I thought this cartoon was interesting, as it can be seen to represent the "Junior High School" approach, where college prep/ high school curriculum (and standardized testing) is the focus and not individual growth. I attended a junior high and I took Algebra in 7th grade; Algebra is considered to be a high school course. This was par for the course in my junior high. I wasn't even aware that a difference existed between junior highs and middle schools; I thought they were different names for the same institution. My school was very coordinated with the high school curriculum and I am having a hard time remembering much of anything that would fit the progressive philosophies of middle schools.
Ryan, I enjoyed the cartoon you posted. It actually ties in perfectly with a research paper I completed last semester, which talked about how adolescent brains are not as fully developed as adult brains. They don't have the foresight to consider consequences of their actions all of the time. I will post my review of literature on this topic soon.
ReplyDeleteIf adolescents can't consider consequences of their actions with foresight, it makes sense that they would have difficulty preparing for something - such as a test - that is 6 weeks away.
ReplyDeleteForesight is a biological step? Interesting. I was watching one of those hokey 'after armageddon' shows on the History Channel and one the experts made a comment that in desperate situations kids are likelier to turn to violence much faster than adults. I wonder if it because they haven't achieved some biological milestone or if they haven't developed enough of an awareness of community/others/things outside of their awareness of self. On a completely unrelated note, it would support that morality is taught.
ReplyDeleteInteresting the attempt to correlate necessary life skills with a mere test...not the knowledge to actually create, or think on a higher level, and use the learned skills in new situations to solve problems.....just know it for the test. Sounds rather traditional. :0)
ReplyDelete--Michelle B.
I'm pleased that you are discovering that there IS a difference between junior high and middle school. Keep up the good work.
ReplyDeleteLike you I didn't know that there was a difference between junior high and middle school. After reading chapter one I found that middle schools original objective was to focus on child-centered education and not the traditional form of “little high school” education. Middle schools now are like the picture above...it’s all about the test and meeting AYP. Child-centered exploratory and learning sadly does not apply in middle school, more like Pre-K.
ReplyDeleteThis is great, as the idea behind it is so critical...relating what students learn to their lives and why it is important. Great "funny" on the reality of it, though!
ReplyDeleteexactly - This We Believe states that curriculum must be challenging and exploratory, but it must also be relevant. That is the key.
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