Anyone have a negative outcome with jr kumon/kumon?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I think this Kumon crap at 4 is sapping kids of real learning/natural brain development. Rote facts and memorization is not real intelligence.

Think outside the box.

Not the OP, but 'think outside the box'?? Lol

And could you point me to some studies on how Kumon workbooks sap kids of natural brain development? Or, are you just talking out of your a$$?

What do you consider to be 'real' intelligence?

Creating nice little factory workers that can follow direction. Our GT Director weeds out the Kumon-advantaged kids from the truly gifted. It's pretty clear some can only regurgitate and not extrapolate or think independently.

The advantages of early play-learning become clear by third-4th grade.

Kids with Kumon are not, as you spitefully put it, "Kumon-advantaged." Rather, they possess certain skills that daily practice has allowed them to develop. I find it very weird that some parents believe that Kumon somehow affects kids' creativity. Kumon teaches kids specific skills - subtractions, multiplications, etc. It does not, somehow, strips kids of their natural creativity. If they were creative to begin with, they will continue to be so, with some concrete skills thrown in. On the flip side - a creative kid still need to know his multiplications and divisions, no matter what. No creative way of getting out of those.

[Anonymous]

I agree. Knowing math facts can only allow the kids to be more creative and not hindered by lacking basic skills. This skill versus creativity and skill versus understanding false dichotomy is really misleading and harmful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I think this Kumon crap at 4 is sapping kids of real learning/natural brain development. Rote facts and memorization is not real intelligence.

Think outside the box.

Not the OP, but 'think outside the box'?? Lol

And could you point me to some studies on how Kumon workbooks sap kids of natural brain development? Or, are you just talking out of your a$$?

What do you consider to be 'real' intelligence?

Creating nice little factory workers that can follow direction. Our GT Director weeds out the Kumon-advantaged kids from the truly gifted. It's pretty clear some can only regurgitate and not extrapolate or think independently.

I highly doubt this as parents flock to these centers to get their kid into HGC, AP courses and etc. I sure they prep for these test as well. Go to your local center and you will hear them discuss how they got into HGC, etc. I'm sure some are weeded out but the majority get in and you have no clue that they did Kumon.
The advantages of early play-learning become clear by third-4th grade.

[Anonymous]

Why fight about this when it is obvious that a kids need both types of learning experiences. Think of a great pianist who plays with passion and expression and moves an audience with her interpretation of the notes on the page in her own unique way. I guarantee that she spent hundreds of hours practicing scales to have the tools to be a great artist. Yet practicing scales alone would not make her a great artist.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why fight about this when it is obvious that a kids need both types of learning experiences. Think of a great pianist who plays with passion and expression and moves an audience with her interpretation of the notes on the page in her own unique way. I guarantee that she spent hundreds of hours practicing scales to have the tools to be a great artist. Yet practicing scales alone would not make her a great artist.

Exactly. Having the tools won't make you a great artist, but NOT having them will prevent you from being one. Same with math.