A call for separate and unequal
Two recent items in the NYT on education are worth a read:
Chicago school teacher Will Okun:
"[O]ur school has too many students who are making no legitimate effort to learn or pass classes. These students attend periodically to socialize, to sell drugs or to alleviate boredom. Some are mandated to attend by the court of law or by a relative. Others are just too young to drop out. They do not carry book bags; they are not in possession of pen or paper. When the hallways and classrooms are in order, these students mourn, “It’s dead as hell in here.” The threat of F’s, parent conferences, detentions, and suspensions are pointless. Unfortunately, no one in the family seems to care. Only the threat of expulsion garners temporary compliance."
A gem in comments:
"Disruption and dysfunction are the enemy of achievement for enormous numbers of students. Yet we do nothing for them. We simply must draw a bright, shining line around those who are ready to learn, and let nothing interfere with their education."
Chicago school teacher Will Okun:
"[O]ur school has too many students who are making no legitimate effort to learn or pass classes. These students attend periodically to socialize, to sell drugs or to alleviate boredom. Some are mandated to attend by the court of law or by a relative. Others are just too young to drop out. They do not carry book bags; they are not in possession of pen or paper. When the hallways and classrooms are in order, these students mourn, “It’s dead as hell in here.” The threat of F’s, parent conferences, detentions, and suspensions are pointless. Unfortunately, no one in the family seems to care. Only the threat of expulsion garners temporary compliance."
A gem in comments:
"Disruption and dysfunction are the enemy of achievement for enormous numbers of students. Yet we do nothing for them. We simply must draw a bright, shining line around those who are ready to learn, and let nothing interfere with their education."
