Rock and a Hard Place

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-12-2003
Rock and a Hard Place
1524
Thu, 11-20-2003 - 10:45am

There's something on this board that has been bothering me, and I hope I can articulate it.

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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Wed, 11-26-2003 - 3:23pm

So your bright child isn't stuck doing K or 1st grade level reading when he's ready for 4th grade level reading.


So your bright but learning challenged child isn't forced to read yet when she is not physically capable or ready to read.


One size doesn't fit all.

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iVillage Member
Registered: 07-02-2003
Wed, 11-26-2003 - 3:26pm
Nothing. I am continuously *evaluating* where my children are at. That way I can offer them stimuli relevent to their abilities and needs. I am all for providing opportunities for learning, exposing children and encouraging early literacy. I am against comparing children to one another - particularly in the pre-school age range. I haven't ever heard of it being done to be honest. In college our marks were posted and we could compare ourselves to our peers if we chose to. As I said, I have raised one child and have never come across a teacher sharing this type of *chart*.
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Wed, 11-26-2003 - 3:31pm

You didn't have class rank in high school?

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iVillage Member
Registered: 08-29-2002
Wed, 11-26-2003 - 3:32pm
But I also don't understand at all why, in order to achieve the kind of flexibility you are talking about, a teacher needs to use direct comparisons between students in a class and talk to the parents about where their child lies in comparison to other children in that class. If the teacher is aware of what the average ability should be for children in general for that age, then that teacher should perfectly well be able to pick up on the child who is far ahead of the expected level or far behind, without discussing or even thinking in terms of "your child is ahead of child x and behind child y and therefore average."


Laura

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Wed, 11-26-2003 - 3:33pm
I just don't see the inherent harm in having all information, general country wide as well as school specific, about how your child is doing.

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iVillage Member
Registered: 05-28-2003
Wed, 11-26-2003 - 3:35pm
I actually don't think that I'd be unhappy if my kid's teacher is a bit competitive as long as she does her job well and as long as her competitiveness doesn't impact my child in a negative way. I am finding out that my nanny has a competitive spirit in her (even when it comes to my dd), which kind of came as a surprise to me, but it doesn't bother me a bit.
iVillage Member
Registered: 07-02-2003
Wed, 11-26-2003 - 3:35pm
I don't think there would be harm done to my child's development. I disagree with the philosophy of comparing children in this manner, particularly at this age. If this practise was explained and I could understand the rationale, I may embrace it, but I cannot fathom how it would be beneficial. I would not be concerned about my particular child, but I would be concerned about the child(ren)at the bottom of the scale. I would be concerned about the message being given to the parents, and I would be concerned about what some parents would *do* with the information. I would be in favor of collecting this information - to evaluate the teacher. IMO, a teacher who is this competitive and who encourages academic competition (esp at the early elementary level)is less than a good teacher. IMO, the best elementary school teachers encourage each child and strive to help each child achieve their individual potential. I think comparing academic ability of children and using that as an indicator of effective parenting - is faulty at best. I like my ds's teacher. She encourages cooperation, being a friend and citizenship - which is what 5 y/os need to learn. There is lots of time for competition and I disapprove of damaging the esteem of any 5 y/o - mine or yours.

Edited to add: I volunteer enough in my ds's classroom that I know where he ranks comparitively to the other children in the classroom. I don't think having this information charted would be the least bit beneficial to me. Actually, I don't think I particularly benefit from knowing where he ranks at all.


Edited 11/26/2003 3:37:49 PM ET by it_is_me_again

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-28-2003
Wed, 11-26-2003 - 3:36pm
Why does anybody have to be "shamed?" You can't start to work on a solution if you don't know that the problem exists.
iVillage Member
Registered: 06-27-1998
Wed, 11-26-2003 - 3:36pm

But shouldn't the teacher know a child is bright, average, or challenged without comparing the child to another child in the class?

PumpkinAngel

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-27-1998
Wed, 11-26-2003 - 3:37pm

Nothing is wrong with a snapshot as long as its not a class photo.


PumpkinAngel

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