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: 06-27-1998
Wed, 11-26-2003 - 3:50pm

But if he is average, IRL

PumpkinAngel

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-28-2003
Wed, 11-26-2003 - 3:51pm
Do you think these types of comparisons are useful because sometimes, the "average" is just too general? For example, in the LA school district, there is a *wide* range of the kids' scores on "standardized" tests. In general, the scores tend to correlate with the SES of the neighborhoods. So the "average" of the district is much higher than many of the inner city schools and much lower than many of the wealthier suburban schools. If you have a kid in a school with a much higher than average scores, and this kid scored the district's average, then (IMO), the teacher would be giving misinformation if she said that this kid was doing "average" because I'm assuming this kid has all the resources of the other kids in her school and should be expected to do better.
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Wed, 11-26-2003 - 3:52pm
Of course.

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iVillage Member
Registered: 07-02-2003
Wed, 11-26-2003 - 3:53pm
We are talking about apples and oranges here. I have never said that children should be evaluated. Of course they should. Then they should be placed appropriately according to their abilities. The school system doesn't work that way though. Kids are ushered through. Encouraging this type of comparisons at such an early age is absolutely counter productive. Yes, my first dd was very academic. She was an honor student throughout. She was considered gifted. My ds is also appears to be very academic. By comparison (see even I do it)he is farther ahead than dd was. I never needed a chart to see that. Yes, dd knew she was ahead of her peers. I would have been very unhappy if this data was produced visually on a chart to rub in the faces of those less academically inclined. Certainly competition is very real in the world. I simply believe there are many virtues that can and should be studied and adopted before getting into fierce competition. Being academically inclined is a good thing. So is being athletically inclined. My dd did ok in athletics, but she was very aware that was not a strength for her. If ability was the only virtue accepted or encouraged, she would never have even tried.
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Wed, 11-26-2003 - 3:54pm
But the immediate comparison is with the group of students he is going through school with, and whether he will be too challenged or not challenged enough by that peer group, AS WELL AS how he ranks on general nationwide benchmarks.

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iVillage Member
Registered: 07-02-2003
Wed, 11-26-2003 - 3:55pm
<<>>

LOL, very good!



iVillage Member
Registered: 05-28-2003
Wed, 11-26-2003 - 3:56pm
< How is charting and comparing how many letters johnny recognizes as compares to how many letters suzie recognizes identifying a problem?> Perhaps *that* is not, but if your child didn't know how to read when everyone else in the class can (even if, say, the "national" average if that only 50% of the kids at that age can read), wouldn't you want to know?

I would.
iVillage Member
Registered: 08-29-2002
Wed, 11-26-2003 - 3:57pm
No, I don't think I would be up in arms necessarily about a teacher doing that kind of comparison, I just honestly think that it is a hopelessly useless comparison. If the class happens to be full of children who are somewhat slower academically, what use is it to know that your child is average? It may actually mean that he/she is behind. If a class happens to be a group of particularly bright children and your child is average or slightly below, he or she might actually be doing very well in terms of achieving expected levels of competence. Grades are not given out until 8th grade and academic competition between young students are not encourage in Swedish schools and yet students perform extremely well academically in international comparisons. Competition does start playing a stronger role as children get older. I don't think children have to be taught how to be competitive at the age of 5 or 6 in order to be able to be competitive later on in life.


laura

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-02-2003
Wed, 11-26-2003 - 4:00pm
Oh probably, but I also think it is pretty irrlevent to them unless it is brought to the surface by adults. Example, my ds's best friend is one who doesn't recognize letters. At the other end of the spectrum there are children in this class who read Grade 2 readers. Ds is very aware that his buddy struggles with letters, and he helps him. This is the kind of environment that his teacher creates - cooperation and helpfulness. I have never heard my son SAY anything about his friend's abilities or inabilities - other than that he can run really fast. LOL
Avatar for mygriffin
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-28-2003
Wed, 11-26-2003 - 4:01pm
So my working doesn't make for a higher SES. That's the point here. (I think.;) Sure, it's more income, but it's not enough to give us more than just what we need. And if I went to work full time right now, the childcare costs would outweigh the higher paycheck.

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