Sometimes the exceptional is classified as abnormal and pushed aside." - Neil Young
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2007-07-23 15:47:45 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Education & Reference ➔ Quotations
The kids who can learn faster are held back to the pace of the slowest kid in class. These kids become behavior problems in the class room because of boredom. They need to be challenged mentally instead of held back.
2007-07-23 15:53:03 · answer #1 · answered by Country girl 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Depends on who said it, but the meaning I'm gleaning from this quote is that the education system should strive to provide the absolute best education possible for every student. Instead, however, too often schools basically end up as institutions providing mediocrity and enforcing a stifling level of conformity.
The person who made this statement probably feels that the education system should work harder to bring out the talents in each individual student, which would be a nice and helpful way of doing it.
Problem is: The schools are frequently under-funded because of a disproportionate amount of government money going to the military, which in turn (and by no accident, if you ask me) leads to a larger number of recent high school graduates going INTO the military just so they can get an education. For some who go to lower quality public schools, the military is one of the only chances they will get to have their higher education paid for.
Well, I'll stop before I get on a rant, but it's food for thought.
2007-07-23 23:05:10 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
it means that we are very comfortable with what is 'normal' and Americans seem to be MOST comfortable that way....to the extent of not wanting our children to become exceptional.... because then what would we do with them. Remember our reading books.... and math books... and the teacher would say.... :"okay boys and girls... let's read page 1 today... and tomorrow... if we're good we'll all go to page 2 together....don't peek ahead now...... Joe!!!! Pay attention" Then they'd yell at the kid who couldn't read it.....
"The dog went through the .....um...um... " then the teacher would grunt.... "FOREST" in disgust.
He's referring to the fact that our education system hasn't previously allowed students to stray from the "level" they are on... and progress at the speed they can....either slower than "normal" or faster...
Fortunately, times are changing with things like reading and writing workshops..... in elementary schools which allow students to push forward and progress at their own independent levels..... fast, slow, however they can. I know I've had some kids reading chapter books while others were still reading Cat in the Hat.
Teachers are pushing kids to reach new heights! They are also accomodating students who can't reach these heights in the "normal" amount of time or in the "normal" fashion.
I'd say Neil Young should be impressed with what has happened over the last 5 years in education.
2007-07-23 22:54:18 · answer #3 · answered by bored at work 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think it means that it is too bad that instead of challenging children, or looking to discover each child's calling or gift, and then develop it, our education system just teaches the basics while essentially baby sitting.
2007-07-28 03:30:41 · answer #4 · answered by Alley Cat 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They try to push everyone into average - boring and hurting the more intelligent students and bewildering the less intelligent.
2007-07-23 22:56:09 · answer #5 · answered by mattgo64 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
normal means we teach kids how to take tests look at whats going on pressure to make standards for state and national "critera" We are dumbing down our studends as well as are future.
2007-07-28 20:44:35 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
mother nature favors the lazy, and meeting par is enough
2007-07-30 09:53:22 · answer #7 · answered by j. h 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋