Gopnik article on how kids learn

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Why rote memorization may be getting a bad rap:

http://hechingered.org/content/rote-memorization-overrated-or-underrated_3351/

If progressive schools are so great at teaching the basics then why do they do so poorly in math and science fields. Just compare the privates around here with the kids from TJ, whitman, wootton in terms of preparing their kids for careers in engineering, math, and science. My point is just to get you to think more broadly this debate.

Some privates do very well with the magnets in terms of science and math (Sidwell and GDS, e.g.). TJ is a magnet school for science and technology, so of course you're going to get large numbers of kids who are good in those fields.

[Anonymous]

I'm not sure how you could classify the math/science magnets as non-progressive. When I've read their materials, they all tout the hands-on experimentation their students do. Sounds like a progressive model to me.

And as for comparing math and science learning at heavily progressive schools, I'm not sure how to make that comparison. What makes you think that progressive schools are no good at math and science? I'm not trying to argue -- just looking for explanation.

[Anonymous]

This is an excellent thread. Keep it going.

[Anonymous]

If progressive schools are so great at teaching the basics then why do they do so poorly in math and science fields. Just compare the privates around here with the kids from TJ, whitman, wootton in terms of preparing their kids for careers in engineering, math, and science

I would be interested in seeing an apples : to : apples comparison you suggest. Is there one?

Actually, leave TJ out of it. That's a self-selected group of math-focused kids so it's a biased sample. Is there a comparison of generalist schools, say GDS to Whitman, showing relative strength in the biological science abilities of their grads?