Submitted by Nick (not verified) on January 28, 2008 - 17:22.
As the article states, one of the biggest problems that I see in American education is the reliance on one year programs that are expected to make things all better. This is also made more difficult when programs are chosen to help quickly improve test scores.
In my particular experience we had the opportunity to start a program called "P.E. for Life" that has been proven to increase student's social skills. It also helps to increase their personal health through daily activities and education. Test scores and behavior of students tend to improve in the schools that this program is implemented in. At the same time we started the "Reading First" program at our school. It requires students to stay in their rooms for 90 minutes of uninterrupted reading activities. The program has very good ideas for the idea of increasing reading skills but not much else. Also it requires a lot of effort from students and teachers. In the wake of "Reading First" the "P.E. for Life" program has fallen by the wayside.
The problem that I have with this is that most of these kids need to be taught social skills on a regular basis. Most are not taught at home or are taught incorrectly. It's not a new thing but it is a thing that needs to be changed. We as educators are there to teach in general. We are not there just to teach our field but to teach in general. If a student does not know how to do something as basic as talk to someone in a sociable manner then we have to teach them. This is a huge prospect but also the reason that we need to work as an entire teaching nation to make it happen.
The conflict between emotional and academic.
Submitted by Nick (not verified) on January 28, 2008 - 17:22.
As the article states, one of the biggest problems that I see in American education is the reliance on one year programs that are expected to make things all better. This is also made more difficult when programs are chosen to help quickly improve test scores.
In my particular experience we had the opportunity to start a program called "P.E. for Life" that has been proven to increase student's social skills. It also helps to increase their personal health through daily activities and education. Test scores and behavior of students tend to improve in the schools that this program is implemented in. At the same time we started the "Reading First" program at our school. It requires students to stay in their rooms for 90 minutes of uninterrupted reading activities. The program has very good ideas for the idea of increasing reading skills but not much else. Also it requires a lot of effort from students and teachers. In the wake of "Reading First" the "P.E. for Life" program has fallen by the wayside.
The problem that I have with this is that most of these kids need to be taught social skills on a regular basis. Most are not taught at home or are taught incorrectly. It's not a new thing but it is a thing that needs to be changed. We as educators are there to teach in general. We are not there just to teach our field but to teach in general. If a student does not know how to do something as basic as talk to someone in a sociable manner then we have to teach them. This is a huge prospect but also the reason that we need to work as an entire teaching nation to make it happen.