tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14184878.post1363342396072168598..comments2023-10-15T10:29:12.991+01:00Comments on Karyn's erratic learning journey: Those wretched hoops!The upsychohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06345558899662051670noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14184878.post-74213799073117832772010-03-23T15:18:10.830+00:002010-03-23T15:18:10.830+00:00@Virginia Thanks. I've rebranded to fit with m...@Virginia Thanks. I've rebranded to fit with <a href="http://www.learninganorak.co.uk/" rel="nofollow">my website</a>.The upsychohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06345558899662051670noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14184878.post-49201044013939222902010-03-23T14:16:26.385+00:002010-03-23T14:16:26.385+00:00Absolutely. BTW, I like your new format.Absolutely. BTW, I like your new format.V Yonkershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11910904367068063554noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14184878.post-55348492542513834712010-03-22T22:22:58.941+00:002010-03-22T22:22:58.941+00:00@V_Yonkers I just wonder where we got the idea fro...@V_Yonkers I just wonder where we got the idea from that superior regurgitation skills made for superiority per se. Since when does perfect recall equal perfection, anyway?The upsychohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06345558899662051670noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14184878.post-43622490113282366462010-03-22T21:19:55.590+00:002010-03-22T21:19:55.590+00:00Interestingly enough, Harvard stopped using standa...Interestingly enough, Harvard stopped using standardized tests (the SAT's here in the US) to identify those that would succeed at college.<br /><br />My son spent the last 2 months preparing for his Advanced Placement exam (he gets university credit at all the universities if he passes with the maximum of 5, and at most universities if he gets a 4 or better). While our system is different here in the US, we still are stressing kids out with these stupid tests.<br /><br />The problem is that education is equated to "stuff" (the syllabus) that must be learned and ranking students on how much of the "stuff" they can spit back. This is why an A* is so important. It will put you ahead of someone else. <br /><br />It also is the focus on perfection, from everyone. And when you are not perfect, who should we blame? <br /><br />I think back to an interview with Mitch Albon who interviewed a number of people that worked with dying people. He asked them what was important in life to make people happy and he came away with one thing: "be content with what you have." Perhaps we should be training our teachers, administrators, parents, and students this lesson.V Yonkershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11910904367068063554noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14184878.post-42572842425848160602010-03-22T11:04:42.404+00:002010-03-22T11:04:42.404+00:00@Catherine I hear your pain. I have to say, though...@Catherine I hear your pain. I have to say, though, that it's not only the teachers. The whole system is broken. We are so busy chasing down As and A*s that we have lost sight of the whole point of school in the first place.The upsychohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06345558899662051670noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14184878.post-4258285282000625102010-03-22T09:48:02.838+00:002010-03-22T09:48:02.838+00:00My daughter (same school year as your son) is curr...My daughter (same school year as your son) is currently sleeping in her room on this schoolday, exhausted and now unwell, as a result of the pressure of trying to get everything done for these examinations. Her efforts have been dogged by misprinted exam papers (requiring re-sits), entry into the wrong examination round (before full syllabus had been taught requiring compulsory re-sits as those results weren't published until after the last possible re-sit date) and even the wrong paper being presented to students (again requiring re-sits) None of these problems have been of her or any other student's making, and yet they are the ones being exhorted to try harder, avoid mistakes, work longer and even harder to make up for these errors by teachers, admin staff and even the examination boards. When are the adults we entrust with our children's futures going to step up to the mark and try their best to ensure that our children are not subjected to the sort of pressure that makes them ill as a result of shoddy, careless or thoughtless planning and organisation?Catherine Rawcliffehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16041582069426771507noreply@blogger.com