For more insight on the grading and public school system, see my excerpts
archive at... http://www.nkcsd.k12.mo.us/reformarchive.htm
In particular, I recommend John Taylor Gatto's "Dumbing Us Down." Gatto
was a veteran, award-winning public school teacher when he left the
profession to crusade for revolution in education. Here's a little taste
of the book. "...we need to realize that the school institution !schools"
very well, though it does not !educate;" that"s inherent in the design of
the thing. It"s not the fault of bad teachers or too little money spent.
It"s just impossible for education and school ever to be the same thing."
(26)
"...we force children to grow up absurd. Any reform in schooling has to
deal with its absurdities. It is absurd and anti-life to be part of a
system that compels you to sit in confinement with people of exactly the
same age and social class. That system effectively cuts you off from the
immense diversity of life and the synergy of variety; indeed it cuts you
off from your own past and future, sealing you in a continuous present
much the same way television does. It is absurd and anti-life to move from
cell to cell at the sound of a gong for every day of your natural youth in
an institution that allows you no privacy and even follows you in to the
sanctuary of your home demanding that you do its !homework"." (27)
Grace & Peace,
Scott Ott
Writer, Editor, Public Speaker and general Quixote
http://gkb.com/cgi-win/go.exe/LN=0&91737&companyPage
--"Scott Ott" <SOTT@nkcsd.k12.mo.us>
Learning-org -- Hosted by Rick Karash <rkarash@karash.com> Public Dialog on Learning Organizations -- <http://www.learning-org.com>