Controversial Opinions: School & Education edition

[Anonymous]

Math teachers in ES do not know math.

[Anonymous]

Graduate college in four years, not five or six. Pick a major by junior year and stick to it.

[Anonymous]

Go to college to obtain marketable skills. Ie to get a job, build a career that pays the bills.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The majority of kids diagnosed with ADHD don't have ADHD. Their true issue is that they just aren't very bright.

Also, future generations will look back at the ADHD and other stimulant meds given so freely to out children, and they will be amazed that we did not realize how tremendously harmful these drugs are. Sort of the way we look back at Victorians who used to dose up on laudanum, unaware of the terrible consequences to their health.

I'm laughing- my kid with ADHD (the real kind) has an IQ north of 145 and runs rings around his typical classmates, unmedicated. His true issue is ADHD.

Pls make him learn executive functioning, organizational, and time mgmt skills if you want him to get or stay married.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Go to college to obtain marketable skills. Ie to get a job, build a career that pays the bills.

That's not controversial, that's what everyone says nowadays. I don't agree. Any bachelor's is valuable, or worthless. It depends on what you do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No one cares where your kid goes to college.

Your child going to a prestigious college does not reflect glory on you as a parent.

The best college for particular kid is a college that helps the kid find a sense of meaning and purpose in life and work.

All unpopular opinions around here, I know.

LOVE THIS

Of course your kid reflects your parenting skills.

Going to a prestigious college is great, and a combination of smarts, hard work, luck, and to some degree, parenting!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My hot take: The long-term returns to taking above grade-level math (eventually going beyond calculus BC while in high school) are minimal relative to simply being good at math and taking whatever grade-level class the smart kids usually take. There simply aren't many college majors or career paths where it makes a difference. It's almost entirely a college application padding contest.

Agreed. I went to summer school during H.S. to get ahead in math and take AP calc. to look good on college apps. I have never once used calculus since.

I used to think this, but then realized it teaches complex problem solving.

DP. It does, but only for the kids who have done the complex problem solving along the way. Strong math teaching that helps kids understand math and numbers and critical thinking is much better than racing through a text book to be able to do well on a standardized test.

[Anonymous]

I don't believe in the Hillary Clinton "It takes a village" philosophy. I signed up to raise my kids, not yours. It's not my job to make up for other people's bad parenting choices.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Disruptive kids should not be in the same classroom as kids who are able to behave in the classroom. I don't care what the reason is...if you are disruptive you need to find an alternative classroom.

+1

+2

+3. Also, putting these kids in alternative classrooms with kids who just need additional academic support but don't have serious behavior issues isn't cool.

[Anonymous]

I shoulda bought that s**tshack in McLean in 2000. My children would be getting a better education.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I shoulda bought that s**tshack in McLean in 2000. My children would be getting a better education.

This! I thought $200k was sooo much money, then. What did I know?

[Anonymous]

I want my kids to be critical thinkers who can write well and research. I don't care if they ever take multivariable calculus.

We should significantly expand vocational education and apprenticeships.

P.E. is a complete and utter waste of time and should be eliminated from public schools.

Another vote for year-round schools. Kids are not tending to and harvesting crops and do not need 3 months off in the summer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My hot take: The long-term returns to taking above grade-level math (eventually going beyond calculus BC while in high school) are minimal relative to simply being good at math and taking whatever grade-level class the smart kids usually take. There simply aren't many college majors or career paths where it makes a difference. It's almost entirely a college application padding contest.

Agreed. I went to summer school during H.S. to get ahead in math and take AP calc. to look good on college apps. I have never once used calculus since.

I used to think this, but then realized it teaches complex problem solving.

DP. It does, but only for the kids who have done the complex problem solving along the way. Strong math teaching that helps kids understand math and numbers and critical thinking is much better than racing through a text book to be able to do well on a standardized test.

The problem though is that there are no metrics for really showing that this is being taught in other classrooms. I can barely get out of my child what they are doing in class much less whether my child is picking up on every lesson taught. Nothing comes home. No more homework, workbooks, or textbooks. Classes are entirely teacher dependent. So I support AP classes because I know they are challenging and at least require to some degree that a teacher make sure students are at least exposed to advanced topics. I also know the final goal of the class and can see if my child achieved the goals. Many of these other classes my child has taken have lofty goals but don't work in practice because of bad implementation, lack of materials, varied abilities from children, or lazy teaching.

[Anonymous]

Public schools are failing dyslexic kids. If you are the parent of a dyslexic kid take your child out for remediation, because it's not going to be done well in public school. And no accommodations alone just don't cut it. Neither does waiting for the kid to fail just to prove they really do have just want the private testing has already told you they have: dyslexia.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Public schools are failing dyslexic kids. If you are the parent of a dyslexic kid take your child out for remediation, because it's not going to be done well in public school. And no accommodations alone just don't cut it. Neither does waiting for the kid to fail just to prove they really do have just want the private testing has already told you they have: dyslexia.

Did you start the reading thread? Sounds like it.