Reply to Those of you asking for differentiation in ES have unrealistic expectations

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Reply to "Those of you asking for differentiation in ES have unrealistic expectations"

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I went to an excellent public school system in New England, and we had no differentiation or G&T in elementary school. Honors classes (for a couple of subjects) started in middle school (7th grade), with expanded honors/AP options in high school. I graduated in 2002.

However, the parent population was pretty well educated and kept tabs on their kids. Not many behavioral issues or disruptions to distract the teachers. And class sizes were ~22 kids. Everyone was taught the same lesson though. I felt I received a good education (later went to HYP for undergrad)[/quote]

So, you went to elementary school in the 90s? Separating kids into different classes based on ability was allowed back then. [/quote]

Why isn't it now? [/quote]

Because there was a disproportionate tracking of white and high SES children, while poor and/or children of color were tracked into lower groups.  It also was shown to be difficult to move between groupings, so the child's educational track was determined in 3rd grade.  They now prefer to cluster kids of differing abilities into each classroom, and allow for kids to be grouped and re-grouped as needed in various subject matters or even units of study within a subject.  In theory more equitable, in reality it also means the kids who are truly able to cover advanced material are at the mercy of the teacher who has to differentiate among 25 children with knowledge spanning possibly three or more grade levels.[/quote]

Yes.  Clustering is garbage.  I see it on a daily basis.  :([/quote]

So have kids live in their own socio-economic bubbles even more so than they already do? Kids need to see other kids with different abilities/backgrounds. [/quote]

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