Letters to the Editor
Nequals1
Published Letters: 332 Editor's Choice: 7
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What is the ultimate aim of the US education system?
[Read the article: We're failing our kids]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]What is it aiming to achieve?
Graduates able to perform reliably on multiple choice examinations when tested on well-defined, approved content?
Love of and ability to self-acquire life-long learning via scholarly inquiry, use of the scientific method, logic and reason?
Those are two very different outcomes with very different consequences for both success and failure.
While it's important not to dismiss curriculae and pedagogy out of hand for their associations with political partisanship, neither should we embrace them without critical analysis of their utility, efficacy, validity and reliability.
Speaking as a former college instructor in one of the helping professions, students who presented fresh from high school almost across the board had underdeveloped abilities to think and reason logically and critically. They demonstrated a high degree of compliance and familiarity/comfort with multiple choice examinations and were unable to write clear and cogent sentences. They lacked the ability to research and to write a paper which referenced primary sources, and they were unable to distinguish inadequacies of logic in their arguments.
Beyond basic reading, I believe we are doing a great disservice to students by teaching to tests instead of teaching how to learn. As commenters have so compellingly pointed out, there is no one right way to accomplish this - that's where the professional expertise and individual judgement of teachers comes into play. They should - and overwhelmingly do - know what's best for their students.
A quick "test": think back to your favorite teachers. How many of those memories include lessons on test performance and preparation? How many of those memories include NCLB type experiences?
I rest my case.
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De-Lurking for a moment
[Read the article: Is Michael Mukasey prioritizing the harassment and imprisonment of journalists?]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]For those who are interested in researching, analyzing and discussing the overarching theme of extant Constitutional harm and the possibility and necessity of fomenting a Constitutional restoration movement, please join and participate in the group blog, The Home of the Brave.
http://revolutionredux.wordpress.com
I am building a reference links list (of course UT is there) including MIT's relevant open courseware offerings, original source documents, blogs which address Constitutional issues and other interesting ephemera. Authors and contributors welcome, as well as adminsitrative volunteer types.
I'd like to publish a piece of the founding documents every day as the morning dose of discussion fodder. Critiques welcome and encouraged.
/delurk
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"Stop the car and turn it around"
[Read the article: Time to start over]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]The problem is that the steering wheel has disconnected from the steering column.
If only the brakes still work....
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While You're Grieving the Demise,
[Read the article: Today]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Please stop and visit the new group blog, Home of the Brave, which is being built around all things US Constitution-related. The reference links list will get you to source documents, government resources, law resources and historical resources. There are also key Senate, House and Committee speeches and testimony videos. Of course there are links to Glenn's column, Dana Froomkin's White House Watch blog at the Washington Post, Scott Horton's No Comment column at Harper's, Jack Balkin at Balkinization and other Constitutional experts. Group participation welcome.
http://revolutionredux.wordpress.com
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@ Pow Wow
[Read the article: The WSJ editorial page lies about our surveillance laws]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Would you consider permitting me to crosspost your earlier comment to the group blog, Home of the Brave? It's a Constitution-themed blog, and it is receiving many hits from the science world (due to one of the authors being a scientist and a lawyer, not to mention prog-type sites).
Better yet, would you consider joining as an author and posting it yourself?
The url is http://revolutionredux.wordpress.com. Contact info is on the about page - everyone welcome. Lots of GG links and references. Gordon is there and getting lots of attention.
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@ Pow Wow
[Read the article: The WSJ editorial page lies about our surveillance laws]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Thanks: Did so and here's the url back. Please let me know of any errors/criticisms, etc.
http://revolutionredux.wordpress.com/2008/02/11/pow-wows-lesson-for-the-senate/
So many of you have so many gems - wish you all had your own blogs to visit, as I have many questions which would veer too far off the threads here. Consider please?
Thanks, again, Pow Wow. Great lesson.
Glenn's piece should be required reading in every Senate office, too. The WSJ is beyond redemption, but there's always hope that someone in Washington will finally light a fire beneath the posteriors of the Republican lemmings posing as US Senators, and that one will turn back from the cliff.
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Incapable - No Unwilling - Yes
[Read the article: FISA 101]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Irritability when under the weather suits you, Glenn. But good man, do not prolong your pain by watching the boob tube! Guaranteed to induce a set-back and comorbidity!
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To Thine Own self Be True
[Read the article: America closes the book on intelligence]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]It's about the tolerance of ambiguity and the self-directedness of critical thinking. While you can lead everyone to the trough, you cannot make anyone unwillingly drink from the fount, whether it's thinking rigorously, applying logic, using reason and verifying assertions. It's the instillation of the addictive love of learning that is the key to knowledge, self-awareness and ultimately, awareness of and appreciation for other.
Whether one looks to Maslow, Freud, Jung, Aristotle, Plato, Einstein, etc. - the principles are universal. First, the basic needs of the organism/entity must be met, then the external and internal stimuli must be present, and then later, the linkages from internal to external, where the organism/entity finally is able to influence the external.
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The "featured" GOP video allows for comments on the YouTube site
[Read the article: GOP politics in a nutshell]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Just sayin'
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@ Kitt
[Read the article: GOP politics in a nutshell]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Hadn't considered that - my comment must be in the delete goddammit file, then.
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Finally - Someone Changes the Tune
[Read the article: Obama shows that dismissing slimy right-wing attacks is not difficult]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]It's such a relief that at long last, someone pulled the curtain back and revealed the shrivelled and soulless robot working the smoke and mirror machine! It's sad that it took so long, but I've already sent letters and emails to my C-critters expressing my affiliation with and support of Obama's message and hopes that they, too, take up the same and refute and repudiate the faux-patriots.
The wolves' sheepskins are finally rotted through and through. The strength of the fresh breeze of truth is enough to sweep them off and away.
Praise jeebus and pass some more of that ammunition.
How's the bruised stalk, Good Celery? Healing well? Ever hear of the delicacy of ants on a log (raisins rowed on peanut butter spread on celery stalks)? Real health food. Hope you're on the mend and airing the ailing stalk in the fresh air and sunshine.