Filepro-list Digest, Vol 86, Issue 21

[Boaz Bezborodko]

> Date: Tue, 8 Mar 2011 14:23:56 -0500 From: "Richard Kreiss" 
> <rkreiss at gccconsulting.net> Subject: RE: OT; Corning technology To: 
> "'Kenneth Brody'" <kenbrody at spamcop.net>, 
> <filepro-list at lists.celestial.com> Message-ID: 
> <004201cbddc6$5e7fd490$1b7f7db0$@gccconsulting.net> Content-Type: 
> text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"
>> >  -----Original Message-----
>> >  From:filepro-list-bounces+rkreiss=verizon.net at lists.celestial.com
>> >  [mailto:filepro-list-bounces+rkreiss=verizon.net at lists.celestial.com] On
>> >  Behalf Of Kenneth Brody
>> >  Sent: Tuesday, March 08, 2011 2:13 PM
>> >  To:filepro-list at lists.celestial.com
>> >  Subject: Re: OT; Corning technology
>> >  
>> >  On 3/8/2011 1:58 PM, Bill Campbell wrote:
>> >  [...]
>> >  [...]
>> >  
>> >  Then there's the "no child left behind" act, which is actually closer to "no child
>> >  gets ahead".
>> >  
>> >  Have a kid who's having trouble learning?  You'll get all the help you need.
>> >     Have a kid who's bored because he learned all this stuff 2 years ago, and>  should be in advanced classes?  Sorry, we can't help you.
>> >  
> Reminds me of what happens on the Mike Holmes show on HGTV.
>
> Walls are removed to make a more open layout.  A few months later the floors
> start to sag and water leaks begin and floor crack.
>
> Everyone wonders why until Mike comes in and opens the walls and points out
> that the support for the upper floor have been removed or incorrectly
> strengthened.
>
> This is what has happened to our educational system.  Bring everyone down
> the lowest common denominator so no one's feelings are hurt.  Don't allow
> anyone to excel as this will make those less able feel bad.
>
> Then we wonder why the rest of the world is passing us by.
>
> Do you really want a doctor or a mechanic who can't do math or can barely
> read and understand what is being read?
>
> Richard

This can even occur in private schools.  My nephew once yelled at a 
teacher because she praised him very highly for what was really a 
mediocre accomplishment of the task at hand.  "You're lying.  This 
wasn't that great so why are you lying to me."

My 8-year-old daughter (2nd grade) is a bit behind in reading and math 
(so was her father).  They modified her spelling exams to include only 5 
words instead of the usual 10 fro the rest of the class.  At first she 
had problems and was getting only 1 out 5, but she improved..  After 
about 2 months of getting 5 out of 5 right I insisted that the teachers 
increase the number of words.  "How is she going to know if she's 
getting better if she is constantly getting them all right?  Don't you 
think she knows that she is being given only half the words that the 
rest of the class is getting?"

They increased the number of words to 7.  Her first exam she got 6 out 
of 7 and then 7 out of 7 for the next 4.  My wife and I insisted that 
she be given the same as the rest of the class.  Her first test she got 
10 out of 10.  She was beaming because she knew exactly what that 
meant.  But she did give me a face when I suggested she ask the teachers 
for even more words on her next exam.

The kids know the difference.