Girls and Boys..

[Der Nister]

I think this idea would be fine as long as parents and kids are still given the choice of co-ed schools. What I wouldn't be happy with is if Lansing chose for us and made all schools same sex since we are tax payers and WE should have the final say - not the state.

[BrassFusion]

though I do agree that the world needs to draw closer... I also see the need to work on our strengths as well as work on fixing our weaknesses.

How we educate the next generation is one of the most important things we do. Don't we owe it to them to give them the best education we can? If the science shows that seperating the boys and girls during certain types of classes makes for a better education.. we should do it and tell the people that don't like it to go read a damn book.

and hey.. anyone try my experiment above?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

There can be no data that conclusively proves the advantage of gender segregation. Supports, maybe, but there are so many variable factors in every situation that it would be impossible to furnish cut-and-dried proof. I'd love to see data that quantitatively supports it, even, because I am very skeptical. Someone else might have to ask him to link to some data, I think he has me on ignore.

And as a teacher, I've noticed no marked differences in the learning styles of my students based on gender. The students that make an effort excel and the ones that don't fail.

[torn asunder]

The students that make an effort excel and the ones that don't fail.

maybe the ones you teach, but i'd disagree with that as a general statement...

[Msterbeau]

maybe the ones you teach, but i'd disagree with that as a general statement...

Which leads us down the path of why are or aren't they motivated? Is it the curriculum? Poor parenting or home situation? The teaching style? Physical impairments?

[Guest Megalicious]

  Poor parenting or home situation? 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I think that has A LOT TO DO WITH THAT, I remember reading one of JD posts about how she use to work at a school, and how basicly parents used it as a way not to have to raise their children. Which leads me back to Torns post

of course, i also think that parents shouldn't be relying solely on schools to educatre their kids. it's a great start, but education should really start (and continue) at home...

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

It's so important, but what is sad is that parents either A) Don't care. B) Have no time do to working to keep a roof over their chidrens heads and food in their little tummies.(single parents raising kids alone without aid or support for the father/mother)

And that I believe is where we are going wrong (for the most part anyway)

[The_Dark]

Children don't fail to learn... Teachers fail to teach.

If a child is not learning what a teacher is teaching.. then the teacher needs to look for a way that works with that child. Cookie-Cutter isn't it.

[phee]

I failed to learn.... but then again... I wasn't a child... I was 26

[BrassFusion]

Some kids just don't care, and there really isn't shit you can do. I've been like that in some of my classes, I'm sure everybody has.

[torn asunder]

Some kids just don't care, and there really isn't shit you can do. I've been like that in some of my classes, I'm sure everybody has.

and that comes from the home... very sad. =(

[Msterbeau]

Children don't fail to learn... Teachers fail to teach.

I gotta disagree with this. You can't put the blame squarely on the teachers if the parents haven't done their part. Children will bring to school the prevailing home attitude. If that attitude is one of neglect and disinterest... I'm pretty sure that's what the teacher's are gonna see. it's a complex equation to be sure.. genetics... gender... environment.. All have a role to play.

You're comments about cookie cutter teaching I wholehardedly agree with. They should be as flexible as they can in the classroom...

Now... Back to the topic shall we.. er.. boys and girls? :laughing

[The_Dark]

Yes I can. Sure, the parents should be doing more to encourage the kids to learn... But.. the teachers get paid to teach. If how they are teaching is not reaching the children.. they need to adapt.. and TEACH the kids in a way that gets them interested.

A good place to start would be to stop passing kids who fail. Use Red Pens. Stop trying to make sure the kid is happy and feels good inside. Thats not a teachers job.. a teacher is sopposed to do what ever it takes to TEACH.

[BrassFusion]

Yes I can. Sure, the parents should be doing more to encourage the kids to learn... But.. the teachers get paid to teach. If how they are teaching is not reaching the children.. they need to adapt.. and TEACH the kids in a way that gets them interested.

A good place to start would be to stop passing kids who fail. Use Red Pens. Stop trying to make sure the kid is happy and feels good inside. Thats not a teachers job.. a teacher is sopposed to do what ever it takes to TEACH.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I'll start by saying that I'm extremely happy with how my lessons went today.

Last week was an absolute nightmare. One of my students is very insecure and a perfectionist. He's at that age where he's starting in a new school with a new schedule, and of course the whole "band" thing is pretty new, as well.

My standard teaching style, as it's the way I learned, is to push yourself past your ability on an almost daily basis. For a lot of people, it's a great motivator because it can help you perform better at things that used to be difficult but that are still easier than whatever's new on your plate. That approach just doesn't work with the one student of mine. He grows frustrated very easily, and clams up.

I had a talk with his mother, and she's quick to put the blame on him for not putting his best effort in. I do think that I could do better as his teacher, and I've been trying to modify the typical lesson to include more easily attainable goals to encourage him. What has REALLY been working, though, is his Mom getting on his case about his getting upset so easily!!! It's hard to believe, but he really enjoys his lessons and she threatens that she'll cancel them if he doesn't pay better attention and try harder... So he does. He was much better in his lesson this week, and made a visible effort to overcome his frustration.

In this case, I have a student who seems to have an unreasonable fear of failure. It's a special case, and we're working on it. It's not his mom's fault, and it's not his fault, and it's CERTAINLY not my fault, but it's taken effort from all of us to begin to overcome it.

Obviously I'm not a typical teacher, and I don't get the opportunity to pass or fail students. I don't sugarcoat shit with them or their parents, though. If I feel they could be doing better (i.e. practicing!!!), I bitch a little bit then make suggestions on how they could manage their time better. In typical kid fashion, they usually say, "Wow, what a good idea to fit 10 minutes of practice into my hectic schedule!" then when you come back next week, they admit to not having practiced at all. AGAIN. Chips off the old Erin.

[AstralCrux]

Poor parenting/home situation can be overcome by kids with stronger personality types. I don't buy it, not with the abuse I went through, if I can make it out without drugs etc. other kids can.

I love the idea of separating because MI has the schools of choice thing going on. If the kids want to be separated let them. I would have picked it especially after the first tormented year of high school. But, really, we need to focus on moving the smart kids through faster. There are only so many classes one can reasonably sleep in before feeling awake.

I support more gifted student programs. Sleeping in class wastes perfectly good time that could be spent learning something that challenges.

[Msterbeau]

Poor parenting/home situation can be overcome by kids with stronger personality types.  I don't buy it, not with the abuse I went through, if I can make it out without drugs etc. other kids can. 

That's you, though. Some children/adults are much more resiliant then others. I've seen people turn out fine despite a horrible home situation, and I've seen the opposite. You can't base everything on your own personal experiences.

[Scary Guy]

Schools are already so much like prisons why the hell not.