Teachers Give Proposed College Prep Curriculum an "F"

[jmmom]

<p>This seems to me to closely parallel what Bill Gates said in a truly inspiring speech I happened to hear. I cannot put into words how greatly I respect what he is doing philanthropically re secondary education in this country (regardless of what one might think of the role of Microsoft in our world).</p>

<p>Bill Gates at National Education Summit on High Schools

America’s high schools are obsolete. </p>

<p>By obsolete, I don’t just mean that our high schools are broken, flawed, and under-funded … By obsolete, I mean that our high schools – even when they’re working exactly as designed – cannot teach our kids what they need to know today… Our high schools were designed fifty years ago to meet the needs of another age. Until we design them to meet the needs of the 21st century, we will keep limiting – even ruining – the lives of millions of Americans every year. </p>

<p>Today, only one-third of our students graduate from high school ready for college, work, and citizenship. The other two-thirds, most of them low-income and minority students, are tracked into courses that won’t ever get them ready for college or prepare them for a family-wage job… </p>

<p>In district after district, wealthy white kids are taught Algebra II while low-income minority kids are taught to balance a check book! The first group goes on to college and careers; the second group will struggle to make a living wage… Thanks to dedicated teachers and principals around the country, the best-educated kids in the United States are the best-educated kids in the world. We should be proud of that. But only a fraction of our kids are getting the best education. </p>

<p>Once we realize that we are keeping low-income and minority kids out of rigorous courses, there can be only two arguments for keeping it that way – either we think they can’t learn, or we think they’re not worth teaching. The first argument is factually wrong; the second is morally wrong. </p>

<p>For the sake of our young people and everyone who will depend on them – we must stop rationing education in America… </p>

<p>In the international competition to have the biggest and best supply of knowledge workers, America is falling behind. </p>

<p>That is the heart of the economic argument for better high schools. It essentially says: “We’d better do something about these kids not getting an education, because it’s hurting us.” But there’s also a moral argument for better high schools, and it says: “We’d better do something about these kids not getting an education, because it’s hurting them.” </p>

<p>Today, most jobs that allow you to support a family require some postsecondary education. This could mean a four-year college, a community college, or technical school. Unfortunately, only half of all students who enter high school ever enroll in a postsecondary institution. </p>

<p>That means that half of all students starting high school today are unlikely to get a job that allows them to support a family.

<a href=“http://www.gatesfoundation.org/MediaCenter/Speeches/BillgSpeeches/BGSpeechNGA-050226.htm[/url]”>http://www.gatesfoundation.org/MediaCenter/Speeches/BillgSpeeches/BGSpeechNGA-050226.htm&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Mr. Gates is, of course, putting his money where his mouth is. Let’s hope it will have the desired effect.</p>