Harold Shaw

Recent Activity

• 

  Harold commented on the article | almost 3 years ago

  Opting In to Open-Minded Learning: A Fantasy

  And the world will be pure for the pure of heart and mind and unto thee we shall sing praises of inteligencia and openness. 
  
  Clay, I do wish that you could get politics and parents out of the classroom.  That day will not happen in K-12, hell it doesn't in college, the helicopter and all-knowing ones believe they know what is best for their children -- no matter their age.
  
  Politics is an ideology that is followed and supported.  The only way to maintain that ideology or make it stronger is to incorporate new recruits.  If the schools are allowed to let students think and see all sides of an issue, then the political sway may be different.  But it is okay for private schools to have their students think and learn independence, whereas public schools are only allowed or encouraged to teach regimentation.
  
  As my grandmother said "Tis a folly to be wise where ignorance is bliss"
  

• 

  Harold commented on the article | about 3 years ago

  I have a Dream - That Obama will have Vision

  Clay as someone who is not in Education currently and has looked at Education from a non-educators eyes, I too believe that educators should be allowed to educate. <P>
  The current financing of our education system does not work.
  It is going to take more than a couple of years to get these changes in place.  My question is what do we do for those students who were harmed by the educational policies of NCLB. <P> They will not have the opportunity to be re-educated and they have lost so much.  
  <P>I am less concerned about the future, because I believe that there are better days ahead for our students, there are too many people that actually want to change things for the better.  But I really do wonder about this "lost NCLB generation" how they will compete locally, nationally and internationally for work against others who are definitely better prepared academically.<P>
  I see it when I talk to the younger workers coming out of college, their research skills, problem solving, public speaking, thinking on your feet and other abilities we take for granted as a job skill are so weak.<P>
  Perhaps some of good teachers who left, if some of the changes you and others discuss above, would come back.  If changes were made to let them teach, instead of teaching to a test and paid them a decent wage, not a base salary.  <P>
  I might even think more about it?  Not saying that I was a great teacher, but according to my peers, I wasn't bad :)<P>
  Well you get my drift 
  Harold

• 

  Harold commented on the article | about 3 years ago

  A Farewell Letter to the Greatest Education President Ever

  Clay - I really like your new site, it provides much more provocative and thought provoking ideas on ideas on education.  It seems as though you have more freedom now than you did previously when discussing "interesting" or slippery slope entries.  Maybe I am just reading them differently, now that I have joined the elitist bunch.
  I have thought about doing a blog that highlights how intelligence and good research were a negative in schools over the past 8 years and how excellence wasn't appreciated.  That everyone needed to be in the "norm".  But I don't have the skill to express how expertise and excellence were not expected in schools from students or teachers due to focusing on "testing.  I thought with your way with words, it would be a subject you might be able to tackle and really sink your teeth into.