Quote:
Originally Posted by dpastern
I really have to disagree. The family that I lived with in Sydney had a daughter going through her high school year 11/12 - I would often help her and check her homework etc. It didn't seem any harder, or more involved than when I was at school. Back when I went to school, year 11/12 physics was taught in the first semester of the first year, of Uni. It only got harder.
The problem is that if you give kids an opt out, they'll take it. Everyone is lazy. They'll *only* learn if you *make* them. That's human nature. By removing auto aids, you are forcing them to use their brains, and thus learn. Sure, a small percentage will have issues, they always do, but I think you'll find that the majority of the kids will still learn.
Your comments Mark do not represent the facts - that kids of years ago still managed to learn without auto aids. Ergo, by pure logic, they are not critical to the learning process, and it is possibly to learn without them. Auto aids make kids lazy and dumb. It is not only my opinion, but the opinion of many older people, and several ex teachers that I know.
Dave
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David, if you read my last post you would noticed that I said physics has become contextualised not more difficult. I really doubt you were exposed to partial differentials or maticies or a whole host of other stuff that kids now have to deal with at a high school level noe days, it just was not done. As for old folks (myself included) we always think we were better then the next generation, it's human nature. Ex teachers have very little to add to the debate. Research shows it takes about ten years to burn out all but the most dedicated teachers. They left because they no longer had the passion to teach or were so discontent that they became extremely negative. I have met many like this and will tell you the best place for them is anywhere but a classroom. It is difficult and exhausting work and most cannot hang in there unless they have the best attitude. As for chucking out technology pfffttt, imagine being a carpenter and going to work without your hammer or nailgun. It,s not going to be a productive day. Lack of resources means computer use is minimal in any case. I book the kids into the computer labs about 6 times in any year and I work at what is considered to be a well resourced private school. Contrary to many opinions expressed here, there were just as many stupid people around when I was a kid as there are now. It was not a time of super intellects or any other such thing. Learning used to all about memory but you can teach a parrot to mimic what you say. Knowledge alone is the lowest form of intelligence.
Mark