agree with him because I do feel that some of the classes that we have to take in high school are meaningless. I mean in our school, most of the senior have enough credits to graduate. We probably had enough credits to graduate junior year if it weren't for the two or three required classes that still needed to be completed. People wonder why seniors develop the so-called "senioritis", maybe it's because we're being forced to take classes that we're not interested in and don't even need. Only three of the classes that I'm taking right now are required for me to graduate and the others are classes that I'm "required" to take just to fill the 5 credits requirements, and the thing is that I don't even need 5 credits! I feel that once students have all the credits that they need, that they should be able to graduate, even if it means graduating early. I don't see the point in making students take all these extra classes. Forcing students to take classes they don't necessarily need only makes them dislike and uninterested in school even more.
ReplyDelete^(Alina from Period 8)
ReplyDelete. I read a few of the experts critiques of this idea. I liked this statement from Vern Williams which somewhat summarizes my view:
ReplyDelete"What high-quality research (or logic) supports the conclusion that students who are not prepared for junior college after their senior year of high school will somehow be prepared after their freshman year?"
There are complaints that the current high school system is inadequate, so they just decide to cut it off for some students who pass certain tests and get into community colleges.
2. If certain students are competent and willing to go to a community college after 10th grade, they probably should be given the opportunity. However this program may end up placing completely unprepared students in college.
Also, is there really such an advantage to going to a community college instead of finishing high school? As far as I know, most community colleges are far from quality.
3. I think my current education is sufficient, although not the best. A lot depends on the actual students willigness to receive an education. Tests and grades force students to learn, but they will only learn the bare minimum needed to pass those tests usually. However, I think enough resources are provided for one actually seeking a good education. My teachers are generally competent, I have access to a library and computers, and there is no serious disruptions.
The situation differs from school to school radically, and therefore I would not answer for the American school system in general for lack of data.
Stan, period 2
christine y pd 8
ReplyDelete1) i agree with Rudy Crew. allowing children to graduate at such young ages takes away from their adolescence. they wouldnt be able to experience alot of the joys that we , as teenagers, obtain like aloowances, boyfriends/girlfriends, or even free time to hang out with friends. if a 14 sophomore were to go to college with other 17/18 year olds, it would be very difficult to adapt to his.her new environment. although it is not something entirely different from high school, it is a bigger step that necessitates more decisions, indpendence, and risks.
2)i think the nbest way to educate high school students is to integrate the technology we have today into many of the lessons teachers teach. using smartboards and laptops are useful. maybe more of the curriculum should be less papers to write and more about skills. whats the use of a term paper in the future ? learning skills for the outside world would actually be more benficial because it would guide us towards being leaders.
3) im so so on this. in part, we are getting the best deal because of the required regents for the ny states and all the other aps, exams, sat, etc. however, too much is emphasized on these scores. i mean, a lot of colleges belive this is important but it is really what the person can do for the world, the college, and himself/herself. it should be more about learning skills , not just memorizing facts and reinterating them into papers or onto exams.
1) I agree most with the arguments of
ReplyDeleteVern Williams and Amy Wilkin. Their argument is that the problem is that our curriculum is drowned in meaningless tests that don't measure any real skills and teaching that is not challenging or truly puts our midns and skills to the test. They propose that we need assessments that show how well students are using the skills and curriculum that's challenging and interesting so that we develop an understanding of the concepts of the subject. I agree with their viewpoints completely. I feel that we have too many pointless tests and that exams like the regents show nothing about what we understand. Also, much of our curriculum is preparing us for a test rather than teaching us the ideas and skills we can gain from the subject. I feel that we need more meaningful curriculum that we actually teach us the subject and not the content of a test. That way, we can use the skills we gain from it in the real world.
2) My opinion on this suvject in a nutshell is teach the subject, NOT the test. We need to teach students so that they understand what a subject is about and how it can be applied. We need to go beyond what the test gives us if we expect to gain anything from the subject. If school was less about taking tests and getting grades, and more about understanding something and learning a skill from it, we would find that students would be better prepared for adult life. I fear that my school is going the wrong way by focusing more on tests than grades than teaching the subject matter.
3) I think society is getting ripped off with the current education system and so am I. Most students are not ready for college or the real world when they graduate. That's evidence enough that we're doing something wrong. I don't feel like I'm ready to go to college or for adult life. I had no real preparation or taste of what it'll be like. I'll be walking into a world completely alien to me. We need to reform our education system to teach basic skills necessary for life and to focus less on meaningless tests and more on actual subject matters and skills.
Period 8
1) I agree with Vern Williams and Kenneth Bernstein. Vern Williams is right in saying that the foundation created in elementary and middle school is essential as we go on. The high standards should start then so that the students will realize the importance of their education and will bring their habits onto high school and then college. Kenneth Bernstein says that students, although they may be able to study at college level at an earlier grade, may not have the mentality to carry themselves through the college lifestyle. The students still need to grow among their peers and mature.
ReplyDelete2) I was reading "Scientific American: MIND" because of a headline that mentioned testing. When I opened to the page of the article, I was mildly amused at the prospect of being tested on a subject before being taught on it. Although it seems frustrating, the results showed that students, after being tested on a subject they weren't taught, were able to retain the information better and understand it. This also helped them to look for the main points in the texts that are necessary to understand. So maybe this might be an intersting thing to do, but it also reminded me of this method Mr. Flaherty taught the Seniors last year. It was a studying strategy that is somewhat similar to the idea in the article but there is no test. Instead, the student will read the headings of the text and ask themselves questions on what the information contains, and so on. This guide is tedious, but extremely useful especially when note taking because then you'll have essential notes rather than "useless" information. I'm just saying that it doesn't only depend on the teacher, but it depends on the student's studying habits as well.
Teachers should understand their area of expertise to be able to teach and inspire students. The lessons should be conducted in a manner where the students are intrigued and thinking, as well as connected to other subjects, but never veering off the main idea, and everyday life. Hopefully, if students see how education affects their life maybe then they'll take it more seriously or something.
3)Is society as a whole getting the best deal out of education? In American, I don't feel that high school students and below are getting the best education they could receive. There are teachers who create tests so that students who may not grasp the topic can still pass and there's cheating to incorporate too. We can't fully control this wildfire, but we can create a setting where the work is going to become more creative and more analytical to test the minds of the students. They need to be able to think for themselves and use their minds. We have a lot of potential to succeed, but it's hard to when it's difficult to get the right nourishment.
Janine Pd.2
1)I believe that the expert, Leon Botstein, because I feel as though any way to increase the intellect of the students rather than test taking abilities is a good curriculum. This way teachers will prepare more for college rather than just taking a test that doesn't really prove your intelligence level just memorization skills. This way its faster for students to go to college and start on careers and life.
ReplyDelete2)I also feel that the Regents/Standardized tests is one of the major problems in High schools today. They dont promote real skills, just showing how fast one can memorize in a short amount of time. Schools need to focus more on teaching - using teachers who had experience in their subjects- rather than testing.
3)I dont feel that as a student I am receiving the best deal in that schools give you the feeling that unless your a "super-genius" your average and e unneeded by society. I feel that schools should cater more to individuality.
1. Kenneth Bernstein basically stated how the fast track approach isn’t really worth it because some kids, even the most brilliant of minds, just aren’t ready for the new social and educational atmosphere that college embodies. I totally agree with him. Having a jump start just makes you miss out on the little things in life. Besides, with the fast approach teenagers are being placed in adult environments with adult pressures and responsibilities. Life seems to be thrown at you pretty quick, and so the questions becomes can they handle it? I say we won’t be kids forever…so let’s enjoy it while it lasts. Don’t try to grow up too fast.
ReplyDelete2. We could best educate our high school and college students by really preparing them for the real world. I know that’s what college is for… you learn the stuff you need for a career, but for high school I say we bring back the basics. They use to have home economics, wood shop and fun creative classes that taught you basic but necessary things in life. After all we do need to eat and we might need to hammer a nail in a wall sometime in our lives!
3. I feel high school is just feeding us useless facts that once we graduate we’ll never need them again unless we’re on a trivia show. Some don’t even remember what they learned last year…the curriculum now is just a way to say ok…we taught you this…you took the test about it…you know it … so that’s all. The curriculum should be changed to simulate real life in a high school setting. The only thing that mimics real world so far is learning about w-2 forms and pay stubs in economics.
Rudy Crew, who was chancellor of New York City Schools from 1995 to 1999, believes that high school curricula should be made more applicable to the real world. He believes that education should be personalized and more relevant for goals and future careers that the students may have.
ReplyDeleteI agree with his perspective, that education needs to be more pertinent to what we may face in the future. Many times, I'll think that a majority of the things that we learn in school are trivial and meaningless, that I'll never have to know these things after high school. If we skip over the useless things, or make them more applicable to our lives, it would make school significantly more appealing to most students--and more students would be putting in effort to learn.
There aren't many economic implications to be considered. The best education can be something as simple as staying at home and reading articles or conducting experiments on our own. It's all motivation. The current education system simply does not encourage students to learn. It encourages conforming to a system in which students temporarily absorb facts, only to regurgitate them on tests, and forget them the next day. This is because we find no use in the things that we learn. The current education system promotes a repetitive cycle that makes learning seem boring, because it tells kids that learning is simply memorizing and reciting facts. By the end of the day, we just want to get out of school and back home so that we can rest and have fun. Learning can be fun, but school doesn't show that to us.
Why not let kids choose what they want to learn? What about total flexibility in classes? Start them off early with what they'll handle in colleges--minus the core curriculum. The core curriculum--math and English (writing, comprehension), history--should be reinforced in most classes anyway. If not fully taught, then it would have been irrelevant for the student to know in the first place.
If someone doesn't want to take certain courses, at least offer them appealing alternatives. But, honestly, if I didn't want to take classes like Spanish, History, or English in the first place, I should have been given the chance to place myself into all STEM-related courses instead of having to suffer through hundreds of hours and tests.
Education is something that can always be improved, something that has to change with available technology. Sometimes, I do believe that I'd rather be in a more stimulating environment with greater choice in classes, but I'm satisfied. I'll have a chance to experience a completely different system of education in a few months. Sure, I'm tired of being stuck in certain classes that seem almost endless, or having too little time for others, but this isn't something that can be changed so quickly.
1. Read at least one of the experts's viewpoints and briefly summarizing it say whether you agree or disagree with it and why.
ReplyDeleteKenneth J Bernstein is an AP government teacher at Eleanor Roosevelt High School. His viewpoint is that we shouldn’t focus solely on the intellectual part of the student but, also give favor the social development that happens in school. " After all, education is more than academic learning. And school is more than what occurs in the classroom. We should be educating the whole student, not merely the intellect." I agree with his viewpoint because I feel that not all students are capable of succeeding in early college programs, even if they meet academic requirements. This is because there is a maturity standard in college. Successful students in college must be able to handle the academic and social demands of college. The difference between high school and college is much more complex then different classes and setting. You cannot handle colleges the same way you progressed through highschool.
2. Give your own opinion as to how we might best educate our high school and college students.
You are encouraged to consider the economic implications of what you think would be the best system.
It is my opinion that school should stop giving high priority to exam results. "Teaching the test" is the bane of all education systems. The difference in experience I had between middle school and highschool was astonishing. My middle school was a typical middle school, which meant that the teachers gave high priority to state exams, rather than an engaging curriculum However, in QHSSYC, I feel that the teachers are much more relaxed about exams, and more interested in creating an interesting and unique experience for their students.
3. Reflect on your current education. Is society getting the best deal? Are you? What might be improved?
I believe my high school experience is unlike the experience most students live out during their high school years. As previously said, my high school is vey lax when it comes to regents exams, save for the a hectic few weeks leading up to regents week. Another way my high school experience is unique is that I personally feel that the teachers are very capable of teaching their courses. Teaching is a very touch skill to learn, much less master, and excellent teachers are hard to come by. I believe the best way to tackle the education problems is to start at the administration level. If the majority of faculty for every school were truly qualified for their position, then I believe the education of most students would be great improved.
Nancy Hoffman's view is that an accelerated education is a good thing for under privileged kids as it gives them a chance better prepare for college and raises graduation rates. i feel that yes it is good for those who havent had as many opportunities to level the playing field sort of, but i also feel that there is a better way to go about it.
ReplyDeletei think that accelerating the process just in high school is bad idea, because it going straight from first gear to fifth. i think a better idea would be to raise our standard of education of all the grades, because as a tutor to the younger kids the way they learn some topics are very inefficient, and if we strengthen the base of education AP course that we will want to take in high school won't be such as much of a challenge for us.
honestly my foundation in writing is very very weak, because no one in my lower grades ever really focused on writing, and expected my teachers in my higher grades to take of it, but on the flip side my reading comprehension and math skills are above average. as for society there is always always room for improvement in education, and all too often education is one of the first places where the city or the state take money from.
1. Leon Botstein is the President of Bard College and he believes that this program that allows students to finish high school two years earlier is long overdue. It is his belief that this program should be implemented nationwide because having the possibility of students finishing two years earlier would diminish the drop out rate in high schools. Also he believes that programs like this cannot be put into place unless the teachers are highly trained to teach and can motivate a real understanding of topics. I personally don't believe in his reasoning behind his support of the program. If students are struggling so much that they are on a the verge of dropping out then there is no way that they are prepared to go to college. However, I do agree with his statement that teachers need to be trained more.
ReplyDelete2. I think that the best way to educate our students is to begin with elementary school. Some teachers do not really teach their classes the material that they will need to learn but teach them how to past a test. Passing test are not everything in life, knowing the material is the important stuff. In order for this to happen, teachers may have to get back to the basics of explaining topics indepthly but the end result of students knowing the material is worth it. Rushing students throughout school who are in danger of failing is not the solution but is going to create more problems. What happens when all of this students get to college and have no knowledge? Yes, they may not have had to drop out of high school but I'm pretty sure they are going to have to drop out of college or be put into remedial classes so they can get the knowledge that they should have been getting from the get go.
3. I cannot reflect on the general American high school education, because going to a specialized high school is completely different from regular high school but I think my high school education has been sufficient. In my opinion, education has been leaning toward presently knowledge so that you past test but ultimately it is up to the student as to whether he or she retains the knowledge. Even if teachers only teach for the students to past a test, if someone really wanted to they could actually learn the information and understand it. Myself I have taken some College Now Classes and Advance Placement classes while in high school. Honestly, the classes I took in college now were the most interesting classes I have taken and actually helped me become a better thinker. Yes, the classes did take a lot of work and put a whole lot of pressure on me but I signed up for it because I wanted to take it, so ultimately everything is up to the students initiative.
DEREK YAM
ReplyDeleteI agree with Rudy Crew’s statement that we need to boost the relevance of high school classes. I feel that at times, by taking useless classes that we have no interest in or do not have any relevance to our future, we are just wasting our time. This brings up the “senioritis” that Crew refers to. As a senior, I feel in our school we are overworked. We are forced to have a minimal of 5 classes AND gym. However, these are just standards for our school, but in reality, we have more than enough credits to graduate. “Senioritis” comes from this discouraged and annoyed feeling that we have to do meaningless work. I only need two classes to graduate, but I am forced to take six.
I believe that being able to graduate by tenth grade is a good idea, but I also do believe that the testing for it should be extremely difficult. This is because high school is not only a time of academic growth, but also growth as a person. How can a tenth grader be able to interact with a room of college students without learning these skills in high school? I believe that the test should address these issues, maybe with interviews.
I agree with the majority of what Leon Botstein discusses in his opinion of high school students breaking free of the mundane and dreadful pigeon hole Regents, SAT and AP examinations place us in. However I do not agree with his seemingly radical idea to take students… practically children out of high school after the 10th grade. In the tenth grade I was hyper and anxious to turn 16 years old. And my birthday is in January so I didn’t have too long of a wait, imagine students who are 15 years old or even 14 years old (being advanced for their age, most likely started school early or skipped a grade) entering a world for adults and independence and freedom from the rules and regulations of your parents house. What kind of place would that be? We would be in no way prepared for something like that. I am 18 years old and I am once again hyper and anxious to get out of the house. But there is no way I would’ve been prepared two years ago. Those last two years of high school are very crucial and a necessary rite of passage for teenagers.
ReplyDeleteIn the words of my mother “some college students still belong in high school.”
It is truly about more than just academics and intellectual preparation. We need those last two years to mature and come into our own.
I am not sure what would actually be the best route of education for students in high school, but I do know that Regents do absolutely nothing for me as a student. All I have ever done was memorize the necessary information at the time to master the Regents, after the test was over so was my interest and knowledge of the subject. I agree with Botstein that we should follow the European system which stresses teaching as opposed to testing. Focus on educating us and we will learn something, stop turning education into a numbers game. But keep our 10th graders in high school for two more years!
Vern Williams argues that study have shown that high school seniors are not prepare for college, so how will they be prepare for college when they are 2 years younger, it does not make sense. it would make sense to make high school classes harder and challenge the students more, so they will be prepare when they go to college. i agree with Williams because it seems to make sense, by sending 10th grader to college, how are they going to be prepare for college.
ReplyDeletei think schools waste way too much money on such thing as the bulletin board and other useless item that has no any kind of impact on the student's education, those money could have been use to hire better teachers, or train teachers to be better. and too much pressure is out on teachers with the standardize tests. I understand there should be test to see how we are doing, but our test are pointless and does not show any real results.
i like my school, but when you look at bigger schools, i don't think we are getting the best deals, i think there should be more freedoms for teachers to control their lessons. i don't think the society is getting the best deals either, what comes out of American education is people who only knows how to take test, take multiple choice questions. what good does that do for you in real life, i don't think jobs are going to test your test taking skills. also tests are also becoming mostly about remembering the formula and not understand the concept of the mater, this works in both English and math. so basically, American students end up not knowing how to read, as in understanding the material, not just pronouncing the words.
I strongly agree with Leon Botstein. I feel that there is only so much that high school can teach us. After a while, English just becomes monotonous, anazlyzing book after book. Furthermore, some classes are just not challenging enough. AP classes truly require you to think about the material you're learning. Because so many students take AP classes their last two years of high school, it would only make sense to just end high school early and jump straight to college. Also, perhaps some people just aren't cut out for school. Maybe it would be more worthwhile for people who take academics seirously to jump to college. And for the rest, they could get jobs early, or learn at a vocational school where they could put their other skills to good use. This would heavily decrease the amount of money set aside to fund for public schools. This could also mean that US citizens would be taxed less heavily.
ReplyDelete1. Botstein, a music director, discusses why the existing education system needs to be improved in itself. He notes that most of the required tests (i.e. the Regents), are not correctly measuring "reasoning skills in mathematics, science and writing."
ReplyDeleteVen Williams asserts the ridiculousness of the idea of letting students graduate after 10th grade by pointing out that if many students aren't ready for college after four years, how can they possibly be ready in two?
I agree with both of these experts. Most of the current tests are not properly designed (if any test can be) to measure the right thing and unfortunately, most schools strive to prepare their kids for those tests and thereby deprive them of a sound education. Furthermore, adding on another test in 10th grade will only degenerate the situation because many teachers might feel obligated to only teach for that one test, and many students might feel that they no longer need to study in high school because they can get to college with one test anyway. In other words, they will skip past a high school experience by being constantly reminded of the one test.
2. I think the college system is fine- with the right degree of freedom and proper opportunities available to students, any student that is motivated to learn will be given a chance. They could be a "tad" bit cheaper though...
I think there is a lot that can be done with the high school system. First of all, instead of making a test to get to a community college, a high school education should be improved so that willing students feel satisfied with a good high school education and don't feel pressured to skip high school, as if the junior and senior years are unnecessary. To keep this economically feasible, they should open a select few school in every region for ambitious and talented middle school students. These elite schools should be "above" any standardized regents exams so that the teachers can teach an enriching curriculum and not have to teach the inferior tests.
The question is- how do these schools select the "ambitious and talented middle school students." My school is sort of like this kind in that it offers a test to determine one's qualifications. I don't agree with this method and think that instead it should be also be based on teacher recommendations and middle school grades.
3. I guess the last answer transitions to this one. I think I am getting a good education and that I am being given the right opportunities. I am taking 3 AP's this year, but more importantly, I have the chance of self-studying for more AP exams, which I plan to do if the college I decide to attend offers credit. I don't think schools should be measured by how well the average student is performing, but rather by the opportunity given to any student, regardless of their background, to learn and prosper. There are some students who simply don't want to learn this way- we should not force them to.
Of course, there are always improvements. I think we should have a more flexible scheduling structure. There have been many times when I've been forced to give up on a class I was interested in because it was only taught in one period which coincided with another favorite class. With a more flexible structure, I think QHSS would be an even better academic institution.
--Manjinder
Anesh G. Pd.2
ReplyDeleteWhat is Leon Botstein is saying is that we should finish high school two years early and start college. What we lack today in high school is proper teaching methods and motivation to really understanding the knowledge of a basic curriculum. Today, one of our biggest failures is using tests alone to insure educational excellence. I agree with this 100%. Testing alone does not fully cover our comprehension of the curriculum. And everytime we face a problem with the schools, we just come up with new tests and this is wrong. The focus should be moved toward teacher preparation and the substance of the curriculum. We don't need more tests but rather a thorough comprehension of the curriculum through other means of motivation. Also, if we improve on teacher preparation, then this will be achieved. After all, this is the reason four-year and two-year colleges do a better job than high schools.
Ze'ev Wurman states that by using this system, we effectively lock students into a career too early, are hindering their youth, and create a falsely labeled pseudo college-ready student.
ReplyDeleteLeon Botsein on the other hand embraces this new idea. He believes that getting students out of high school as soon as possible is the best option since we have less than satisfactory high school performance. As a high school student, I feel the same way. I believe that our system should be able to provide a more vigorous and concentrated schoolwork to students who want to challenge themselves. However, there must also be an expansion of available courses. Skills outside of purely academic studies should be a viable option to students. By allowing early specialization, we would be better able to prepare students for future work. However, this comes at the cost of youth and academic freedom. Students may feel compelled to choose a career early on ; which may not be the best time. Perhaps specialization during the senior or junior year of high school would be a good option since it is then that many students decide what they plan to major in for college.
To make the system even more efficient, we may consider the possibility of creating multiple schools with different specialties or levels of work and make them open to everyone. Allowing the funding of the schools to be based upon attendance would promote competition between schools to provide better education for each student. As student's choose the best schools for their needs, they may have a better experience in high school. However, some students may simply look for an easy way out and go to a school with low standards.
Nevertheless, the students may be better prepared for college. They wouldn't need an examination to skip two years of college education unless they need financial help. To solve this, we could have a system similar to that in europe where the schools are funded by the state and thus very financially appealing.
Jia
ReplyDeleteperiod 1
I agree with Michael Goldstein, this offer should not be restricted to only community colleges; it is not fair with the kids who are doing well in school. It will just make the community colleges more crowded, and prevent them from functioning well. I strongly agree with the second point, I think this will create a barrier among students. It may even lead some students to lower their self-esteem and prevent them from showing their real talent. Their talents will crush even before they pursue a career.
This system reminds me of the educational system in Pakistan. In Pakistan students take a board exam in tenth grade, and that exam is extremely important for every individual. It determines which college you get into. I think it is one of the most challenging and strict exam taken in the students career in Pakistan. However, they have a chance of retaking the exam, if they repeat tenth grade again, which is very embarrassing for some students. I like this idea very much but I think it is very important to look at both the positive and negative effect of this system. This will help kids save time, and money, and allow them to see a clear path earlier in their lives. However, it will also create a barrier among kids, and it will make them feel slower if they don’t pass the exam with all their other friends.
I think our current education is descent but it can be improved. I do think that we are wasting lots of our time deciding on what we want to do in life. I think this process can speed up, and this idea is not so bad. It’s worth a try. I know that a lot of students graduating today from high school are still having trouble in college. What is the point of spending so much time in school, and you are still not ready to take the challenges of college? I am sure some of the High Schools do prepare their students well, and but more should be done, so students are successful in college. We spend too much money for little in return. Students should be trained for their college experience early in high school, in all the high schools. High school should help them determine a strong goal or career in life, so they have a clear path in college. This way they are all ready to compete and face any challenges to achieve their goal.
I agree with Ze’ev Wurman. Education systems shouldn't start sorting people's lives at the age of 16 and limiting them to a certain academic track. As he said, who are they to determine "passing score for the 10th-grade tests would be set at the level necessary to succeed in first-year college courses." College and the 4 years of high school is for students to discover, to grow, and to enjoy. I don't think that students should do this program. I think this is just a short-term fix for kids dropping out and just there because people feel like there should be a change in our education system.
ReplyDeleteAnd as for AP classes, society is just driving kids towards this direction.
Students HAVE to take AP classes to compete for admission in top colleges; it's become a necessity because so many people are taking it.
I don't think that this new option is good because I think students should be able to enjoy life more and not worry stress so much over getting into top colleges. Especially in our current society where everything is so fast paced, people are constantly working and studying, and not taking a step back to enjoy life more.
I personally connect with the idea given by Rudy Crew, former chancellor of new york schools. By making the things we learn in high school more applicable, students will actually be able to use the knowledge they gain in high school. The whole point of school is to provide us with the knowledge to function in the real world. With applicable knowledge from school, work and opportunities will be easier to find.
ReplyDeleteStudents need to be given the drive to learn at an early age, and this motivation must be maintained throughout their time in school. An education system that does this and teaches the students the skills necessary to function in society is the best education system.
In our system, there is too much emphasis on getting the right answer rather than understanding why. Many teachers teach how to solve a problem rather than understanding the reasoning behind it.
Ms. Aucoin Pd.1 (Esther. S) 02/24/10
ReplyDelete1. Read at least one of the experts's viewpoints and briefly summarizing it say whether you agree or disagree with it and why.
2. Give your own opinion as to how we might best educate our high school and college students.
You are encouraged to consider the economic implications of what you think would be the best system.
3.Reflect on your current education. Is society getting the best deal? Are you? What might be improved?
What got my interest out of many experts talking about the American school system was the viewpoint of Ze’ev Wurman's. He disagrees with the new system of sending high school students to colleges or university eariler. He says that the beauty of American schooling system is the opportunities for the "late bloomers," which means, not rushing the kids to choose the career, but to have them experience many things in high schools, community colleges, and then choose what they really want to do for their lives. This brings interesting thought to me. Having educated in Korea early in my childhood, I've despised the schooling system there. The reason was that the Korean education system forced the young children to study until 11 or 12 at night, go home, do home work, sleep for about 4 hours, come back to school, and study again. The continuation of this daily routine, not only exhaust the students, but make them loose interest in the real beauty of education. For me, it was less torturing. I came home at 8 from my afterschool, had a little time to relax. But even then, I was only an elementary school student. This may be the way of bringing test scores and give high scores in international achievement comparison for middle school and high school, but it will just "prevent young people from attaining their full potential," as Wurman says. This idea of shorter high school years would reduce the number of high school dropouts in grades 11 and 12, but it will also reduce the number of Americans with four-year college as well.
I personally think we do have the best educational system for the high school and college students. We are given time to be exposed to many things and choose from the variety of things that we want to study about. My favorite part of coming to America was the education system and I wouldn't want to change it. I get all the education I need, and everything I need to know to live in society. We don't need to try to follow up to European education system, or any other system. Although it could be mistaken that our system is not as good as theirs because of that international achievement comparison, we still get what is most important, freedom to choose what we want to study. I think the only improvement we need is to set up a system which the slow learners could get as much help they need
I agree with Ze’ev Wurman opinion that students should not be sent to college early. As children, most people have the same career goals- doctor, firefighter, lawyer, pharmacist, princess, or leader of the free world; we can't all be Presidents of the United States, now can we? So, if we all enter college with the notion that we have to be doctors or lawyers- as society dictates- there won't be any scientists, engineers, or even plumbers. What's more is that high schoolers don't comprehend the resourcefulness of a degree because they're not out there in the professional world trying to get a job. Workers between the age of 18 and 38 change jobs an average of 10 times. 10 whole times! I even know someone who was studying to become a dentist, and later decided that he wanted to become a lawyer. So now he's a lawyer/dentist and specializes in cases involving medical malpractice. Those are two completely different careers and he managed to combine them into one.
ReplyDeleteStudents can only find out which career is suitable for them through experience, not by what they've heard about it.
If students breeze through college in order to, let's say, earn a pharmaceutical degree in a shorter amount of time, then they will be missing out on inter-disciplinary courses, such as those in the humanities. This will weaken their chances of getting a job, because cultural awareness is very important for conversation during interviews. Also, when they are out of work, they don't have the wide range of skills to do something outside of their field or else, they simply refuse to or are unaware of jobs where a degree in pharmacy would come in handy.
I think schools should offer career workshops- which some schools kind of have with career day- but more hands on :D
I agree with Leon Botstein that permiting 10th graders to finish high school two years early is "long overdue".I think 10th graders are not prepared enough to enter college.For instance,not all 10th graders master the grammatical rules ,this therefore means that they are not prepared.But, as Leon Botstein said teachers too have to play a part,"they must be trained to motivate real understanding and knowledge of a basic curriculum." I think the American economy really needs educated students and only students who have the necessary knowledge will be able to run it later.But I'm not totally pessimistic, I think the idea of the diploma in 10th grade can work but it demands a lot more work for students and teachers.
ReplyDeleteI think High School and College students should study different subjects,not only the one they choose in order to be able to find a job.I also think that if they don't have the required capacities they won't find a well-paid job and may even join the 20 to 30 million people who are looking for a job.It's better to take time to be well-prepared and it will therefore be easier to integrate the job market.I also think that it's a risk to ask students to take decisions that will influence their whole life at sixteen. Going to college means being able to do a lot of academic work , if a 10th grader is unprepared this means that it will be too difficult for him/her:the results will be catastrophic too.To my mind, there is nothing to rush about especially because college fees are very expensive.If in college they have to repeat classes then their debts will be much bigger.It's obvious that some 10th graders have good levels,but this does not mean that they are ready for so much autonomy.
Well, I don't really know what the current economy is like in America.But, I think that in Martinique there should be more facilities(libraries, technological equipments)to make students find more fun learning. But I also think that making progress is an individual issue and that we can't always blame the society.
Leon Botstein has two points that I agree with greatly. First of all, he shoots down the idea of the standardized tests. There is a big difference between mastering a subject and mastering a test. Nowadays many classes are test-oriented, but is that necessarily a bad thing? Botstein also states that in college the teachers really know their subjects rather than high school teachers (sorry guys, his words not mine). But the success of colleges not only comes from the knowledge of the teachers but also from their control over the system. In most high schools teachers are limited in their control and their resources. As a public high school teacher, one can only do so much...
ReplyDeleteBut are we capable of college-level work in high schools? If we talk about AP classes, we cannot say that they are equal to college courses, because they're not. Just by being in high school alone the classes tend to be more lenient that many college-level classes. I prefer the idea of putting them into a real college environment, yet separate from the general college freshmen (an idea which Kenneth J. Bernstein alludes to). Therefore it should be perhaps the ones to carry out the program, rather than the public schools. But as Mr. Flaherty would say, colleges are business. Having said that there are most definately limits to such a program, depending on the amount of money the college would lose by instituting such a program.
I feel that my environment isn't the best for education. As a student at QHSS we have made some minor leaps such as the installment of smartboards and the like. BUt again being a school managed by the department of education there are limits to what we can achieve...
Forrest Period 2
I agree with Leon Botstein in many points. First when he says that students are kept in college for too long, and so, even with poor results. I mean,the same is true in France, there are students still in their first year of college at 25, that's crazy I think!But it's not the suject!!! So, concerning Leon Botstein, I think he's right, when he argues that the "tests" where you're invited to choose one answer among others don't really show what you're capable of, but in my mind only show that you're able to train your memory, that's all! Moreover, about the teachers, I think it was brillant to try to analyze the problem by saying that in education both, students and teachers, are learning and must learn. And that in College, rather than in High Schools, as the teachers have mastered in their subjects, they are more able to "motivate" students and give them I think, their passion for the subject.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion, High Schools and College students should be willing to study many different subjects rather than focusing themselves on only one topic. For example, even if you LOVE physics, you should also study various languages, but also philosophy and History. Because to my mind, it will help you bloom yourself, because in your life you won't be called to speak only of Physics for example, but, by learning History for example, and combining this with what you like, for example Physics, you can understand why we have some wars now, because it's a procesus which have started for many years and you can still study what you like.
And, about the "reform", to allow students in high schools to pass their diploma. I don't really think it will be a good idea. Because I think that at sixteen, you need to "touch" every subject, so that you can REALLY see what you like. While when you're sixteen I think, and you're given the opportunity to finish school earlier, I think you will only choose this option because you "save up" two years, that's all. Therefore, in my mind, if you take the time to go to college, it shows that you're really ready to start from a basic education, and then go and choose your subject. Indeed, I think there's no need to rush students from having diploma without really being able to THINK, as I would argue that you really understand how to think a problem when you're in "post bac".
For my current education, I think the system of Classes préparatoires, is a good one, because as I said it allows us to be open-minded and still have the choice for our "cursus" after Baccalauréat. While for many other students who go to college just after the BAC, they choose an english license, or Math I don't know, and when they realize that they don't really like this, they lose their year, and restart from 0! While I think in Prepa, we're given time. But, Indeed I like this system because I take part of it, but I should also see that this system is only valiable for less than 4000 (in prépa littéraire). And it should be applied in College system. And for prepa in a Hish school, I don't think that's good, because we have the same POOR library as the high school students who really don't care about it. While, by studying languages, I think we should have the system of Lab of languages.
I liked the point of view of Kenett J. Bersntein and I agree with his points. I do think that even if A.P (even if I'm not used to such a system) must be a good thing (but only for a bunch of students), we have to keep in mind that being in college implies so many things that 16-year-old students don't always realize. He took the example of his grandmother and I think she can't be more right : skipping one grade may prevent one to grow up normally.
ReplyDeleteIn addition to that, he insists on the fact that student in A.P are "rarely ready for a college setting". Obviously, college is an other world, I might even say another planet and to me it's important to be a certain age and to have gone through certain things before applying college. It's like there are steps and one has to walk them up one by one not to stumble and fall. What about trying to make the students learn more still in senior year of high school and teach them to have the required skills to go through college?
Concerning mu studies, I would say that les classes préparatoires are a French specificity. Well, it's another world too anyway but we have the advantage to be in a high school, and to attend class just like we did during le lycée. It's free and it allows to save two years of money for studies so I think it's a real opportunity for those who don't want to leave just after they get the bac or for those who still have doubt about what they want to study.
There are many things that should, well, must be improved. First, I would like (and all my class mates are going to agree with I can bet that) that we regard our classes here in Martinique for what they really worth, because we are tired for being underestimate because we are not Khâgne in Paris or whatever. I think that we would be more motivated to improve ourselves and push ourselves to the limits if people did believe in our skills instead of telling us that we are preparing an exam no one won't pass. Moreover, it's a pity we lack books and cultural facilities that would have helped us to broad our minds and perspectives as élèves de prépas. I have many things to say about our class. It's a hard one and people don't often realize how stressing and demanding it is. But, anyway, as Nisha said so well, education is a personal issue so I guess we have to do our best anyway.
sorry "tired of" ^^
ReplyDeleteJe suis d'accord avec Leon Bestein car je pense que les études doivent s'organiser en travail d'équipe entre les professeurs et les étudiants car ils doivent transmettre le gout de l'effort et la passion pour la matière qu'il aime.
ReplyDeleteDans ce cas si des reformes doivent etre prises je pense qu'elles douvent etre utiles pour les deux camps .
2/C'est pour cela que je pense que des heures de modules pourraient aider pour approfondir les connaissances ou corriger les lacunes et accompagner les étudiants je pense aussi que les frais de scolarité devraient etre moins élévés et que l'Etat devrait prendre en charge la plus grosse partie des dépenses car je trouve que cela revient excessivement chers aux parents et malgré les aides tous les parents ne sont pas en mesure d'envoyer leurs enfants a l'université , les études coutent trop chers et au final on a aucune garantie.
3/ Je pense que Melanee a raison qu'on devrait nous aider a avoir plus confiance et aussi que les profs aient confiance en nous mais aussi que les moyens pour qu'on parvienne a réaliser nos reves soient mis en place et qu'on nous aide a développer nos esprits créatifs car les jeunes sont l'avenir de chaque pays et qu'on devrait nous pousser a nous dépasser et a ne pas se laisser abattre dans l'adversité.
I totally agree with Vern Williams . I do think , as him , that if students since their childhood are exposed to serious academic environments, high expectations and are used to make efforts since elementary and middle school, they will be well prepared for high school . In fact, to succed in in a high school, in my opinion , you have to like making a lot of efforts and also have a mentality of fighter , that's why , you need to be prepared very early . I really think the best way to educate students is to start early by giving them the desire of learning many things and discover the world which surround them . I think it is better to start early because in this way , they will always know what teachers in high school ,are expecting from them . And knowing the demands is one of the keys of success .
ReplyDeleteMoroever, I also agree with what Kennet Bernstein says . In fact, it's not because students have the skills to follow high school, that they will succeed it, because as I said , to succeed college level you need to have the mentality .
To me , Leon Botstein, is right when he says permiting 10th graders to finish high school two years early is "long overdue " , because the majority of the students are not ready to fellow this kind of school , above all if they are sixteen years old .
Generally, I think to enable students to enter at high school two years earlier , isn't always the best solution because it is better to be prepared and ready to follow classes than enter earlier at college and not to be ready to follow the classes . As Nisha said, I think it's not because some students have good level that they are ready for autonomy . I know many people think it is not a good idea to propose students to pass their diploma at sixteen years old because they are too young but , we have to keep in mind that somme students , even if they are sixteen , may be mature and in this case , integrate high school would be for them a true opportunity and an advantage .
I think we might best educate children by giving them the desire to open their mind on the world and not only on the subjects of classes . A class, to me , has to give to students the desire to discover other things than what they are learning in class .
I think our "classes préparatoires" are very interesting . In fact , it is a free system which enables us to pursue our studies without paying a lot of costs . Furthemore, we learn many, many, many things every day . And what I find extraordinary is that after every class we are fancy to make some research to make deeper what we learn . Moreover, it is interesting because if, for example you don't know what you want to do yet , it enables you to pursue your schooling without loosing years .
1) I like not taking tests. One reason is because I’m lazy. But more importantly, I think that testing just measures test taking abilities, and it does not show the full potential. A good curriculum is always better than more tests. With a better curriculum, there is more preparation for college instead of students just trying to pass tests.
ReplyDelete2) Regents were just made so officials could track progress of their bills and what not. However, it proves nothing because people just cram. Multiple choice isn’t going to tell you anything. Rather than waste time on preparing for regents, teachers could be teaching a lesson.
3) Schools need to focus more on what students learn rather than what scores they get. With tests, there is a line drawn for basic knowledge and some people settle for that. There shouldn’t be any line when it comes to teaching and learning.
AJ pd 2
I completely agree with Vern Williams when he says that the major academic problem cause high remediation rates among freshmen starts at the elementary school. indeed, if we want to solve the school-failure problem we must take it from the roots and as Aude said he is also right when he says that if children were exposed to a serious academic environment they would have more chance to succeed ,but providing such a thing to students is teacher's job. I do think that the best way to help students to get success or at least to improve is to suggest them interesting but also challenging exercices so that they will be interested in what they do , and they will be sure to do worthy exercises and not to be doddling complicated notes that they won't understand when they will come back home and reread them, teachers must be sure to have created a real interactivity with their students.
ReplyDeletei would also say that something important to help students improving is to encourage them and create a real dialogue with them sometimes there are teachers who don't take time to discuss with their students in order to help them and give them advices so that they will suceeed in their project discussing is something important for both parties and unfortunately sometimes it lacks.
About , our current education, i would say that it goes worse and worse , the governments is currently cutting job in education and i think it will penalize students who need a special acoompaniment (if there's less teachers there will also be more students in one class, the teacher will be overburden and won't be able to help those who really need to be helped.
To finish, i would say that i completely agree with Melanee when she says that we are sometimes underestimated because we are not khagne in Paris and that we are sometimes said it doesn't worth to prepare this concours because none of us will pass it i think it's really really a pity.
Amy Wilkins (the vice president of the Education Trust) underlines the fact of students are not sufficiently prepared in their daily education to life after high school, what lead them to irrelevant results. And I think that she brings up an observable problem in a lot of societies, but I would say that some people find their way enough quicly and others need more time.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion : there isn't "better way to educate" strictly speaking. So I'll speak about the advantages of the degree course that I'm following, if it can serve like exemple. La classe préparatoire offers a global instruction which appeals to pluridisciplinaries competences and offers so several openings. Specific education to the french system, it developpes in the student a fighting spirit, a ryhtm oh work, and above all, the professors provide pupils with continuous educational support.
This is Cindy :
ReplyDeleteI agree with Leon Botstein when he says permiting 10th graders to stop and finish high school two years before the norm is a long overdue because In my opinion when you are sixteen years old , you are not really ready , not only at the nivel of school but also moraly, to follow high school or college . In fact, to integrate college at sixteen years old, students need to be well prepared . And it is not sure they received in high school a teaching which enables them to follow this kind of teaching . That's why I also agree with Vern Williams who says it is better to expose and to prepare children throughout elementary or middle school , to receive a serious and academic teaching in order to prepare them for high school . To me , that is the solution .In fact , it is better to prepare onself to high expectations, because in the future it will be easier since you are already used to do it .
But I think, the teaching you received is not sufficient to succeed high school ,in fact it also depends on your will and motivation .
I think Rudy Crew is right . To me, if the things we learn at school are like the reality, students will use knowledge they learn in college and high .
Deciding or not if it is a good idea to enable students to pass a diploma and integrate high school two years earlier is a decision which merits many thought . In fact, giving to the students the opportunity to integrate a high school early is a great responsability because they risk their future and above all when they are sixteen years old . But it may also be a great advantage for some of them if they are able and prepared to follow this kind of teaching .
In my opinion , in order to improve the teaching , classes should be more adapted to the life of everyday, to the real life ,because students often say they learn a lot of useless things . So , school should give them a real idea of life in order to captivate their attention and give them the desire to learn .
To me, the "classes préparatoires " is something which presents many advantages , because firstly , their is a very good level of teaching, and also because it enables all the students to study without spending a lot of money, contrary to the american system . Furthemore , les "classes préparatoires" prepare us to great schools .
I agree with Melanee, it is necessary to receive a complete education in high school. Not doing so would contribute to a lack of formation of the students. Moreover, indeed, there is a gap between high school and college and it is not only a gap as regards knowledge. When you enter college, you experience the taste of freedom for example. People often look for solutions to improve the educative system nowadays. However, they take the risk that this system, being deeply move, does not improve anything. On the contrary, such a change can transform the children's system of representations. High school is a crucial step in life. By now, I still think of this period with nostalgia. Thus it is a crucial step affectively speeking. However, we can discuss. Things deserve to be improved in high school such as the fact that many students find it hard to really know what they intend to do there. A personnal study of the students should be organized in order to help them better find their way in high school but above all, in life. Even if I don't agree with Leon Bernstein about the fact that "we keep children too long in high school" I share his point of view about the fact that teachers should be really well trained "to motivate real understanding and knowledge of a basic curriculum". High school is actually the place when you first really get the opportunity to understand things. Subsequently, everything should be done in order to successfully pass this step. Otherwise, children get desperate and lost so that they cannot fill again the blank later in college least they make important efforts.
ReplyDeleteIt was original for me to discuss about this for I had the chance to have very good teachers in high school. And proof that high school was crucial step, I will always affectionately think of these teachers. Then, i'm aware of the fact that every one does not have the chance I had so indeed things deserve to be changed.
Furthermore, I'd like to speak add that in college too, teachers should be able to motivate the students as Amina said. I think it is a necessity... Sometimes, being underestimated incites people to prove what they're worth. But if often happens that people don't find it delightful to be underestimated...
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Leon Botstein. He stated that students stay too long in high school with bad results. The problem is that the teachers in the high school don’t know their subjects well enough and might poorly teach the class. The college professors have a better understand and will make more progress on the students. We should try new methods to help our low standards of education pre-college to match up with the world. This way we might be able to match up to the European standards.
ReplyDeleteWe should offer AP level classes earlier on then in the junior and senior years. Then students can be adjusted to the shift in difficulty in college. Many schools don’t have those classes so the students struggle the most. The problem is the higher cost of this system since AP exams are costly. Another method to help the scores was an offer of $1000 if they get a 5 to motivate the students.
My education is very well compared to other parts of America. I believe I’m getting the best deal here but Society needs more option. The education varies student to student; society needs more option to help certain students. Such as vocational school to help some students get a job of interest quicker.
-Kazi period 8
Amie - Ms. AuCoin (pd. 8)
ReplyDelete1. Leon Botstein believes that allowing 10th graders to graduate high school two years earlier than normal is a very good idea that should be implemented. In fact Bard College, which Mr. Botstein is currently the president of, presently runs two programs where students finish high school at the end of 10th grade by taking Regents Exams that are required. I completely disagree with him on this point because I think that the 4 years of high school are all important. By graduating early the student is missing out on the two most important years of high school. It is not just academically but the student is cheated out of the complete high school experience as well. It is true that American-style standardized tests are completely inept at measuring reasoning skills. But letting students graduate earlier will definitely only exacerbate the problem, not solve it.
2. I believe that the curriculum itself must be changed. The stuff that students are learning and they way that they are taught are not the best methods. Facts are drilled into student's heads and more time than most, students will forget what they learned and never apply it to their own lives. The qualifications to become a teacher should also be raised. This way teachers in the system will be more apt to teaching lessons students will actually learn. I also believe that by raising the wages of teachers, education will become a more appealing option to individuals who have the potential to really teach students the right way.
3. I truly believe that although our education system is not perfect, it does provide many opportunities for the ambitious student to succeed. A student cannot be spoon-fed education, a student must do work in order to learn. Every generation gets lazier and education is in decline as of now. As for my own personal education I have tried to take advantage of every opportunity given to me. Perhaps high school has not prepared me for college and beyond but I wouldn't know that yet.
Tout d’abord, j’aimerais apporter quelques précisions à ce qu’a dit très justement Mme Owens à propos de l’Ecole Normale Supérieure.
ReplyDeleteC’est en effet un concours très élitiste qui enregistre un nombre important de candidats (3000 à 3500) pour un très faible nombre de places (114 places au total) réparties comme suit : 5 places pour les sciences sociales (Khâgne B/l) et 109 places pour les filières lettres et arts, langues vivantes, histoire et géographie, philosophie (khâgne A/L).Ce qui correspond à un peu plus de 3% d’admis… De quoi nous laisser pantois…
Les débouchés sont multiples et concernent les disciplines littéraires au sens large (ethnologie, sociologie, histoire, géographie, psychologie, anthropologie, sciences du langage, philosophie etc.)
(Informations de source sûre).
J’ai choisi l’article de Amy Winkings intitulé « Better expectations for everyone ». Je partage son point de vue, surtout en ce qui concerne sa vision des évaluations. Elle explique que ces dernières doivent surtout servir à situer l’élève et à le préparer pour les études secondaires, qu’il ne sert à rien qu’il y en est beaucoup mais il faut surtout que ces évaluations servent : Il faut d’abord asseoir les bases avant d’entamer l’acquisition de nouvelles connaissances. Multiplier les examens empêche de vérifier l’acquisition des connaissances, il faut avoir le temps d’apprendre avant d’être évalué. A mon avis, elle touche du doigt un problème qui en France fait débat : le passage du secondaire au supérieur qui s’avère catastrophique. Près de 90% de bacheliers, et pourtant on observe une chute vertigineuse dès la première année d’études supérieures 50% d’échecs…Pourquoi ? Il convient alors en effet de remettre en question l’acquisition des connaissances dans le secondaire. Comment expliquer que des élèves qui ont eu le baccalauréat échouent après ? Je pense la faute est imputable à la qualité de l’enseignement dispensé dans le secondaire… Il faut tout de même constater qu’en France, on nous prépare pour l’examen final, le Baccalauréat rare sont les enseignants à songer à nous préparer aux études « postbac ». Toutefois, il faut aussi dire que le temps imparti pour cet examen final est très court donc ils ne peuvent pas tout faire.
Je ne crois pas qu’il existe de « meilleur » système éducatif…Certains se positionnent hors du lot c’est vrai…Le système éducatif idéal serait selon moi un système qui prendrait en compte la classe sociale de chaque élève, qui répondrait à ses attentes et qui surtout lui assurerait l’avenir dont il rêve. Toutefois je suis bien consciente que le système que je m’imagine est utopique et qu’on est à des années lumières de sa réalisation.
On peut toujours tout améliorer, même si la perfection n’existe pas. Le système éducatif dans lequel j’évolue a ses failles comme tout système…Je ne vais pas toutes les passer en revue.
ReplyDeleteToutefois, les critiques que j’ai à faire, concernent surtout les classes préparatoires, sûrement parce que j’y suis depuis deux ans. Il y a en effet des critiques positives, les enseignements qu’on y reçoit sont de qualités, les professeurs sont de qualités, on apprend beaucoup de choses donc deux ans de prépas sont deux ans de « gain » si je peux m’exprimer comme cela à tout point de vue éducatif. Mais un florilège de critiques négatives existent, la part de vérité des « classes préparatoires » !On prétend « qu’on revient cher à l’Etat » parce que nombreux sont les investissements (apparemment) qui sont faits pour que ces classes survivent, toutefois, et c’est ce que je déplore, les moyens ne sont pas répartis de façon équitable, les prépas dites de province n’ont quasiment aucune chance de réussite par manque de moyens et n’ont pas de volonté…Tandis que les prépas de la « montagne Sainte-Geneviève » elles, ont les moyens, je parle surtout de livres…
Je crois qu’un concours doit se préparer dans les mêmes conditions et je ne parle pas des mêmes conditions sur table ! Je ne trouve pas normal d’avoir continuellement à faire des commandes à Paris pour trouver les livres dont j’ai besoin pour travailler…D’où le gouvernement a un énorme travail à faire sur ce point. Il existe des prépas en dehors de Paris ! De plus, les élèves en filière littéraire sont très nombreux, je trouve qu’une école (l’ENS) que ce soit Ulm, Lsh ou Cachan qui ne propose même pas la moitié du nombre des élèves de prépas en matière de poste n’offre pas suffisament de chance aux élèves littéraires. Voilà ! C’est ce qui est un peu dommage…Toutefois, on ne regrette pas d’y être, on y apprend beaucoup de choses et on y rencontre des professeurs formidables !