dagblog - Comments for "A Democratic Approach to Education"

Very interesting. I would

emerson — Mon, 03 Jan 2011 02:16:45 +0000

In reply to A Democratic Approach to Education

Very interesting. I would like to see more on this. Also, would like to know what kind of criteria they use to judge success for each individual student. For instance, how would this work with the student who wanted to waste time or who didn't know how to manage their time. In one sense I could see how this would be a good opportunity to give individual guidance to each student but you first have to realize that this is what the student is doing. Overall though I find this intriguing. As someone who didn't quite get the lecture-type education that is prevalent in most schools I would have welcomed this approach.

Amen...

chucktrotter — Wed, 29 Dec 2010 05:42:06 +0000

In reply to Well as they say. What's

Amen...

Well as they say. What's

cmaukonen — Wed, 29 Dec 2010 04:56:55 +0000

In reply to Not certain how effective

Well as they say. What's sauce for the goose is NOT necessarily sauce for the gander.

Not certain how effective

chucktrotter — Wed, 29 Dec 2010 04:17:50 +0000

In reply to Of course having come from

Not certain how effective Montessori Method affected his depth of education, but son did continue on to acquire two degrees and, at this time, is a Commander in the USN. When a future Rhodes Scholar sits in a class room with a high school drop-out, don't blame the teacher for the drop-out. Parenting is the key!

Of course having come from

cmaukonen — Tue, 28 Dec 2010 22:30:17 +0000

In reply to While living in Madrid, I

Of course having come from America with is dictatorial puritanical approach to everything, including education, it would have appeared as a mad house. I find it mildly ironic that this country went to such lengths to divorce itself from a monarchy only to set up it's own private little despotic monarchies within.

While living in Madrid, I

chucktrotter — Tue, 28 Dec 2010 22:13:03 +0000

In reply to A Democratic Approach to Education

While living in Madrid, I enrolled my young son in an English grade school that utilized a system similar to that described above. I paid the school a few visits and each time, the class rooms looked like a mad house. It was explained to me that this system was the Montessori Method. I removed my son from the school.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montessori_method#Criticism_of_Montessori

One point I would make is

Elusive Trope — Tue, 28 Dec 2010 17:16:13 +0000

In reply to What better way to learn

One point I would make is that "Race to the Top" does not preclude a state taking on this type of innovatative learning methodology as a mean of getting to the top. If one looks at the criteria by which grants are awarded, this type of school would do just fine. It isn't so much the problem that we test the children (Europeans test their kids like nobody's business), it is that in this country we are still stuck in the factory methodology and then teach to the test from this educational paradigm. It is more likely in an expansive curriculum where children and youth are empowered that one will see higher test scores, even though less time is spent in the classroom focused on the exact items that will be on the test.

What better way to learn

Dennie Briggs — Tue, 28 Dec 2010 16:57:00 +0000

In reply to A Democratic Approach to Education

What better way to learn about democracy than to be able to practice it as a child! And to know that there is at least one place on the planet where this is happening—and in a "school!" What a contrast to the current autocratic proficiency testing inanity—"race to the top!" What a breath of fresh air! Thank you so much for this invigorating post!

Interesting. It reminds me

Elusive Trope — Tue, 28 Dec 2010 07:06:33 +0000

In reply to A Democratic Approach to Education

Interesting. It reminds me in some ways like the alternative high school I went to Seattle. One of the things that happened often was students who tried it, but were so conditioned (institutionalized?) by the time in the "regular" schools that they couldn't adjust to the freedoms it allowed and still maintain focus on their studies.

dagblog - Comments for "A Democratic Approach to Education"

Very interesting. I would

Amen...

Well as they say. What's

Not certain how effective

Of course having come from

While living in Madrid, I

One point I would make is

What better way to learn

Interesting. It reminds me

I like this C, I like this a