tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1614037743017905260.post5949730560350939430..comments2013-02-11T17:07:37.123-07:00Comments on Pass the Chocolate: The Teacher Who Couldn't ReadAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14777243283548102053noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1614037743017905260.post-71203035900496644472011-08-15T22:04:51.200-06:002011-08-15T22:04:51.200-06:00Annette, I completely agree with your "kids-w...Annette, I completely agree with your "kids-with-stay-at-home-moms" option. The popular solution in our country is to keep kids in school longer, but in elementary school, I think they actually need a shorter day. The working parents want free day care, though, so a shorter school day will never be generally viewed as a good solution. It was crazy when they mandated full-day kindergarten at Green. When I volunteered there, all I did was baby-sit the kids while they did non-creative busywork. They would have been way better off playing at home.<br /><br />I do wonder what is considered "illiterate," though. Ken often asks me to proof-read his blogs, and he makes some silly grammar and spelling mistakes. He reads at a very high level, though, and he probably has a bigger vocabulary than I do. I think most of us in our family are visual learners, so we notice errors in the written word, but Ken is an auditory learner. I love his writing, but I don't think it would get a high grade on a literacy test. I'm just not sure that it's such a big deal. Some people are designed for careful and literate writing. Some people really have to work at it. A complete inability to read is obviously a problem, but I think if a person can perform basic literary tasks, that might be enough for them. People have different strengths.Carriehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10038597347405251733noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1614037743017905260.post-40720263048394443312011-08-15T04:26:34.295-06:002011-08-15T04:26:34.295-06:00So... I totally agree with you on a lot of this......So... I totally agree with you on a lot of this... and I haven't read the book or anything... but I am sitting here thinking... he never asked anyone to teach him? Not once? I mean, I know that a kid is not responsible... but even when he was a teenager in high school... he was more willing to sacrifice his character than a little embarrassment of his parents finding out he couldn't read. And even then, that wasn't his fault. It was his teachers. So, even though I think it is mostly the teacher's and parent's fault... he is partially at fault. Then again, I haven't read the book, so I have no idea if he asked or not.Savannahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09999303190483326497noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1614037743017905260.post-44570464165106749542011-08-10T16:31:12.333-06:002011-08-10T16:31:12.333-06:00I love it, Annette! Someone should put you in char...I love it, Annette! Someone should put you in charge...Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14777243283548102053noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1614037743017905260.post-31767215172915972292011-08-10T16:17:43.803-06:002011-08-10T16:17:43.803-06:00I just watched a video on fb about how throwing mo...I just watched a video on fb about how throwing money at the education system doesn't fix it. And of course we all wonder why. The answer is...you have to TARGET the money at the specific problem, not just make the buildings nicer. What a shock! Spending an average of $13,000 a year per student doesn't guarantee their success, at least not in our education system. But I have to think, what an amazing education I could give my own child if they would just give me the $13,000 a year...(although I think Utah spends less than that)...<br /><br />The video's point was that we need to go back to the basics, not try to make everything fancier. Which leads me to my current philosophy about public elementary education. We need a "kids-with-stay-at-home-moms" option: teach the kids to read, write, basic math, then send the kids home. Three hours a day, max. Then class sizes could be cut in half, since there would be time for two classes taught by one teacher each day, allowing for more one-on-one attention and hence fewer children missing out on the essentials. Then they get to come home to loving parents who do the rest: science experiments, field trips, educational games, music lessons, cuddling on the sofa together with good books, and imaginative play like your post a couple days ago. And by the way, no homework. I'm not giving my very young child to you for hours each day just so they can come home to more paperwork.<br /><br />Secondary education is a different ballgame. I'm still figuring that one out.Annette Phttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08203545007134523554noreply@blogger.com