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Minding the Gap
Sun, 04/29/2007 - 21:31 | Education
A new ACT study points to a gap between what U.S. high schools are teaching in their core college preparatory courses and what colleges want incoming students to know in order for them to succeed in first-year courses:
College instructors take a dim view of the effectiveness of their state's learning standards. Nearly two-thirds (65%), overall, say their state standards prepare students "poorly" or "very poorly" for college-level work in their subject area, whereas most high school teachers believe state standards prepare students "well" or "very well."How can the gap be closed between what high school instructors teach and what college faculty think entering freshmen ought to know?
Never Mind Success...Go For Greatness
Comments
To me, the main source of
To me, the main source of this problem is society. Society values shapes family values and in this society education is not a top priority in all stages. For example, in order society(countries), education (at least till after college) is ranked as a top priority, where you go to school and learn and you come home and revise what you learn in school, I mean this is a must. But in this society, student can't wait to get home from school in order to watch 106 and park so see their favourite artist flash money in their face. Parents need to do a better job in instilling "education is the only key" in their children when they still listen to you. Education is not just to be financially stable in the future but to be able to create success for yourselves based on the knowledge education gave you. The mentality of our children is to be an athlete or an entertainer, but what they are too young to know is education increases the chances of been athlete or entertainer and even if that doesn't work out they have something to fall back on. "Teach your children in the path you were you want them to go so when they grow they won't depart from it". In my own opion children can easily learn and be molded at their tender age. Question why are asian kids do well in school? No that they are smarter or have bigger brains, its their parents obsessive attitude promoting education. Parents promoting education will have children focused on their education and collectively, the society is focused on education. This situation will also bring about competition among students (Who knows best), which is the fun part in education believe it or not. I'm saying this from experience. Do you know how much fun a student gets from competing with other students in regards to learning. It generates a desire for learning. For example, I went through a stage where students compete naturally with each other to see who gets the best score in this and that subject and honestly you have some students sayingg they are gonna get you next time, some crying cause you beat them by 1 point. Some bragging till the next test or exam, student studying together, helping each other out in learning and so on. This is what I call fun education, what we lack in our society.
To Mr. Smiley: I'm working on a solution that could make education fun for kids but it would require parents, society to push their children to buy into this solution. This solution is for highschool students and will be the bridge needed between highschool and college. I'm not really asking for donation but if the lord inspire you to, be my guest, but what I'm asking is your support, promotion and reach when the solution is finished. It will take me about a year to finish the product because i'm funding and creating the solution myself. To contact me send me an email. Thanks
THE ANSWER - Well, as a
THE ANSWER -
Well, as a teacher of some years in the ATL, I've come to learn the following. Our society is changing abruptly. Due to Technology, Globalization, Global Warming, etc., we are faced with a New Frontier much like those that were faced during the change from an Agricultural shift to an Industrial one.
BUT, this one is broader. There were still many countries and nations that were not dependent on Industry or its effects. NOW, every place, locale, etc., is being changed.
Currently, our U.S economy runs primarily off of Consumer Expenditures or Consumption of Retail Goods. If we don't buy and spend dollars, our economy crumbles. This has a huge affect on policies and how we "do" things or what we allow to "get by". For example, imagine all the kids in public schools wearing Uniforms like the Catholic school kids do. They would only need say 5 uniforms for the year to get them through school. That saves a lot of money and kids wouldn't be so concerned with how they dress, right? But imagine the effect it would have on the Retail Clothing business and thus the U.S economy. See? Also, Rap music markets thousands of products constantly, from HUMMERS and SUVs to clothes to House styles to food and beverages, etc. They are real careful when considering whether or not to force it to be less material or less abrasive in its presentation of women and lifestyle.
AND THE BIG PROBLEM.....
Test scores. We here in Atlanta get a lot of it. Test scores are used to rank schools, to let you know where you would want to send your kids, if you care. Those that are more affluent, send their kids to the best private or public schools. SO... the Building contractors build houses to match their incomes, $500,000+ etc. Stores open to cater to them, Benz dealers, Diamonds sellers, etc., Whole FOODS, etc. If, for example, all the sudden the TEST SCORES of those kids in those schools go down over some years, the more affluent (wealthy) folks pack up and move to a better schools system. HOUSING values go down, lower income folks move in, HIGH SCALE businesses move out, and the school gets rougher. TAXes for the county are affected and you get what was typically called "WHITE FLIGHT", but now is more "UPPER-CLASS FLIGHT".
... All this due to low AYP scores - Adequate Yearly Progress or Performance. So now you see the pressure we have on us. Nowadays, teachers teach for test performance and the only ones truly held accountable are teachers.
TURNBOW
I'm the parent of a high
I'm the parent of a high school junior who was in total shock when he took the ACT for the first time. We thought he was prepared until he told us there were not only math questions, but science and social studies questions that totally floored him because he had not even been introduced to those things in class. So the gap is definitely there. Although he will not completely admit it, my son has not elected to take the AP or Honors classes that he is well capable of succeeding in because there's a taboo within his peer group of young black males with being "smart or nerdy." He chose "cool" and not being picked on over common sense. He chose slang and street talk over being labeled as "acting white" because proper grammar was required of him. He has chosen to not tell his "friends" of his dreams of becoming an architect because he doesn't want them to laugh at him. It's not only stressful on him, but also on us as his parents.
Also, as an educator I've learned first hand that a lot of children go through more before the third grade than I have been through all of my life. School becomes secondary to some children because "life" happens and they have to deal with those issues. Another thing that has probably created that gap is when energetic, enthusiastic, "I'm ready to change the world" graduates come into teaching, they run into a brick wall of politics, policies, and paperwork that quickly sucks the life out of them and they either leave the profession, or go to work to earn a paycheck. When this happens, the students suffer and the gaps widen. Especially in our neighborhoods. There's a lot of talk going on, but little seems to be done to ensure that education is a top priority in this country.
first as always it starts
first as always it starts with the parents. if a parent realistically want their child to get into colllege they have to do their research. on how much they have to save, what scholarships are out there, what the child might want to study and what colleges are looking for academically. then understand preparation for college begins in 6TH grade!!!
and take the necessary steps to make sure your child get the proper training in school or more realistically outside of school. through self help books,educational software etc. public schools in minority communities will never be able to properly educate children for college in the near future. their hands are tied by under funding, neighborhoods filled with social and economic problems. school systems overburdened with artificial federal and state performance mandates. that force schools to pass failing students just to keep their budgets from being cut.or at the least force them to "dumb down" the curriculum to make sure everyone passes. there will always be a few good school that work, but for the most part all of our children are being "left behind"
I tutor 4th, 5th and 6th
I tutor 4th, 5th and 6th graders and teach in an MBA program. At both levels, I miss what Dr. Ben Carson describes in his book, "Thinking Big"--"K" for Knowledge: recognize it as the key to living. People, kids, parents have lost a love for learning knowledge and want to just get by, just get a good grade or get the credential to earn more money. Gone are the days where people care about literacy, because they can usually fake at it or lean on someone else to be literate for them. Or better yet, hide it because it really isn't cool to be literate and intellectual unless you are in an academic setting. Although Tavis has made it look cool. :)
Solutions...I really like the comments made by T.P. and the others above. Using television and movies to promote literacy and academic excellence I believe will help in some way too. I know of one child who was motivated by Akeelah and the Bee to achieve better in school. Unfortunately, kids and adults seem to be more entertained by tv and movies than by books. Probably with books you have to use your imagination more, think more about the author's intent and meanings. The students I work with--younger and older--aren't as comfortable using those brain muscles. I'm optimistic that someone is going to figure it out a solution because they care, not because it makes them money!
Education occurs prior to
Education occurs prior to your child beginning school. My mother introduced reading to me before school and I was able to read prior to kindergarten. I did the same for my children. If your child has the talent and academic push, make sure that they are in academically gifted (AG) classes. It's an entirely different education from main stream schooling. While I attended school I was one of three minorities in my grade that were in AG. My children were the only minority children in their grades. As parents supplement your child's education through travel, visitis to museums, reading, movies. Don't take "no" for an answer from your child or from your school, make sure your child receives and expects the best education.
Specifically---as in any
Specifically---as in any problem---communication is the key. I tutor freshman students and I am appalled at the level at which these students are reading, writing and doing research. A number of them don't use a dictionary for more than spelling and most are clueless when asked the root of a word. If you know "how" to read you can learn just about anything. The "how" is deeper to me than opening a book it is wrapping yourself around what those words mean and how to put them together to say concisely what needs to be said.
Its simple, why doesnt the
Its simple, why doesnt the state education department get together with both college and highschool levels and have a dialogue and do some additional research to fill in the gap. I really believe things would go alot more smoothly if people learned to communicate better.
I have always been of the
I have always been of the belief that a child's ability to learn is directly affected by his/her ability to read. This is the biggest obstacle to knowledge. Parents, relatives, the church, and the vast resources available to the Pan-African community are to be tapped in order to ensure that children entering the learning institutions are prepared for the rigors of the implementation of knowledge. I believe if we reverted back to the imlportance of the acquisition of knowledge, post civil rights era, we could stem the tide of ignorance that has the Pan-African community, especially as it relates to the inner-cities, hamstrung. I am in the process of volunteering with the local chapter of the literacy council to aid the Covenant In Action initiative.
The short answer is the
The short answer is the disequilibrium of the home environment compromises every other aspect of life, especially for our children, as it relates to their pursuit of education.
The long answer that specifically addresses these issues are:
The schools today do not have environments or atmospheres that are conducive to learning.
My daughter is in Middle School, so I can't speak specifically on the High School level, but I sure that this is probably the same problem across the board. I encourage everyone who cares about this issue talk to teachers, in innner city and suburban schools, you will be "shocked" at what they are seeing from the children. So much is going on in their home environment and it affects their school environment.
When I say that the environment or atmosphere is not conducive to learning, it is because there are so many distractions to learning.
*Social Distractions(what students are wearing, who's dating who, who wants to fight who, etc.)
*Economic Distractions(this brings discrimination and bias toward those from low income community and these children aren't given the same attention and encouragement to succeed-allowing the gap to widened)
*Political Distractions(NCLB has/is leaving many children behind and frustrating teachers in the process, leaving many desiring to leave the classroom)
*Discipline Distractions(Many of are children are starved for attention that they are not receiving from parents at home and this lack of attention(love, discipline, nurturing, etc.) leaves many children seeking any kind of attention they can get(good or bad) and from anyone who will give it to them(good or bad).
If these are problems plaguing schools at the elementary and middle school level it is no wonder many of these children are not prepared to enter high school with the discipline, focus, and desire to succeed. Much of this problem stems from a great problem that is plaguing our nation, we don't value are children as earlier generations and the children are living with distorted realities because of it. We have to address the root of the problem and begin to work on the big picture, not a small blemished pixelated part of the big picture.
The Root: Parents have lost touch with their children, because a large number of them have decided to put more time and focus on their careers, their outside interest, symbols of status, their wants and desires at the expense of their children. Now, take a child who is lacking the attention, love, nurturing and quality time, this child is going to seek these things from any source available to them: myspace, technology gadgets, drugs/alcohol, sex and other things. These things will never bring fulfillment nor will their replace those things that a parent is "suppose" to give. So now you have a generation of disconnected parents and disappointed children on a destructive path that effects their part of the world and everyone else in close proximity(teachers, friends, relatives, doctors, police officers, clergy and parishioners, and the dog/cat(lol)) This multiplied my millions, because this is not a small problem.
Can you see how the root of the problem affects every aspect of our lives, directly and indirectly. We have generation by generation walked away from the moral fabric that kept our nation secure and we must fight for the next two or three generations to turn this around and then begin to rebuild what we have lost and not allow this mess to continue. If the importance of family is lost then nothing else will have any meaning. This is why I thank God for Focus on the Family headed by James Dobson.
As Pastor Tony Evans says, a breakdown in families, causes breakdown in communities(schools included), causes breakdown in county, causing breakdown in city, causing breakdown in state, causing breakdown in our nation. I think you get the picture. I thank God or men who are submitted and committed to God, and women who are willing to be submitted to their husbands so that God's plan for mankind can be fulfilled and lived out AND then our children can grow up in a world that protects them because everything else is secure and THEN, they can focus on learning in school w/o the distractions caused by disconnected adults in their lives.
***WE NEED TO GET IT TOGETHER & IT'S NEEDS TO HAPPEN NOW***