- #106
sophiecentaur
Science Advisor
Gold Member
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You are right, in many ways, about the purposes of education. I would say that education is also supposed to 'cultivate' where possible; this is at least as important as teaching basic skills and preparation for a job.
You say "It seems to you self evident that it is important to entertain the majority of students if only minority can benefit from a boring course." but that is not actually true. In the UK we have a National Curriculum which has to be delivered and teachers are answerable if students, their parents, Schools and inspectors are not satisfied with their subsequent exam performance. Of course, many students under-perform because the courses are hopelessly mis-matched to ability and culture for many students. But one has to cover one's arse by making sure that as much of the course content is delivered. If I had been allowed to take classes and deliver material and experiences to them that I deemed 'appropriately interesting' for them, then they would have been a lot less bored and more receptive. That would have been at the expense of following the dreaded Scheme of Work. Teachers who do that will often find themselves being disciplined and told that it is just not their choice.
Our Great Comprehensive Education System is aimed to provide every child with an equal opportunity to do their best in life. That's Motherhood and Apple Pie; one can't argue with it. EXCEPT that it is assumed (and frequently stated) that anyone can do anything if they just get the right education. The National Curriculum is a total One Size Fits All, despite the politicians claiming that it is precisely Not that. Everyone is judged against the standards of everyone else and, thus, half of them will fail to achieve Median Performance (by definition).
Whatever we claim to do in our Schools, LIFE is not comprehensive. Once you leave School or College, you may think that you deserve all the goodies in life but, without indulgent parents, that sort of thing comes to an end. The same thing applies to disabled kids. They may acquire funding for education and care whilst they are minors but many of them find themselves at the bottom of pile for the rest of their lives.
I shall stop my left wing ranting and pirating this thread now! Sorry chaps.
You say "It seems to you self evident that it is important to entertain the majority of students if only minority can benefit from a boring course." but that is not actually true. In the UK we have a National Curriculum which has to be delivered and teachers are answerable if students, their parents, Schools and inspectors are not satisfied with their subsequent exam performance. Of course, many students under-perform because the courses are hopelessly mis-matched to ability and culture for many students. But one has to cover one's arse by making sure that as much of the course content is delivered. If I had been allowed to take classes and deliver material and experiences to them that I deemed 'appropriately interesting' for them, then they would have been a lot less bored and more receptive. That would have been at the expense of following the dreaded Scheme of Work. Teachers who do that will often find themselves being disciplined and told that it is just not their choice.
Our Great Comprehensive Education System is aimed to provide every child with an equal opportunity to do their best in life. That's Motherhood and Apple Pie; one can't argue with it. EXCEPT that it is assumed (and frequently stated) that anyone can do anything if they just get the right education. The National Curriculum is a total One Size Fits All, despite the politicians claiming that it is precisely Not that. Everyone is judged against the standards of everyone else and, thus, half of them will fail to achieve Median Performance (by definition).
Whatever we claim to do in our Schools, LIFE is not comprehensive. Once you leave School or College, you may think that you deserve all the goodies in life but, without indulgent parents, that sort of thing comes to an end. The same thing applies to disabled kids. They may acquire funding for education and care whilst they are minors but many of them find themselves at the bottom of pile for the rest of their lives.
I shall stop my left wing ranting and pirating this thread now! Sorry chaps.