As in: no child learns because we’re in this for the money, and the industry, and the re-elections. The education of children isn’t really a primary concern or goal anymore, is it?
Report: Students don’t know much about US history
“The history scores released today show that student performance is still too low,” Education Secretary Arne Duncan said in a statement. “These results tell us that, as a country, we are failing to provide children with a high-quality, well-rounded education.” [emphasis is mine]
Education experts say a heavy focus on reading and math under the federal No Child Left Behind law in the last decade has led to lagging performance in other subjects such as history and science.
Why does this not surprise me?
Well, and what are they talking about? How much do CHILDREN need to know about history and science?
Nobody knows.
Does a base knowledge of history and science predetermine what? At what age approximately?
There’s absolutely ZERO science or analysis in their examination of the whole thing.
Does a kid who can name the presidents in order have more success in life than one who can’t? (Now we must define success in life.)
My definition is that a person is independent in adulthood and has sustaining relationships with family and friends.
Okay.
The periodic table. Examine its relevance. Ummm. I’m aware of its existence and availability as resource, though chemistry (and phys ed) were not strong subjects for me.
See how subjective this all is? Can people think and solve problems?
ARE THEY KIND? (and not just to other kids they know.)
When the comment is longer than the post, it’s time to stop ranting. love you, Val
LOL! So true. History and science are such lifelong topics. Topics that require thought. And defining success based on yet more test scores is tricky, isn’t it?
You know articles like this one don’t even surprise me anymore :/
Exactly. Me neither.
I’m waiting for an article or study to come out and say something POSITIVE for once, I’m so sick of the bad news and negativity – the school system can only report that they are continuously failing our children. It’s so sad.
Don’t even get me started, I’m trying not to rant, but I’m so sick of this “teaching to the test” mentality and all good common sense being tossed aside. Students need a LOT to make it successfully (yes, subjective, but you know what I mean) in life. It’s not ALL about the math and science, why can’t our children enjoy a well-rounded liberal arts education. WHY?!
OK, that’s enough. I need to go vent on my own blog, not yours, LOL. Great post.
The really interesting thing that most people don’t fully understand is that the NCLB testing requirements are based on standardized tests, which are graded on a bell curve. EVERY school scoring over a certain percentage is absolutely IMPOSSIBLE in a bell curve. Even if students are testing with 90% correct answers, they could still end up in the 3rd percentile if the majority of other students scored higher.
So, when we are saying students scores are “still too low,” in any subject at all, what does that even mean???
Wow, I never knew that. That only increases the illogical-ness of the whole damn thing. Jeez.