Is Our Education System Truly Equal?

Jonathan Kozol published a piece two years back that is especially relevant in light of our recent supreme court decisions to overturn some of the principles that have encouraged diversity in our classrooms. Kozol provides a stark picture of what is happening in our poor, urban schools. You can read the entire text at the following address http://www.mindfully.org/Reform/2005/American-Apartheid-Education1sep05.htm
If equality is the objective, it seems we are far from being highly qualified.

Education History: Schoolhouse Crock

In the recent issue of Harpers Magazine there is a tremendous article that explores the way education has been misrepresented throughout the ages while also being the cure all for nearly every social and economic ill in America. Though the Harpers site requires a fee, the following site offers a snippet http://www.thecarpetbaggerreport.com/archives/12658.html If you get a chance check out the full article.

A Tragically Epic Future?

The Epic 2015 file is mind-blowing! The communication elements crucial to a language arts program presented by technology are mammoth.
The Future...
The Good

• students will no longer attend public schools, they will participate in pod casts
• books will be available on iPods and digitally uploaded to the internet
• personalized writing instruction will be prolific
• student choice will exponentially increase

The Bad

• human to human interaction will decline tremendously
• students will live in isolation from others
• individualized blogs will narrow the scope of experience and knowledge
• homogenizing perspectives will lead to a decline in democracy and increase a sort of virtual tribalism
• corporate corruption and control will increase dramatically
• proliferation of monopolies

The future, much like the present, provides positive and negative outlooks. However, the potential for virtual monopolies on knowledge, information and freedom is simply apocalyptic.

Schools, Trains and Metaphors

These fourth graders have done a masterful job of showing their understanding of metaphor.
Metaphor Examples

• schools are trains
• classrooms are cars
• students are passengers
  

Beyond the mastery of the concept the students have also, in my opinion, revealed a student perspective on schools that is in some ways disturbing.

• students see schools as compartmentalized places
• students feel they must sit for extended periods of time
• students view their time as ill spent: much is devoted to completing repetitious exercises as indicated by the music and chain like movement of students moving about the room
• emphasis on testing

I would applaud my students for their efforts and their product as it clearly illustrates a firm understanding of metaphor while also providing insight into how students reflect upon their school experience.

Hannah's Tale: Fox Becomes a Better Person

Hannah’s presentation of the story, “Fox Becomes a Better Person,” showcases numerous curricula components to varying levels of mastery.

Language Arts

1. Tlingit language
2. Narrative elements: character, dialogue, plotting and theme
3. Storytelling: verbal art of storytelling that focuses on eye contact, voice inflection and
4. story structures
   

Visual Arts

1. Storyboard elements
2. Sketching
3. Use of color
   

Technology

1. Video technology
2. Using green screen
   

Without being privy to the assignment objectives, I would feel confident in giving her superior marks in all areas excluding visual artistry. Also, the line “Duck give me your scooter” is absolutely adorable!