Klarinet Archive - Posting 001124.txt from 1997/10
From: "Craig E. G. Countryman" <cegc@-----.net>
Subj: Re: what I have to teach
Date: Sun, 26 Oct 1997 11:46:59 -0500
(Sorry to quote you again) AmyLynnR@-----.com wrote:
"On the contrary, I think I know quite a bit about teaching. My mom is
a teacher, and so are a lot of her friends. I have a lot of contact
with teachers."
True, but I think that as a high school student one really couldn't make
as educated a statement about teaching. I'm a high school student and
my dad teaches physics, but I certainly couldn't claim to know as much
as other educators simply because I haven't been in the classroom
myself, where most of the experience and education comes from to make
truly informed opinions. =20
I do respect your opinion, so don't get me wrong. Also, I wanted to
comment on a previous post that Roger replied to provoking this response
AmyLynnR@-----.com wrote:
"Well, I don't think my education has been "screwed up"! I also don't
think it's fair to label certain students "dumb"."
And that is not the intend of these programs. However, being an more
advanced student I see a definite need to separate these kids. What is
the point of making them sit in regular classes and having them totally
lost? That's not much better than the present system. In some cases
more could be done, but I don't think a label such as that is being used
by too many people in the system (in my town anyway).=20
"In fact I think our school systems have done an absolutely spectacular
job of alienating the dumbest kids. Not only that, but society as a
whole has somehow made it impossible to be smart,"
I have missed the flow of the first to the second sentence here.=20
"I've tested as being in the top 3rd percentile nationwide, but do you
wanna know who knows that?? My mom and my closer friends. It's
embarassing to have your teacher recognize you as intellegent,
especially if you're female."
I know that it's embarrassing around here to not be intelligent. So
many of my friends are smart that there is a lot of peer pressure to be
smart yourself. It is truly a great thing, because we keep each
motivated. I'm not female, so I wouldn't be able to relate to that kind
of thing, but I know that many of my female friends aren't embarrassed
at all. They love to participate and get involved, and are proud of
their accomplishments. You should be too! And why tell people you're
in the 3rd Percentile. Does everyone really need to know anyway? You
are still smart regardless, so be proud, but not every has got to know
just how smart.
"And, are you a phonix, oh excuse me, fonix advocate, because that is in
a word a pathetic way to teach the English language. We can't teach the
leaders of the future with yesterday's techniques."
But some techniques from the past are valuable, and some of these "new
innovations" in teaching are truly crap! One of the worst things is
hands-on learning in science. Lab experience is good, but the
traditional method of lecture is truly superior. Another exmample is
math, where this learning-by-doing is forced into the classroom, when
really, lecture is the most effective way. There are certainly
instances for both types of teaching, and neither should be ruled out
entirely. =20
As for: phon@-----. A meth=
od of
teaching elementary reading and spelling based on the phonetic
interpretation of ordinary spelling. Why the attack on it? This has
tought many people to effectively read and speak the language. Other
techniques should be considered, but I must have missed a post that
provoked that barrage.
"What's more, the best way to learn something is by teaching another
person."
Maybe not the BEST way, but certainly good nonethless. =20
"I've learned some of the neatest things from teaching beggining
clarinetists. What's more, my mother taught me to read with several
new(at the time) innovative teaching techniques that she obtained from
her friends and my reading level has always been well above that of my
fellow students."
You sound advanced anyway. Is this the sole correlation, or could it
just be that reading came more easily to you? =20
"How can everyone always blame the schools?? When something goes well,
do the schools get credit?? No, but they sure get yelled at when
something goes wrong. I would argue that it is
the responsibility of the parents to ensure the education of the
student."
I whole-heartedly agree.
"If I am not satisfied in science class, I watch this lovely thing
called the Discovery Channel. Children need to learn to learn on their
own."
Glad to hear it. Also, look through your textbook and work ahead.=20
There is plenty to do that many teachers will not cover over the course
of the year, some of it essential for later courses!
=20
"Also, politicians are not the brightest students, rather, they are the
best liers, hey, if ya wanna be musical, liars."
Nice pun, but I believe politicians are the best liars, and musically it
would be lyres. Does the Discovery Channel have any programs on
spelling? Just kidding, that was rather cruel actually!
Sorry to get a little of the topic of clarinet with this message, but it
was thorough post that merited a thorough response.
=20
--=20
Craig Countryman =09
cegc@-----.net
http://www.geocities.com/Vienna/1711 =20
Thought of the Day:
"Besides learning to see, there is another
art to be learned-not to see what
is not." -Maria Mitchell
