tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10653377.post111711512904431378..comments2023-10-24T06:25:45.585-04:00Comments on The Wawascene: Pop Machines in SchoolsSuperintendent, Dr. Thomas Edingtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09075383334849817492noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10653377.post-1117393990926359962005-05-29T15:13:00.000-04:002005-05-29T15:13:00.000-04:00"Anonymous said... No comments about curriculum, 5..."Anonymous said... <BR/>No comments about curriculum, 5 comments about pop machines. Maybe THAT is a comment."<BR/><BR/>Since 2 of those 5 comments were from me I think you have to consider that not all of us can take the time to sit in front of the computer to leave comments 24/7! And don't forget there are many parents that have kids that are in the lower grades and are not concerned about HS classes at this time. Whereas the pop machines are in more than one school. <BR/><BR/><BR/>"How do you feel about schools adopting curriculums for almost all students that are driven by private business interests? <BR/>Good idea or bad idea?" <BR/><BR/>I do not like the current set up of having 8th graders pick all 4 years of their high school classes at one time nor the classes they have to choose from this year. How can the school lock in a student for 2 years of automotive classes? What if they decide they'd rather change career choices? Many things can change in an eighth graders life before he/she is ready to choose their classes for their junior year. Many adults cannot decide on a career choice yet you expect our 13-14 year children to commit to a choice. Then there is the relevance of some of the classes. How many jobs in our area really require the Hospitality, Travel & Tourism and Sports, Recreation & Entertainment Marketing classes? They sound like like fluff classes to me. Forget all the career specific classes and get back to the basics. Maybe then our students would not be scoring so low on all the government required tests. I'm sure the accounting class will show the students how to write in a checkbook register and how to balance the register but they won't learn something so simple as counting back change w/o the assistance of a cash register. I've had a high school student dig in her pocket to come up with 3 cents so she would not have to count out 97 cents in change. Or how about the Wawasee grad that refused to give me a refund because my husband had purchased the item with his debit card...even though my card has the exact same number and could be entered MANUALLY (which is exactly what the manager did after I complained).<BR/>Then there are the students that do know what career they want to aim for but the majority of the classes do not support their goal. I guess we'll just let the HS bore them for 4 years. For example I noticed there is a class for seniors to train to be an EMT. Exactly what full schedule of classes can support this career choice? Or are they expected to be an EMT part-time and a welder part-time?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10653377.post-1117240194830976822005-05-27T20:29:00.000-04:002005-05-27T20:29:00.000-04:00Good point. I think the Core 40 is unacceptable. ...Good point. I think the Core 40 is unacceptable. All the research says that when graduates get out into the workforce they still don't have the skills required. However, how many jobs do you know of have lecture followed by pen & paper tests? <BR/><BR/>I think we, as a society, need to lean more on "real world" instruction and assessment. This applies not only to the students whom we hope enter colleges, but also, for the "certificate track" students who need meaningful and real-world experiences and content. In my opinion, Wawasee does a better job preparing the certificate bound students fo real life than the college ones. Except for those whom we kick out.<BR/><BR/>And that's a whole other can of worms!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10653377.post-1117220101633304042005-05-27T14:55:00.000-04:002005-05-27T14:55:00.000-04:00No comments about curriculum, 5 comments about pop...No comments about curriculum, 5 comments about pop machines. Maybe THAT is a comment.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com