Reply to New BASIS discussion

Forum Index » DC Public and Public Charter Schools

Reply to "New BASIS discussion"

Subject:

Emoticons





More smilies

Text Color: Font: Close Marks

[quote=Anonymous]I haven't heard anything along the lines of Basis trying to "get rid of the feeble-minded" and frankly that's an offensive term.

However, one also has to consider what a reasonable expectation is.  Not all kids are created alike - there are normal kids, there are seriously disabled kids who have sharp minds, either of whom should do just fine in an Algebra class for example.

However, there are also kids who have other severe disabilities, who for example might never be capable of learning beyond a 2nd-grade level.  In that last case, no amount of sitting in an Algebra class will ever succeed in teaching them Algebra.  That has nothing to do with the school, it's a hurdle no school will ever surmount - the question is, why would their parents want to keep throwing them at Algebra?  They could, though they'd need to eventually accept that the child will never master it - and maybe there are more useful pursuits they should be undertaking to help their child with useful life skills instead of Algebra.

If it's a kid who's just lazy but in all other respects is perfectly capable, then what is so wrong with trying to challenge him, trying to instill some organizational skills, a work ethic and holding him to a higher standard?  Why is this kind of thing continually being described as "crazy"?

I just moved to the DC area, but when I was growing up and going to public schools in several different cities around the country 30 years ago, I was always used to being challenged, being expected to perform, being encouraged to take AP courses and so on, and if you failed, you might have to repeat a grade - basically what Basis is promoting.  Why is that now being treated as though it were some kind of unacceptable, radical and crazy idea?  Is that a DC thing?  [/quote]

Options

	Disable HTML in this message
	Disable BB Code in this message
	Disable smilies in this message

Review message

Search Recent Topics Hottest Topics