At Last Some Progress in Education:
Today's New York Times reports that the teaching of Latin is returning. You can do as much exit testing and threatening of schools financially as you want, but those are negative steps in trying to improve education. Beating your horse will only get you so far. At some point, you actually need to feed and water the beast.
Back in the 60s, kids rebelled at studying Latin. The language was dead. Even the Roman Catholic Church was giving up on it. But what everyone knew who studied the language was that the study of Latin was the single most important thing a student could do to improve his skills in almost any other area. In limited testing, it was found that even math skills improve when students study Latin. Rationals very about why the study of Latin has this global effect on learning, probably it has something to do with the logical base of the language. Regardless of the reasons, it's good to see that something that focuses on student behavior rather that education theory and politics is actually being employed.
The Third Debate:
As economists around the world await tonight's debate between McCain and Obama, one thing is eminently certain—neither of these candidates has a clue about how to fix a problem that no one else in the world knows the answer to.
Four years ago, the winning candidate made this comment during one of the debates: "I own a timber company? That's news to me. Need some wood?" — George W. Bush, second presidential debate, St. Louis, MO, October 2004. (Georgie Boy inherited his wealth, and his family and friends took care of him his whole life. He never had any reason to ask where the money came from. He's the guy we elected because he was most like us.)
Today's New York Times reports that the teaching of Latin is returning. You can do as much exit testing and threatening of schools financially as you want, but those are negative steps in trying to improve education. Beating your horse will only get you so far. At some point, you actually need to feed and water the beast.
Back in the 60s, kids rebelled at studying Latin. The language was dead. Even the Roman Catholic Church was giving up on it. But what everyone knew who studied the language was that the study of Latin was the single most important thing a student could do to improve his skills in almost any other area. In limited testing, it was found that even math skills improve when students study Latin. Rationals very about why the study of Latin has this global effect on learning, probably it has something to do with the logical base of the language. Regardless of the reasons, it's good to see that something that focuses on student behavior rather that education theory and politics is actually being employed.
The Third Debate:
As economists around the world await tonight's debate between McCain and Obama, one thing is eminently certain—neither of these candidates has a clue about how to fix a problem that no one else in the world knows the answer to.
Four years ago, the winning candidate made this comment during one of the debates: "I own a timber company? That's news to me. Need some wood?" — George W. Bush, second presidential debate, St. Louis, MO, October 2004. (Georgie Boy inherited his wealth, and his family and friends took care of him his whole life. He never had any reason to ask where the money came from. He's the guy we elected because he was most like us.)
posted by Jim | 11:43 AM
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