The basic problem here is that some kids are always going to "lose," in education or life, but nobody wants this to happen.
So they spend ridiculous sums and come up with ridiculous regulation or policies trying to make sure nobody "loses," but since it's guaranteed, all this does is waste massive amounts of resources and time, while degr…
The basic problem here is that some kids are always going to "lose," in education or life, but nobody wants this to happen.
So they spend ridiculous sums and come up with ridiculous regulation or policies trying to make sure nobody "loses," but since it's guaranteed, all this does is waste massive amounts of resources and time, while degrading credentials (ie distributing more "loss" to everyone, even conscientious and hard working students) and still having a large amount of kids "losing" (dropping out, going to juvie, etc).
Just take the loss, and build a system that will ensure the top 10% get the best education possible. I personally plan to completely homeschool my kids with myself and 1-1 tutors and grad students to fill in whatever gaps the kids are interested in going deep on, because I think that will provide the best education and let them enter undergrad around 14-16.
The top 10% are the ones driving overall innovation and economic growth anyways, and a faster-rising tide lifts all boats (including losers' boats) faster. Focus on what actually works, not performative signaling that gives people warm fuzzies but wastes huge amounts of time and resources and still doesn't accomplish the end goal of the regulations and efforts.
But this is unconscionable in the US because it's "tracking" and it won't end with exactly equal amounts of all races in the top 10% as exist in the base population. DEI-driven racism is why we can't have nice things, societally. But it's how meritocracies work, and we should strive to be a meritocracy instead of the current Harrison Bergeron-ing systemic abominations we have today.
Be careful you don't burn your kids out. I was lucky in (most of) my public schools. Basically had tracking (two grade levels combined team teaching) in elementary school; Jr. high was a waste (moved from Fairfax Co., VA to Texas beginning of 7th), except the small engine repair class; but high school had advanced physics, chemistry and biology as well as comprehensive creative, article and research writing classes.
I started working part time at 15 (lied about my age) and finished high school at 16. I was entirely self-motivated, by which I mean my parents set a good example, but they had no idea what was going on in my education.
I started college with 27 hours of advanced placement credit at an 'A'.
And when I reached college, I didn't realize it, but I was burned out. I had run so fast for so long, learning everything I could find, I just became exhausted. The stress of being on my own for the first time, probably didn't help either, but all those little stresses can eventually overwhelm.
So, yours sounds like a well thought out plan, but keep a little mindfulness that you don't run them ragged in the process. (I guess I ran myself ragged....)
I also entered college at 16, having gone to a private school that let me skip second grade and saved everyone another year by combining seventh and eighth, didn't find it a problem. But that wasn't a case of getting ahead by serious pushing.
I think this is an underrated concern, although as often as not seen with parents who push their kids hard with a million extra curriculars and classes to get into the best college etc. The kids get out from under that and say "Whew... I am done... thank god college doesn't make me actually attend class."
I think there is a lot to be said for a year between high school and college to just work a job. Not necessarily a fun screw around year, but get a job that will support you, and get a feel for what that is like, then see where your brain wants to go from there.
The stuff colleges expect now days, almost forces parents to push their kids with all those extra-curriculars. Meanwhile the "educators" adhere to this myth of 10 minutes of homework per grade level per night or some such, meaning that by 10th grade there's no time left in the evening for extra-curriculars.
When I went to school, we generally had time in class to work on homework. There were projects that required substantial home time, but they didn't intentionally schedule another 2 - 3 hours of ad hoc school day through home work every single day like they do now.
The first time I went to college, UT at Austin basically had a beating pulse admission policy. Your heart is beating, you're in. Oh, the SATs might have needed to be above 900 or 1000 or some such, but nothing substantial. Now days, they admit less than the top 7% of each high school class and they're still overcrowded.
Of course, back then tuition and fees for a semester were about $500.
Yea, I have noticed even with my young kids the teachers are sending lots of homework for them to do (and for me to teach them how to do). It rather makes me wonder what they are doing during the day that they need to be doing so much at home. I can't help but think they are hoping that a fair few of their students' parents will be able to teach them things so they don't have to.
They (teachers) repeat that "10 minutes per grade per day" like a litany with no thought behind it whatsoever. I even heard it from a new student teacher. It's clearly part of the "teaching narrative"...
Try talking to the school administration about it and they'll parrot it to you too. No justification, no studies, no documentation, just a rote litany with zero sense behind it, being used to ruin our kids' childhoods.
Despite the fact that multiple studies show that there is absolutely zero benefit in homework for students before high school (or jr. high?). At any rate, certainly no benefit in elementary school. All negatives, no pluses.
Happily my "boy" (man?) just finished undergrad, so other than good of society impulses, I don't have to take that idiocy personally any more.
Yes, unfortunately my wife is very "school is always right" and so the girls spend a lot more time on homework and "enrichment packets" than I would like. Fortunately they are pretty good at getting things done quickly so I don't spend all my time arguing.
Yeah, I was about ten seconds from telling the school that my Son wouldn't be doing any more homework several times. I don't know what exactly stopped me. Probably his mother. I think it helped him to know that I thought it was a foolish practice. Someone was on his side. Even if we were largely powerless to do anything about it.
The basic problem here is that some kids are always going to "lose," in education or life, but nobody wants this to happen.
So they spend ridiculous sums and come up with ridiculous regulation or policies trying to make sure nobody "loses," but since it's guaranteed, all this does is waste massive amounts of resources and time, while degrading credentials (ie distributing more "loss" to everyone, even conscientious and hard working students) and still having a large amount of kids "losing" (dropping out, going to juvie, etc).
Just take the loss, and build a system that will ensure the top 10% get the best education possible. I personally plan to completely homeschool my kids with myself and 1-1 tutors and grad students to fill in whatever gaps the kids are interested in going deep on, because I think that will provide the best education and let them enter undergrad around 14-16.
The top 10% are the ones driving overall innovation and economic growth anyways, and a faster-rising tide lifts all boats (including losers' boats) faster. Focus on what actually works, not performative signaling that gives people warm fuzzies but wastes huge amounts of time and resources and still doesn't accomplish the end goal of the regulations and efforts.
But this is unconscionable in the US because it's "tracking" and it won't end with exactly equal amounts of all races in the top 10% as exist in the base population. DEI-driven racism is why we can't have nice things, societally. But it's how meritocracies work, and we should strive to be a meritocracy instead of the current Harrison Bergeron-ing systemic abominations we have today.
Be careful you don't burn your kids out. I was lucky in (most of) my public schools. Basically had tracking (two grade levels combined team teaching) in elementary school; Jr. high was a waste (moved from Fairfax Co., VA to Texas beginning of 7th), except the small engine repair class; but high school had advanced physics, chemistry and biology as well as comprehensive creative, article and research writing classes.
I started working part time at 15 (lied about my age) and finished high school at 16. I was entirely self-motivated, by which I mean my parents set a good example, but they had no idea what was going on in my education.
I started college with 27 hours of advanced placement credit at an 'A'.
And when I reached college, I didn't realize it, but I was burned out. I had run so fast for so long, learning everything I could find, I just became exhausted. The stress of being on my own for the first time, probably didn't help either, but all those little stresses can eventually overwhelm.
So, yours sounds like a well thought out plan, but keep a little mindfulness that you don't run them ragged in the process. (I guess I ran myself ragged....)
I also entered college at 16, having gone to a private school that let me skip second grade and saved everyone another year by combining seventh and eighth, didn't find it a problem. But that wasn't a case of getting ahead by serious pushing.
I think this is an underrated concern, although as often as not seen with parents who push their kids hard with a million extra curriculars and classes to get into the best college etc. The kids get out from under that and say "Whew... I am done... thank god college doesn't make me actually attend class."
I think there is a lot to be said for a year between high school and college to just work a job. Not necessarily a fun screw around year, but get a job that will support you, and get a feel for what that is like, then see where your brain wants to go from there.
The stuff colleges expect now days, almost forces parents to push their kids with all those extra-curriculars. Meanwhile the "educators" adhere to this myth of 10 minutes of homework per grade level per night or some such, meaning that by 10th grade there's no time left in the evening for extra-curriculars.
When I went to school, we generally had time in class to work on homework. There were projects that required substantial home time, but they didn't intentionally schedule another 2 - 3 hours of ad hoc school day through home work every single day like they do now.
The first time I went to college, UT at Austin basically had a beating pulse admission policy. Your heart is beating, you're in. Oh, the SATs might have needed to be above 900 or 1000 or some such, but nothing substantial. Now days, they admit less than the top 7% of each high school class and they're still overcrowded.
Of course, back then tuition and fees for a semester were about $500.
Yea, I have noticed even with my young kids the teachers are sending lots of homework for them to do (and for me to teach them how to do). It rather makes me wonder what they are doing during the day that they need to be doing so much at home. I can't help but think they are hoping that a fair few of their students' parents will be able to teach them things so they don't have to.
They (teachers) repeat that "10 minutes per grade per day" like a litany with no thought behind it whatsoever. I even heard it from a new student teacher. It's clearly part of the "teaching narrative"...
Try talking to the school administration about it and they'll parrot it to you too. No justification, no studies, no documentation, just a rote litany with zero sense behind it, being used to ruin our kids' childhoods.
Despite the fact that multiple studies show that there is absolutely zero benefit in homework for students before high school (or jr. high?). At any rate, certainly no benefit in elementary school. All negatives, no pluses.
Happily my "boy" (man?) just finished undergrad, so other than good of society impulses, I don't have to take that idiocy personally any more.
Yes, unfortunately my wife is very "school is always right" and so the girls spend a lot more time on homework and "enrichment packets" than I would like. Fortunately they are pretty good at getting things done quickly so I don't spend all my time arguing.
Yeah, I was about ten seconds from telling the school that my Son wouldn't be doing any more homework several times. I don't know what exactly stopped me. Probably his mother. I think it helped him to know that I thought it was a foolish practice. Someone was on his side. Even if we were largely powerless to do anything about it.