Talk:Foundations and Assessment of Education/Edition 1/Foundations Table of Contents/Chapter 8/Experts Take Sides



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Author Reflection
How convenient... I actually had this already in my article. It's almost if I planned that all along. Yes, I am a cheater.

I don’t see the harm in trying new things with our education system. There’s obviously no way to please everyone, and what’s most important is the best interests of the students. There’s definite room for improvement in public schools in virtually every conceivable area. There’s the inkling that if the federal government gets more involved that things will just get worse, but they’re certainly didn’t get any better in my scholastic lifetime in the state’s hands. I think James Beane has an interesting approach– the concept of doing away with standardization entirely and approaching teaching from a much more interactive and personal experience level. However, I do not think we are ready for that much of a leap of faith. Give it another fifty years or so, when schools become obsolete and we simply have interactive transmitted educational discussions broadcast into our homes via holograms. But I would like to see more room for creativity to flourish in the classroom. With technology integration, curricula are destined to go through some extreme changes and focus mainly on developing a student’s concrete skills.

Hsmit022 (talk) 02:43, 19 June 2009 (UTC)

Reader Responses
I think the issue of a National Curriculum is an interesting one. I think your article raises some intersting points, and I like how there is plenty of humor in it as well. One arguement against it is creativity and freedom could be limited, but isn't it already limited because of the SOL's..etc. It certainly would make it easier for a student to catch up when moving to another state in the middle of the year. Although there are plenty of arguements for and against, I think you argued both very well. Ldomm002 (talk) 01:57, 27 July 2009 (UTC)

I am really glad I chose to read your article and I found it very interesting and well-written. After reading about the proponents and adversaries of a National Curriculum, I realized that for me this is a difficult issue to take sides on. However, I am more of an adversary than an opponent. I understand what the proponents believe that set academic standards shape what is taught to students and how teachers teach. I also understand that they believe a national curriculum should enable students to experience and practice democracy. On the other hand, I think I agree with the adversaries that education decisions should be left up to the state and local school boards. With a nationalized curriculum, would students and teachers be given any educational freedom? Most likely the answer is no. Although I don’t plan on homeschooling my children, I know many families that do and they would be greatly affected. My hope would be that one day a compromise can be made, but until then I will have to support the education freedom that I believe students deserve. Afett001 (talk) 18:16, 16 July 2009 (UTC)

I absolutely loved your article...I especially liked the sidebar you used in the beginning from Charles West...it was great that you gave both the pros and cons. It made it very easy to see both sides of the coin. I can understand both sides of the argument, however, I too feel that a nationalized curriculum will take creativity and freedom away from teachers and students alike. I think we need to study other successful countries and their curriculums before making any serious committments.Scarlett1 (talk) 03:39, 26 July 2009 (UTC)

Thanks for showing the pros and cons to a national curriculum. They were both quite informative and makes it show how tough it is to decide which curriculum to go with, national, or school or state. Hcogg001 (talk) 16:19, 26 July 2009 (UTC)

I believe the federal government has more important issues to be concerned with than developing a national education curriculum. I am a proponent of smaller government. The local and state governments are in a much better position to decide what is best for their constituents. I also believe that states should have the ability to focus on issues and topics that are important to them. Jtmitchem (talk) 02:29, 27 July 2009 (UTC)