HW 41

1.

Dillon, Sam "High School Students to Offer Plan to Graduate 2 Years Early"

 http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/18/education/18educ.html?ref=education

NY Times Web 17 February 2010 

In 2011 there will be an opportunity for students after two years of High school to take a test and receive their diplomas. In which after they will be able to continue on to school in local community colleges.  This new system has already been introduced to Denmark, England, Finland, France and Singapore.  In the states of  Connecticut, Kentucky, Maine, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Vermont, certain students will be able to be apart of this new way of education.  

I think this a very well thought out plan.  For many students they find themselves quite bored in school.  Maybe not because of the structure of the teaching but simply because they are ready for bigger challenges.  If the opportunity of finishing High School early and being able to continue on to college earlier was offered to me, that seems like plenty of motivation alone.  By motivation I mean that maybe students would work harder to meet that goal.  Personally I know I could of done better in my 9th and 10th grade years and if I were to have had this sort of opportunity I just might of.  

2. (Additional Works Consulted)
http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2009/06/15/nyregion/06162009TEACHER_index.html?ref=education in relation to http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/16/nyregion/16teachers.html?_r=1

3.

Alvarez, Lizette "New York City Valedictorians Prepare for the Future"
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/28/nyregion/28valedictorians.html

NY Times Web, 26 June 2009

This article published in the early summer of last year had both a corky attitude about it but also real feeling about it.  The kids who were a part of it were all top of their class.  Most of them broke 2000 on their SAT and all were going to very well regarded colleges.  Something that struck me though was the personal comments made by each student.  They discussed things from Obama to what they said for their graduation speeches and how they were feeling about graduating.  

I choose this article because I think in some ways it shows that a lot of these kids could probably do something really great tomorrow.  But as a alternative to my topic might still need even more education to make a even stronger difference in the world.  It seems that they are all very well spoken and have certainly not taken their educations as a walk in the park.  I think what is so great about this is the fact that they are from NYC and it is easy to relate to them on a personal level, to understand exactly where they are coming from.  

4. (Additional Works Consulted)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carnegie_Unit_and_Student_Hour

5.

Anonymous, "Education: Going to School at Sea"

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,923915-3,00.html

Time Magazine Online, 28 January, 1980

This article describes a program offered to students in college to live on a boat for a semester.  It is for people who are liberal arts majors or interested in learning about the ocean.  Essentially it is a classroom experiment that you are apart of.  The students hardly get any sleep because they are either doing experiments or making sure the boat is running smoothly.  

I am glad that Andy mentioned this article because it ties in perfectly with my idea of stopping school and actually using our tools in the real world.  In my interview of myself I talked about how I am working with younger children.  Although I feel as though they should go to school to learn about emotional aspects and working with other people at a certain point how much more of that can we really learn?  I think this program is a great idea because you are still learning but it is completely hands on and gives you an experience so that what you learn will actually stick with you.  

6. (Additional Works Consulted

http://thechoice.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/02/23/advice/

7.

Gallagher, Teresa , "Alternatives in Education - The Other Side of ADD" http://borntoexplore.org/addsvs.htm BTE - Born to Explore, 1997

In Summary, this independently run website is preaching the idea that there is a link between the system of US Education and ADD.  The United States bases there educational system off the German.  Germany's Schooling was to make better factory workers and better solders.  There system seemed to be quite successful so we copied them as well as many countries.  The only difference between us and them is that we didn't want our students to be illiterate.  

Considering the fact that ADD is the most over diagnosed disorder it probably has very little to do with the brains and more with the similarity between most schools.  If in most schools being yelled at and training for jobs is the main focus how can children explore their creative imagination.  Just as it is described in the website, how can people focus if what they are learning has no interest to them? Or further more has no time for exploration in thinking topics?

8. (Additional Works Consulted)

http://www.ctcl.org/about/book

9.

Anonymous, "Prussian Education System" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prussian_education_system Wikipedia, 30 November 2009

In relation to the link about Alternatives in Education, this is a more information about the Prussian Education System.  The system the United States education is based off of.  In this characteristics I find it so interesting that this system was created in the 19th Century.  Even though this country claims to have changed so much for the better Education is one of those things that really hasn't changed.  

This is what the education system was described as two centuries ago: The Prussian system instituted compulsory attendance, specific training for teachers, national testing for all students (used to classify children for potential job training), national curriculum set for each grade, and mandatory kindergarten. It sounds very similar to how the system is run today.  So much change...if we know it isn't working then why do we continue to follow it...so that our military stays in line?  So we are obedient people who follow the system?