tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129899644952196274.post2226857458640099290..comments2024-02-06T04:26:33.866-06:00Comments on To Keep Things Whole: Where's My Educational Jet Pack?Mark Crottyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17099567332113135358noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129899644952196274.post-42346313230450521742010-12-08T08:48:24.543-06:002010-12-08T08:48:24.543-06:00Pam, first, thank you for the wonderfully thoughtf...Pam, first, thank you for the wonderfully thoughtful comment. <br /><br />Your first two paragraphs link in a vital way. First, the advantage that you want is the one I think we all want for our kids. At the same time, we want this to happen in a "safe," tried-and-true fashion rather than something that might risk their future. In the case of this school, that has to do with placment into a high school. So rather than really reevaluate and rethink, many people approach it like weight training. They load on more weight and do more reps.<br /><br />But we know that for general wellness, cross-training is actually better. That's why I love what you say about strong generalists. I've hinted at this in various pieces and plan to expand upon it in the future.<br /><br />And then, continuing the wellness theme. You mention how certain practices may lead to problems in adulthood. Let's consider that in the short term as well. In trying to help kids learn and pushing them ever harder, I worry that we may be defeating our own goals in the way the load and stress can hamper learning.<br /><br />I'm glad the posts make you think. I hope to get many people thinking. These are hard problems to address unless people are pondering them. Then the really hard work can start.Mark Crottynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129899644952196274.post-76381349196306705772010-12-05T16:01:58.492-06:002010-12-05T16:01:58.492-06:00The line about not wanting my kids to be guinea pi...The line about not wanting my kids to be guinea pigs rings true to me. Whether or not I like to admit it, I do feel a sense of wanting them to have an advantage -- for me, that means warm relationships with their teachers, enrichments every day, strong academics and less time spent preparing for standardized tests. I worry sometimes about how rocking the boat will affect what I perceive as the outcome.<br /><br />But the boat needs to be rocked. I believe education in general HAS changed; however, I don't think those changes are positive, and I feel that if they continue as established, we'll see the current generation of kids grow into highly-strung, overworked, risk-averse, competitive adults who don't know how to fill their free time because they've never had any.<br /><br />When I consider the future of education, I see strong generalists as educators of primary and secondary children. Generalists capable of weaving history, literature and writing into a lesson or linking math and science. Who knows? Maybe a "generalist" is actually a teaching team with a single objective, measured by its ability to work together to meet that objective. These generalists must be capable of incorporating meaningful technologies into lessons when it makes sense. I use a rolling pin to roll out dough and pound cold butter, not to stir a pot of soup; and I don't walk around the house wielding the hunk of wood looking for a way to use it. But to know that the heft of a good rolling pin would make it the perfect tool for pounding cold butter into something malleable, I had to have gotten my hands dirty by working with the pin in the first place.<br /><br />It strikes me that while the three "Rs" are still important, it's just as critical to teach children to plan and organize, use what they have to solve problems, work together even if they aren't best friends, take risks, and develop their right-brain capabilities. Above all, I hope that in whichever direction we head, we remember that these are children and allow them free time.<br /><br />I like that your posts make me think. Not only about the current topic, but about whether my actions support the beliefs your posts prod out of me.pamnoreply@blogger.com