I sent my opinion about the Algebra II replacement classes to the bill's sponsor, Joel Sheltrown, (see previous blog post), and he responded. I knew he was on the side of the sane, and his response stated that he was in full agreement with my argument. He is working to make changes, but it is an uphill battle. In his response he used the terminology of "different pathways to a diploma", and it was like a light went on. So what follows is my response to him. I think it is right on, and I really would like to know what you think.
Thank you for taking the time to respond. I am grateful you see the need to make changes to the current curriculum travesty, but I am frustrated by the ignorance in Lansing. You say you could introduce legislation all year that would "create separate pathways" perhaps that wording is the problem. We don't want separate pathways, we want all of our high school students on the same path. We want all of our high school students gaining knowledge, progressing through the curriculum, learning to apply the skills learned so as to be productive citizens, and graduating from high school after demonstrating that they have the skills necessary to continue some sort of further learning. Some will be ready for a four-year university, some will go to a two-year college, some will attend a trade school, some may find a mentor and do an apprenticeship or internship, some may gain more experience by working in a family business, or just getting a job until they can figure out what it really is that they want to do, but no diploma? No job, and the welfare line gets longer. You see, and if you do please start explaining to others, every student that starts high school comes from a different place. They don't all come in with the same skills, the same motivation, or the same ability to learn. We do not want to put them on different paths, we want them to have different choices of quality classes that fit their needs, and that will increase their knowledge base so that they end up in the same place and have the opportunity and the desire to continue down the path of learning.
Rosemary
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ReplyDeleteYou need different "pathways" to a diploma. Different "quality classes" requires different pathways to achieve..unless you don't want any standards for a high school diploma. If a student plans on attending a four year university, then that student would choose a pathway towards that goal. If the student chooses a trade, then the student would choose the pathway appropriate for that goal. It is obvious that the MMC won't accomplish the goal of meaningful education for all...nor will any other single pathway curriculum ( as we have now) Flexibility demands multiple pathways, unless you prefer no requirements for a diploma.
Agreed, unfortunately I still think the "different pathways" makes people think of "tracking" which got a bad rap way back when. So people immediately believe we mean to teach only some of the children well, (Cats Stevens), which isn't true. We want to teach all of our children well, by giving them what they need. Thanks for finding my blog by the way!
ReplyDeleteRosemary