Dumbing Down & Dehumanizing
As a grandparent I have seen “modern-day” education systems depart from the basics. Why? It’s obvious that children’s feelings of self-worth are truly damaged when they can’t even get on the ramp to active learning. Their first steps need to be solid before taking leaps into exploring and discovering new paths. Primary/Elementary years in school, by definition, are for that purpose — laying the foundation for future growth.
Now, the reality of individual differences says that people learn differently. Indeed, using a variety of methods from the pedagogical toolkit is a good approach. Too bad, however, that under the sway of 21st Century Learning gurus, teachers are abandoning tried and true traditional methods that work well for some (and maybe most) of the students in a class.
These practical methods should continue to be part of every Primary teacher’s toolkit. I refer to phonics for Reading and mastery of the four basic algorithms in Math. So many Math problems are written out — so the two abilities go together.
This “caught— not taught” mantra, applied wholesale to all children, does damage to children and society! Forward to the basics!
[BC is seeing parent concerns about Math curriculum deviating from the basics. A petition is now circulating and media has taken notice and giving coverage. Today I signed the petition with the above comment.]